Before scoring over 1,000 points in high school, being a 3-time champion and a 2-time all-tidewater player, Catholic High School's Jemma Eleby was first a little sister; youngest of 5.
"I think it made me a lot tougher, especially having three older brothers. We were always outside playing in our driveway. I had to battle every time," said Eleby.
"When having brothers and sisters that are older, you got to sneak attack, and that's what she knows how to do. She knows how to attack you at the right time," said Head Coach Bill Stokes.
Having to handle her older brothers, who are all former college basketball players, taught her to fear no one.
"I am a very physical player, even if they are bigger or taller than me I feel like I don't back down from the competition," said Eleby.
Head Coach Bill Stokes says Jemma is a mismatch nightmare for opponents.
"She can run every position on the floor. She can switch and cover a true point guard and still cover a 6'8 big," said Stokes.
Jemma is used to being the little sister, but now as the only senior on the team, she's the big sister.
"She is the oldest and most mature on our team and she carries herself like that. We have a lot of young freshman that are really good, but they're freshman, and she has taken them under her wing," said Stokes.
"I can tell a lot of them look up to me and I know as a role model it's something I have to take as a responsibility," said Stokes.
As the leader of the team, Eleby is willing to do whatever it takes to win just like the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant, who was her favorite player to grow up.
"The way he pushed not only himself but his teammates to get better. That's something I really looked up to, especially being a captain and a leader, it's something i try to embrace and take after him for," said Eleby.
Jemma is eyeing a 4th TCIS championship before beginning her next chapter at James Madison University, where she will be a little sister once again, but that's a role she's used to.