Name: Jayme Horan: Hometown Hoops
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Jayme Horan: Hometown Hoops

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                                Twenty minutes away from the Creighton campus, Jayme Horan’s love of basketball took root among the cracks of the driveway at her childhood home. From the moment the ball rattled through the plastic rim of her Little Tikes hoop, Horan’s dream of playing competitive basketball was born.“That’s where it all started…,” Horan explained. “[My dad] gave me the love of basketball and taught me how to shoot a ball, and I say I can shoot the ball pretty well because of him.”From practicing her shot with her dad right there to rebound to playing under him as her first ever coach, the senior grew up with a basketball in her hands and the unwavering support to achieve all that she dreamed of.
        The enduring love and encouragement from her parents profoundly influenced her decision to stay close to home. She believed no home game could truly feel like home without her parents cheering from the stands.“I’m a really big family person, so I wanted to stay close to my parents,” the Omaha native said. “They’ve always been my support system. So looking up [into the stands] and not seeing the two people that have supported me the most in my life, I just couldn’t imagine that.”Another factor shaping her decision was the formidable presence of longtime head coach Jim Flanery, whose dedication to his craft and success within the program imprinted on young Horan.“My dad would take me to all the Creighton games to watch them,” the senior said. “So, it was always kind of just that dream of being the local kid, like ‘oh yeah, you’re going to go play in front of everybody [one day].”Now finishing up her fourth year under Flanery, Horan is living out her dream, cherishing every moment of playing for someone she has admired for so long.
        “Having that chance of playing for someone that I watch[ed] while I was growing up… [and] just hearing all the great stories about him, [and then] having that chance to play for him… everything that I've ever heard about him is one hundred percent true,” Horan expressed. “At the end of the day, no matter what happens in the game, what happens in a practice, he’s got your back [and] you know that he loves you. He truly wants what’s best for you… and I’ve grown a lot as not just a basketball player, but as a person learning from him.”Having support from her coach, the rest of the Creighton program, but most importantly, her family, was crucial for Horan, especially when struggling with a knee injury that persisted through her high school into collegiate career.“Having that support system has been huge. [My parents] have been there since the moment it happened. I can’t thank them enough for everything they’ve done for me,” the senior said. “I wouldn’t have made it through the season if I didn’t have [them]. It made it a lot easier knowing that I had them there and [that] they’re going to do whatever it takes to keep me out on that court because I want to be out there just as much as they want me out there.”Keeping Horan on the court has meant more than just physical therapy and strength training to fight against another ACL scare; it meant changing her entire mindset to fight back against the lingering fear that her knee would give out on her at any moment.&nbsp;The Omaha native went back to the basics of basketball, but more than that, she had to realize how crucial it was to soak in every moment like it’s the last time.&nbsp;“I can’t play the ‘what if’ game,” the senior said. “So every time before I was checking in, I always [said] ‘be where your feet are’... [and] just enjoy the moment that you’re in because it could be my last. I hate playing that way, but at the same time I never wanted to take the moment for granted.”With one last chance to proudly wear the white and the blue, Horan revealed that the loss to UCLA this past season wasn’t going to be the last time the Creighton community would see #12 on the court. With the exception of Emma Ronsiek, the most successful class in program history has decided to return for one last chance to add to their legacy.“We [fellow seniors Emma Ronsiek, Lauren Jensen, Morgan Maly, Molly Mogensen and Mallory Brake] had a lot of different conversations, tough conversations, with each other [because] we really weren’t ready to leave without each other,” Horan said. “We came in with each other so we just always talked about, ‘oh let’s leave with each other’ and now we’re doing that.”“The people from my teammates to my coaches to the facility here, everything about them has been amazing,” Horan expressed. “My teammates are my best friends… I all around just have loved everything about being here.”
        
                                
                                



                                
                                
                                
                                Twenty minutes away from the Creighton campus, Jayme Horan’s love of basketball took root among the cracks of the driveway at her childhood home. From the moment the ball rattled through the plastic rim of her Little Tikes hoop, Horan’s dream of playing competitive basketball was born.“That’s where it all started…,” Horan explained. “[My dad] gave me the love of basketball and taught me how to shoot a ball, and I say I can shoot the ball pretty well because of...

Jayme Horan: Hometown Hoops

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