Jade Blagrove

Coming from the Netherlands, I never imagined I’d one day be playing Division I basketball at the University of South Florida, where my journey in the U.S. began. I competed in every European Championship from the age of 16. That’s where I was scouted and the recruitment process started.

The visa process was quite a challenge, especially during the COVID outbreak in my freshman year, but it all worked out. That first season was unforgettable: we won the Regular Season Championship, the Conference Championship, were ranked 14th in the country, and made it to second round of the NCAA March Madness tournament! It was great, however, I didn't get much playing time so I decided to transfer.

At Manhattan College, I had the chance to make a real impact both on and off the court. During my three years there, we reached the Conference Championship finals twice where I lead the team as a Captain. Experiences that shaped me as both an athlete and a person.

My graduate year at St. John’s was another incredible chapter, where I had the opportunity to compete against some of the best players in the nation, including UConn’s powerhouse team led by Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd, who went on to win the National Championship that year.

Academically, I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a Minor in Marketing, followed by an MBA in Marketing & Management. During my MBA, I landed an internship with one of the largest commercial real estate agencies in Tampa, which eventually turned into a full-time job offer.

I truly got the full college experience, on the court, in the classroom, and in life and I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.