Senior point guard Caitlin Jensen is committed to playing Division III basketball at University of Mary Washington.

Growing up, Jensen enjoyed shooting hoops with her grandfather in the driveway. She joined her first basketball team when she was five and has played for many clubs teams since then.

Jensen made the South Lakes varsity basketball team as a freshman. During her sophomore season, she was named to the second all-district team and ranked sixteenth in the DC Metro area for 3-point shots made. Last year, Jensen earned first team all-district honors.

Despite her individual accomplishments, Jensen puts her team first. The lady Seahawks finished toward the top of the Liberty District in the 2012-2013 season, and Jensen hopes to help her teammates build off their previous feat this winter.

“I think it would be more fulfilling to win a state or a regional championship than to get personal accolades,” Jensen said.

According to Jensen, success at the high school level requires great effort.

“It’s a lot of work and a lot of time,” Jensen said.

Colleges began to take notice of Jensen’s dedication and talent during her freshman year. Scouts visited her at both club and high school games, and she was contacted by school representatives.

“They send you a letter asking you for more footage if you have it, and then you send them that,” Jensen said.

For Jensen, the recruiting process was a necessary evil.

“It’s long, tedious, and stressful,” Jensen said.

She considered many schools, such as American University, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Central Connecticut State University, and United States Military Academy at West Point, before deciding to bring her basketball skills to Mary Washington.

Jensen picked Mary Washington because she thought it was the best fit.

“It just felt like the right place for me to be,” Jensen said.

She had a better relationship with members of Mary Washington’s basketball program than she did with those at the other colleges.

“I clicked well with the coaching staff,” Jensen said. “I played pick-up with the players a few times and stayed overnight. I also knew some of them from high school.”

Jensen thinks the Mary Washington Eagles will support her as she transitions to playing at a collegiate level, which she anticipates will be challenging.

“It’s a lot faster and a lot stronger,” Jensen said. “It’s like a different game.”

Mary Washington also appealed to Jensen from a scholarly standpoint.

“It’s a great school,” Jensen said. “People who come out of it get really good jobs. There’s a great alumni network.”

The university is recognizing Jensen’s academic performance at South Lakes by awarding her merit aid. This financial assistance made Jensen’s decision to play Division III ball easier.

“Getting money from a DI school would be great, but I still got academic scholarships from Mary Washington,” Jensen said.