From holding a cheer scholarship at Blinn College to becoming the leading scorer last season for Tarleton State's women's basketball team, Jakoriah Long's path to Stephenville has been anything but conventional. 
 
A part of a history-making squad for the Texans in her first season, Long netted a team-high 20 points in a 54-41 win over Abilene Christian in the 2024 Western Athletic Conference Tournament, marking the first Division I postseason victory for the program.
 
It capped the first season that head coach Bill Brock and Long had worked together and not against each other.
 
"I was coaching at McLennan Community College in 2022-23," Brock said. "We played against Blinn College, and she played extremely well against us. She hit some big shots and they beat us on our home court."
 
It was an impression that stuck.
 
"Once you watch her play, the first thing that jumps out at you is her athleticism, her speed, her quickness," he said. "She does things that lots of kids are not able to do because she is exceptionally talented."
 
As a testament to her athleticism, Long originally transferred from Ranger College to Blinn to take advantage of a cheer scholarship. She would also walk on with the basketball team after competing in each sport all four years at Midway High School in Hewitt.
 
Participating in both activities eventually led to a fork in the road that forced a decision.
 
"After going through some missed opportunities that COVID kind of threw at the Class of 2020, I began looking at my second interest, basketball," she said. 
 
Her Blinn basketball team was set to begin conference play about the same time the cheer squad had qualified for nationals. She had to choose.
 
"I cried but left cheer to focus on basketball," she said.
 
She then led Blinn to a berth in the National Junior College Athletic Association national tournament, where she earned honorable mention accolades for her performance. Once again, she caught the eye of Brock, who was there with his MCC team.
 
When he took over the Tarleton State program, one of his first recruiting targets was Long. 
 
"As soon as I sat down in coach Brock's office, I knew that's who I wanted to be my coach," she said. "This was where I wanted to be. I knew he'd push me, and I needed that from my coach. He has goals, and I know it ends up being great. I want to be part of that."
 
In their first season together, the Tarleton State point guard scored a team-best 11.2 points per game. She reached double figures 18 times and topped 20 twice. At the end of the campaign, she ranked in the top 20 among WAC scorers while adding 2.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists per contest.
 
Her experience at the Division I level bodes well for the Texans as they look to build on last year's success.
 
"We'll look to her for leadership, and she can provide that for us immediately," Brock said. "With her having a year under her belt at this level, she knows what to expect night in and night out. 
 
"She has such a great attitude. She wants to work hard. She has high aspirations. She brings a work ethic, positive attitude and her energy every day. Those things permeate throughout the team to the newcomers and the younger players on our team." 
 
Long, a senior criminal justice major, has not made any concrete career plans as she leaves her options open. 
 
"I've still not decided, but I'm leaning toward becoming a crime scene investigator," she said. "Before that, though, I hope to go overseas as a pro and continue to play the sport that I love."
 
Her coach doesn't see that as a long shot. 
 
"This will be just her third season concentrating solely on basketball," he said, "and I don't think we've seen the best of her yet."