Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball versus Boise State on December 10, 2025 at 7:00 PM
7:00 PM
Women's Basketball
vs Boise State
.png&width=31&height=31&type=webp)
The University of Utah Athletics
Megan Jacobs: Athletics Runs In The Family
12/11/2017 11:26 AM | Women's Basketball
By Chalis Benda
Athletics Communications Student Assistant
Athletics has always been a family affair for sophomore Megan Jacobs. With three siblings who all play sports, finding a passion for basketball came easy.
Her love for basketball came at an early age. With older siblings leading the way, Jacobs quickly fell into the athletics world.
"My brother and sister are a little bit older than me, so growing up, we would always go to the high school games," Jacobs said. "I kind of fell in love with it after watching her play."
Growing up in a household full of athletes, it was always a competition, but with that high level of competition came a lot of support. Whether it is a win or a loss, Jacobs knows after each game that she will hear from her siblings.
Her older brother, Ben, a linebacker for the Carolina Panthers in the NFL, always sends a text after a game. With the NFL season going on, he doesn't necessarily get to watch each game, but he always asks how it went.
Jacobs admits that it is nice to have a brother who has been through the ringer and has come out successful in the process. He played college football at Fresno State as well, but she doesn't feel the pressure from having athletic older siblings – she learns from it.
"It's just been somebody to follow, not really follow in his footsteps, but to learn from," Jacobs said. "I try to learn from his trials and tribulations and struggles that he has been through and try to apply it to basketball."
In high school, Jacobs was named the All-Southwest League Co-MVP as a senior in 2015-16. She also was named first-team All-Southwest League Sunset Division as a junior and a second-team all-state selection during her sophomore season.
When deciding on schools, there were two other schools in the running alongside Utah; Clemson and East Carolina. She knew she wanted to play somewhere with a high competitive level and the Pac-12 had what she was looking for.
"This was my first visit set up and then I had the other two the following weekends," Jacobs says. "I came out here and I don't like a lot of attention on me. An official visit is just everything is about you. When I found Utah, I loved everything about it. I didn't even want to go on the other ones."
Jacobs saw action in all 31 games as a freshman last season. Against Oregon, she reached double digits scoring 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting and went a perfect 2-for-2 on the free throw line. Jacobs played as a wing in 2016-17, but a position change prompted Jacobs to spend more time in the gym.
"I kind of made the transition to point guard this year," she said. "I've definitely worked on my ball handling, agility and game in the off season. But I really focused on my three point shot."
Utah is 7-2 overall this season with Jacobs seeing action in all nine games. Even though she is just a sophomore, Jacobs has started to look toward the future on and off the court.
"I know I want to be a firefighter," she said. A lot of my Dad's friends out in Chicago work for the fire department and they have been around my whole life. I think it would be right up my alley because it is team oriented. I don't think I could sit behind a desk. Just having someone else's back every day and making sure they have your back as well."
Jacobs knows what it takes to be on a team, playing basketball her whole life has taught her invaluable lessons. Her never say die attitude has been key for the Utes this season and with two non-conference games left before starting Pac-12 play, Jacobs definitely has Utah's back.
"I think people can expect us as a team to never quit," she said. "We are always going to go hard. We go hard at each other every day in practice, so when we get on the court, it is time for us to have fun and compete. You are never going to see us quit on the court and I think you will see the same from me."
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballUtah: 65, Weber State: 52 | Utah Women's Basketball Post Game Press Conference
Thursday, November 27
ESPN+ Feature | Utah Women's Basketball's Lani White
Wednesday, November 26
Utah: 49, Syracuse: 61 | Utah Women's Basketball Post Game Press Conference
Saturday, November 22
ESPN+ Feature | Utah Women's Basketball's Evelina Otto
Saturday, November 15