#32 Jaime Kruppa
F 6-1 Jr. Lithonia, Ga./South Gwinnett
GENERAL
Moved to forward last season after playing guard as a freshman … Strengths are defense and rebounding.
1998-99 (SOPHOMORE SEASON)
Successfully made the transition to the post after playing primarily in the backcourt as a freshman … Served as Tech’s “sixth man,” providing an instant spark off the bench … Appeared in all 27 contests, starting once vs. Georgia State on Dec. 19 … Emerged as one of the Jackets’ top defenders and rebounders, finishing first on the team in steals (48) and third in rebounds (163) … Finished tied for sixth overall in the ACC with 1.8 steals per game … Recorded a career high six steals in a game on two occassions, at Davidson on Nov. 21 and home vs. Maryland on Jan. 21, both Tech victories … Inserted into the starting lineup against Georgia State on Dec. 19 due to an injury to starting center Candice McCallum, Kruppa responded with career highs in points (12) and rebounds (18) … Came off the bench two games later and matched her career-high point total with 12 against Lafayette on Dec. 30, 1998 in the finals of the Georgia Tech/Atlanta Marriott Northwest Holiday Invitational … Also scored 12 against No. 17 Virginia on Feb. 18 … Opened the season with back-to-back double-figure rebounding games with 13 each against American on Nov. 15 and Davidson on Nov. 21.
1997-98 (FRESHMAN SEASON)
Scored 10 points versus Florida State on Jan. 18 … Earned her first career start after her performance against FSU and scored eight points in 19 minutes at 19th-ranked Clemson on Jan. 22 … Also started against Belmont on Jan. 24 … Pulled down five rebounds against Chattanooga on Dec. 1 … Dished out three assists versus Duke in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals.
PREP
Averaged 16.1 points and 9.1 rebounds as a senior … Fourth all-time leading scorer in South Gwinnett History … Named to the USA Today “Players to Watch” List … Surpassed 1,000 career points … All-time leading rebounder in South Gwinnett History with 802 boards … Holds the individual game and school record for most rebounds in a game, recording 22 … Member of the Atlanta Tip-Off Club Team of the Month for December in 1996… Member of the Gwinnett County Tip-Off Club Team for January in 1997 … Gwinnett first team all-county as a senior … Team placed sixth at the AAA state tournament in 1996 … Helped high school team mark a 86-6 record in three years … Member of the Georgia Magic AAU Team … Helped lead team to AAAA State Championships in 1994 and 1995 with a perfect 33-0 record … Member of the YBOA National Championship Team in 1994 and 1995 … Honor student all four years.
PERSONAL DATA
Jamie Lynn Kruppa was born April 26, 1979 in Decatur, Ga. … Is the daughter of Ken and Denise Kruppa … Majoring in management … Her father played baseball two years at Georgia Southern and spent two years in the New York Yankees’ organization … Has a younger brother, Joey, 16.
