Jessica Abrahams, a 1999 graduate of DLHS, was an outstanding three sport athlete.

The well-rounded Abrahams became a Laker hardcourt legend, after she became just the second DL girls’ basketball player, of that time, to eclipse the 1,000-point barrier. Her rebounding skill became as well-known as her scoring, along with her unselfishness, which attributed to her impressive assist numbers. Although the game of basketball came natural for Abrahams, she added to it with endless hard work and an unselfish attitude, which featured not herself, but her team. She ended her prep career in the all-time top 10 in points, rebounds, and assists.

Abrahams had superior shot selection, while playing stingy defense and showing the ability to find an open teammate. During her senior season, she averaged 16 points per game, but only averaged 11 shots per game, along with finding her way to the free throw line plenty of times.

In volleyball Abrahams was all Conference for four years and was Captain two years. She was twice MVP, Defensive player of the year once, and offensive player of the year twice. She was a four year starter and was all state honorable mention her senior year. She was All-Conference 1995-98, while earning loads of awards during her four-year starting career. She had a career serving percentage of 93 percent, and a serve-receive percentage of 89. Abrahams added big career numbers in kills with 936, along with 642 digs.

Abrahams was a Varsity track Member for 5 years, All - Conference – once, All- Section - twice, and competed in the State True Team Meet. The team was the Mid-State Conference Champions all five years.

Abrahams became a 1,000-point scorer for the St. Cloud State University women’s basketball team St Cloud State and was a three year starter. At the time of her induction into the Laker Hall of Honor she is teaching her philosophy and hard-work ethic to the younger generation as assistant head coach for the UMD women’s basketball team.

When longtime Detroit Lakes coach Mike Labine talks shop with other coaches about past players, one name always comes up when the subject rolls around to basketball — Jessica Abrahams.

The well-round Abrahams became a Laker hardcourt legend, after she became just the second DL girls’ basketball player to eclipse the 1,000-point barrier, and ended her prosperous prep career in the all-time top 10 in points (1,072), rebounds (403) and assists (168).

Those numbers alone should tell the kind of player Abrahams really was — one of the best ever to don the Laker red and white.

“I’ve talked to other coaches from other towns and of all the kids they always remember, it’s Jess,” Labine said. “For me, Jess was the best basketball player I had the opportunity to be around.”

Abrahams treaded into very rare territory her senior year during the 1998-99 season, when she converted her 1,000th career point, joining Brenda Peterson (1981) as the only Lakers to score that many points in DLHS history.

But Abrahams’ game wasn’t just about offense, it was much more.

Her rebounding skill became as well known as her scoring, along with her unselfishness, which attributed to her impressive assist numbers.

Abrahams was a featured volleyball player and Mid-State All-Conference honoree four times over, as well as a track athlete.

She will join five others in the 2012 Laker Hall of Honor induction class for her superb play in all three sports.

But it was basketball where Abrahams made her mark — a sport where she has now made a living.

Abrahams became a 1,000-point scorer for the St. Cloud State University women’s basketball team and now is currently the assistant coach for the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs.

Although the game of basketball came natural for Abrahams, she added to it with endless hard work and an unselfish attitude, which featured not herself, but her team.

Starting out young, ending it strong

Abrahams is quick to credit the people around her for creating the success she had on the court, either in basketball or volleyball.

But have no qualms about it, Abrahams also made the players around her better.

She credits her high school basketball coaches, Labine and then assistant coach and now current head coach Mike Hoganson, for fostering her talents and helping them blossom into what they became.

“They were the ones who opened the gym on the weekends and in the summer,” Abrahams said. “They were constantly there for the players, and the biggest thing, they didn’t take it easy on us, but kept it enjoyable.”

Abrahams saw some varsity action in basketball as a freshman, but made her starting debut in her sophomore season.

The team was loaded with senior talent and sprang out to a 13-1 start, with Abrahams being a big contributor right off the bat.

A case of mono knocked Abrahams out of action during the season, as the Lakers finished two games shy of making the state tournament.

During her junior and senior seasons, Abrahams became a mismatch terror for opponents, as she was skilled off the dribble and on the block.

“She was an inside-outside threat,” Labine said. “By her senior year, we were seeing all sorts of gimmick defenses to defend her.”

But it was her on-court smarts which separated her from opposing players. Abrahams had superior shot selection, while playing stingy defense and showing the ability to find an open teammate.

During her senior season, she averaged 16 points per game, but only averaged 11 shots per game, alongn with finding her way to the free throw line plenty of times.

“I had good people around me and my teammates made me a better player,” Abrahams said. “Knowing and trusting my teammates helped my all-around game.”

Being accepted by her older teammates when she was a freshman also aided Abrahams’ growth and maturity.

“The upperclassmen embraced me, but they didn’t take it easy on me just because I was a sophomore and they were seniors,” Abrahams recalled. “We became close and they respected me and I took great pride in that.”

Abrahams was named Mid-State All-Conference 1997-99 and MVP her senior season, as well as being named All-State Honorable Mentioned in 1998 and 1999.

In 1998, she was also named All-State Honorable Mentioned in volleyball, under head coach Sam Gulon.

Although volleyball was not her focal sport, she played as hard during the fall season as the winter season.

She was All-Conference 1995-98, while earning loads of awards during her four-year starting career.

She had a career serving percentage of 93 percent, and a serve-receive percentage of 89.

Abrahams added big career numbers in kills with 936, along with 642 digs.

“I loved playing volleyball, it was just a fun sport playing under Sam (Gulon),” Abrahams said.

But Abrahams’ 1,000-point feat in basketball is what many Laker followers will remember her for.

“It was a huge honor and I still know a lot of people who were with me that night I scored 1,000,” Abrahams said. “It was a success for my teammates and coaches, too, because without them, I would have never accomplished that.”

Now, Abrahams is teaching her philosophy and hard-work ethic to the younger generation as assistant head coach for the UMD women’s basketball team.

It’s a job she knows she was born for.

“Not many get to say they get to coach basketball for a living,” Abrahams said.

“I couldn’t be doing this without my high school experience. It is truly humbling and honoring to be select for the Hall of Honor, along with the other great inductees and the past inductees. It’s a great honor to join them.”

Much like during her DLHS athletic career, Abrahams will be bring her class act into the Laker Hall of Honor.