SWAC leading scorer Taleah Dilworth embraced the grind to get Jackson State close to its goal

It was a narrow stretch of cracked and worn concrete, just wide enough to work on layups. The rhythmic bounce of the ball served as the soundtrack to her childhood, a love language.

It was all Taleah Dilworth had. And so, Jackson State’s explosive and affable 5’8 senior guard made it everything. After all, dreaming remains free.

For many, that driveway would have been a constraint. But for Dilworth, it was a sanctuary where she honed her skills and nurtured her dreams. It was her canvas, where she learned control, balance, precision, and patience. She didn’t have the luxury of a spacious court for deep jumpers or full-motion crossovers, but she had a vision—one layup at a time.

Every afternoon, long after the searing Missouri sun descended below the iconic Gateway Arch and mighty Mississippi River, the St. Louis native was outside in her safe space engaging in spirited one-on-one games with her older brother, Tavion. Sometimes, Dilworth would play solo, imagining defenders in her way while counting down the clock in excited whispers and the roar of a thunderous crowd that wasn’t there yet.

The driveway, a humble stretch of cracked and worn concrete, felt the pulse of Dilworth’s determination and knew every secret; after all, it wasn’t just pavement. It’s a mentor, a witness, a keeper of dreams, and part of the family lore where her dad, Tremayne, was also an outstanding basketball player.

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“I’ve just always been in a basketball family like my brother,” Dilworth said, her voice filled with fond memories. “He’s always had a basketball in his hands since birth. He’s older than me. To play with him, I had to do what he wanted. So, it was playing basketball. That’s what we did. We always went outside and played on the basketball hoop. I just always been surrounded by basketball guys.”

Dilworth’s dreams are now a reality thanks to persistence and a few lonely nights.

With unwavering tenacity and heart, Dilworth does more than shoot layups these days. Her range has expanded, and her confidence has increased. She’s making her first year at Jackson State memorable as the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s leading scorer (15.5 points per game). Not only does the Kentucky State transfer make defenders stumble with her quick first step, but she also lights up defenses with accurate shooting, connecting at a 45.5% clip through Feb. 16.

“I didn’t know how it was going to be at the Division I level, especially coming from a Division II, but deep down, I knew that I could play with Division I talent,” Dilworth said. “I didn’t know how I was going to adjust … Coming in, it wasn’t on my mind that I would lead the SWAC in scoring. I was coming here to play basketball.”

Just like it was when it was only her, a hoop, a ball, and the driveway.

Dilworth isn’t just playing for any program—she’s part of the Jackson State legacy, a program that has consistently set high standards in the SWAC. Despite the changes in names, numbers, and coaches, the expectation of excellence remains. Jackson State is still the school that opponents circle on their schedules. Under the guidance of first-year head coach Margaret Richards, the Tiger roster has undergone a transformation after the departure of former coach Tomeika Reed to Charlotte.

As usual, as the games become more meaningful in February, Jackson State is again in a position to win a regular season championship. With five games remaining, the Tigers are in a three-way tie with Southern and Texas Southern for first place. They all have 11-2 conference records, a game ahead of fourth-place Alabama A&M.

In addition to Dilworth, Jackson State has received strong contributions from 5’9 graduate guard/forward Leianya Massenat, who is second in scoring at 9.1 points per game, and 5’9 senior guard Diake Berete, who is third on the Tigers in scoring, averaging 8.3 points. Zoe Cooper, a 5’11 graduate forward who hauls down 6.4 per game, leads the Tigers in rebounding. Running the Tiger show is 5’6 junior guard Jaileyah Cotton, who is fifth in the SWAC in assists per game (3.0).

However, Dilworth is the straw that stirs the Tigers and attracts the attention of opposing defenses.

Richards isn’t surprised that Dilworth’s radiant performances have the Tigers headed in the right direction. During the recruiting process, the fourth time proved to be the charm as Richards had numerous discussions with Dilworth about her goals and what she wanted from a possible program. Once Dilworth was comfortable with Richards, taking her talents from Kentucky to Mississippi was a no-brainer.

“I knew she would be a good asset for us,” Richards said. “Meeting her, she was just so sweet, and it made the official visit easy. She committed to me before she visited campus. I was excited. We both were having fun and laughing. It just made it cool. I remember the conversation being easy. She was very humble.”

While they discussed basketball principles and personnel during her recruiting visit, Dilworth wanted to know where the business department was because she was serious about her academics. Richards knew she had a pearl at that moment.

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Richards has now issued a challenge to Dilworth that is more than attainable thanks to her consistency throughout the season, especially knowing that defenses are geared to stop her.

“She told me that I have the potential to be the player of the year,” Dilworth said. “So that’s what we are working on right now … We knew we had big shoes to fill because of Jackson State’s success before we arrived, but we knew we were built for this. We were here for a reason. We’re all here to win. We took it on the chin (during non-conference), but we didn’t let it get to us.”

Considering the adversity that Dilworth experienced, being a member of a program that played its first 12 games of the 2024-25 season on the road and was the last Division I women’s basketball team to play a home contest, which happened on Jan. 9, wasn’t that big of a deal—just another challenge to conquer.

Beneath Dilworth’s pleasant exterior is the pain of missing her mother, Laquana, who died during her freshman year at Kentucky State. Dilworth plays every game for her. She remembers the sacrifices she made so that she could showcase her dynamic game now. Working two jobs to help afford tournament fees, sneakers, and travel, the exhaustion in her mom’s eyes was hidden behind a tired but proud smile.

Mom never missed a game, never missed a moment. That made a huge difference for Dilworth, who has the word “mom” in small letters tattooed on her left arm. She also has a huge flower tattoo stretching from the top of her shoulder to just below the elbow on the same arm in tribute to her mom with the phrase “embrace the journey.”

“My mom and I were close,” Dilworth said. “She was my biggest supporter, my number one fan. Since it happened right before the season, I had to be strong and grow up. I’m just a God-fearing person. I am who I am today because of God. I give him all the glory. He’s got me through so much and is a big part of my life. I also play every game for my mom.”

She would love her daughter’s production. Dilworth has scored double figures in 22 of the Tigers’ 24 games. She had scored in double figures in 18 straight contests before finishing with eight points in a hard-earned 40-37 victory over Florida A&M on Feb. 15. She scored a season-high 23 points in a win over Florida A&M and tallied 22 points in a road loss to first-place Texas Southern.

According to CBB Analytics, Dilworth is shooting 66.7% on shots in the paint (60-for-90), which is 9.3% above the Division I average from that range. She has attempted 35% of her shots this season from in the paint, above the Division I average of 30.3%. Dilworth’s effective field goal percentage is 49.2%. According to Synergy, she averages 0.947 points per possession, which is excellent. That increases to 1.176 points per possession in transition.

“I ride her all the time,” Richards said. “She made me a believer when we played Texas Southern because, at first, I didn’t know if she was tough enough to be Player of the Year. Although we lost that game, I thought she was the best player on the floor. You know, me being a guard myself. She showed tenacity and continued to play hard even when the game was tough. It didn’t matter what the score was. She fought. She rebounded. I’m on her behind about rebounding the basketball, but I’m most impressed with her being an unbelievably humble, sound, and good person and her growth.”

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Dilworth embraced the grind.

She shined at Kentucky State, earning second-team All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) recognition after averaging 14.7 points per game on 48.4 percent shooting last season. Dilworth, who played AAU for Team St. Louis, helped the Thorobreds advance to the SIAC championship game and entered JSU with 884 career points.

She never lost faith that an opportunity to play at the highest level would arrive. She stayed ready while working hard in silence. Every early morning workout, every late-night gym session, and every doubt she may have had was all worth it, proof that dreams don’t die if you refuse to let them.

“Having the opportunity to play Division I basketball ever since I was a kid was the goal,” Dilworth said. “Even with me going Division II, I still felt like there was a chance I go to Division I. Having the coaches give me this opportunity to perform on this stage and platform is big. I am still taking everything in and enjoying every moment.”

Like she did when it was just her, a hoop, a ball, and the driveway. The only difference is that there’s also an angel watching her every move.