Vanessa de Jesus

Last updated

Vanessa de Jesus
UNC vs Duke (Jan 2025) 21.jpg
De Jesus with Duke in 2025
No. 2Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Position Point guard
League Atlantic Coast Conference
Personal information
Born (2002-01-17) January 17, 2002 (age 23)
Northridge, California, U.S.
NationalityFilipino / American
Listed height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Career information
High school Sierra Canyon
(Los Angeles, California)
College

Vanessa Ongkeko de Jesus [1] (born January 17, 2002) is a Filipino-American college basketball player who plays for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Contents

Early life and education

Vanessa de Jesus was born on January 17, 2002, in Northridge, California, with Valencia considered as her hometown. [1] Her parents Phillip and Maria de Jesus, [1] are both Filipinos. [2] She would attend Sierra Canyon School in Los Angeles before entering Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, for her collegiate studies. [1] She transferred to the University of Notre Dame on April 9, 2025. [3]

Career

College

De Jesus committed to play for the Duke Blue Devils in the NCAA Division I in May 2019 which was then under coach Joanne P. McCallie. De Jesus would only be the player who had committed to remain with the Blue Devils after McCallie left. [4]

She debuted for the team now coached by Kara Lawson [4] in November 2020, becoming the first Filipino in Duke University's women's basketball program. [5] [6] [7]

In April 2025, De Jesus announced that she will transfer to Notre Dame and play for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. [8]

National team

De Jesus has expressed interest to suit up for the Philippines national team as early as 2020. [9] She would obtain her Philippine passport in May 2023 at age 21, making her eligible to play as a "naturalized player" according to FIBA eligibility rules. [10] She debuted for the Philippines at the 2023 FIBA Women's Asia Cup. [2] [11] [12]

Career statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game
 TO  Turnovers per game FG%  Field-goal percentage 3P%  3-point field-goal percentage FT%  Free-throw percentage
 Bold Career best°League leader

College

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGTOPPG
2020–21 Duke 4433.354.550.060.03.83.80.00.32.012.0
2021–22 Duke 301319.536.727.162.12.32.30.50.11.64.2
2022–23 Duke 32115.542.734.889.22.11.50.80.01.35.0
2024–25 Duke 36012.447.636.168.01.41.80.60.11.03.1
Career1021816.342.833.873.32.02.00.60.11.34.4
Statistics retrieved from Sports-Reference. [13]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Vanessa de Jesus - 2022-23 - Women's Basketball". Duke University. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  2. 1 2 Fuertes, Rommel Jr. (June 14, 2023). "Vanessa De Jesus commits to play for Gilas Women with 'family and basketball' in mind". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  3. Anzures, Rom (April 20, 2025). "Gilas' Vanessa de Jesus leaves Duke, commits to Notre Dame". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
  4. 1 2 Reyes, Kate (November 26, 2020). "Gilas Women's prospect Vanessa de Jesus makes a splash in US NCAA debut". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  5. Reyes, Kate (September 17, 2020). "Fil-Am De Jesus' Duke gig will open doors for Pinay ballers, says Aquino". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  6. Morales, Luisa (November 30, 2020). "Gilas women prospect de Jesus earns high praise from Duke coach". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  7. Morales, Luisa (October 22, 2021). "Duke's Vanessa De Jesus raring to represent Filipinos in US NCAA". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  8. "De Jesus Joins Notre Dame For Graduate Season". Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Official Athletics Website. April 22, 2025. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  9. Lozada, Bong (September 18, 2020). "Duke recruit Vanessa de Jesus willing to play for Gilas women". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  10. "Duke's Vanessa de Jesus gets PH passport, can play for Gilas Women". ABS-CBN News. May 17, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  11. Anzures, Rom (June 14, 2023). "De Jesus hopes to bring winning experience, relentlessness to Gilas". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  12. "Vanessa De Jesus savors Gilas Women debut, hopes to come back stronger vs Japan". GMA News. GMA Integrated News. June 26, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  13. "Vanessa De Jesus College Stats". Sports-Reference . Retrieved April 1, 2025.