Ever the Long Shot : Culver City Junior Is an Accomplished 3-Point Shooter

When she arrived at Culver City High as a freshman, Jenny Nakanishi was given a good shot of making the team. It turns out the good shot was a long shot.

Nakanishi, 17, has become the most prolific three-point shooter in Southern Section history.

As a freshman, she made 73 three-point baskets, third on the all-time Southern Section list for a season, and last season she added 49. Through 17 games this season, she has had 59 three-point field goals.

Her career total of 181 on 473 attempts (38.3%) is ahead of Cerritos Whitney’s Kristen Ebright, who has 161 through Monday. The record was set by former Brea-Olinda standout Aimee McDaniel, who had 137 from 1986-90. McDaniel is now a sophomore at Pepperdine.

Nakanishi seems almost oblivious to records and their possible significance to college scouts. She is intent on playing well and thereby earning a college scholarship, but she is also determined to let nothing get in the way of her main reason for playing: having fun.

“I love (basketball), and there is really no added pressure (to get a scholarship),” she said. “As my mom tells me, ‘As long as I see a smile on your face, I know you’re enjoying the game.’ And all I can do is my best.”

Her best asset--making shots from outside 19 feet 9 inches--is good enough for Culver City Coach Jon Chapman.

“I’m kind of an old-fashioned guy who believes in pounding the ball inside,” Chapman said. “But when you’ve got somebody who can shoot the ball from out there, you might as well exploit it.”

Chapman also takes advantage of Nakanishi’s other skills. In addition to leading the Centaurs with averages of 25.4 points and 5.1 rebounds, she also plays good defense. She had 41 steals through 14 games, and, if an opposing team’s best scorer is not a center or a point guard, she is assigned to defend that player.

“She reads the floor very well and causes all sorts of problems,” Chapman said. “She is a complete player.”

With several talented players, Culver City (12-5) has risen to seventh in the Division III rankings. Chapman said he is “sort of amazed” about his team’s record thus far.

“What we have, basically, is a lot of retreaded point guards. We’re not physical nor big at all. This team is firm in the belief that the meek shall inherit the earth.

“I’ve been walking on pins and needles because I don’t know what’s going to happen. We could finish in any position. We could end up first (in the Ocean League, where the Centaurs were 1-1 at week’s end) if everything fell right for us. If everything fell wrong, any team could beat us.”

Chapman said that Nakanishi does not have the freedom to attempt a three-point shot at any time, but he has seldom reprimanded her for poor shot selection.

“If she takes an off-balance shot and she could have worked it in a little bit more, I let her know about it,” he said. “I have told her in the past to start letting it fly and see what you can do. Our offense is not geared for her, but, if we need it and she has the hot hand, I let the reins loose and let her roll.

“This year she has been playing very consistently, and that consistency also shows in the play of the team. She is a constant positive force that other teams need to think about.”

Nakanishi started competing when she was 5. She was one of the few girls who played on boys’ teams in the Crescent Bay Optimist Club’s Hot Shots League.

She played in that league until she was in the fourth grade, said her father and first coach, Jack, the manager of the Culver City Recreation and Leisure Services Division.

Jack said that Jenny wanted to play since she was a toddler and tried to emulate him and his older daughter, Jackie, now a 21-year-old West Los Angeles College student, when they were shooting in the back yard.

Jenny said the game is still as much fun for her as it was when she started playing at home, but she would like to see Culver City have a strong season.

She said that this season’s team is probably better than the other two she has played on. “I think that’s because we’re getting along better and work as a team better,” she said. “I think we’re stronger this year too.

“We don’t have much height, but we work hard on rebounding. We’re probably shorter than most teams, but we’re quick.”

Whatever happens this season, Jack is hoping that Jenny doesn’t lose her capacity to have fun on the court.

“A lot of kids are more intense and real business-like (about basketball). She has kind of surprised me. When you look at her, she seems happy playing the game.

“If I were an opponent, I would wonder why she is so happy. It’s because she’s doing something she really enjoys.”