The Westside Wolves girls varsity basketball program is running on all cylinders. With an unbeaten record of 9-0 in the 6A Region III District 18 girls’ basketball standings, the Wolves hope to make a deep playoff run. Leading the Wolves is senior power forward Telynn Lee-Rose.
“From her freshman year to now, there are so many admirable qualities that she brings to the table. Overall, her leadership has been the most impressive. She has turned that up from probably about a ten when I met her to 110, and without that, we wouldn’t be where we’re at,” said Wolves head coach Troy Gillespie.
Lee-Rose currently leads the Wolves in blocks and rebounds. Her basketball journey is a tale of determination, resilience, and continuous improvement. She is inspired by watching the playing style of Las Vegas Ace’s, A’ja Wilson, who is one of seven WNBA players who has two MVPs, two Defensive Player of the Year awards, and a Finals MVP.
“Aside from her being good, I’m left-handed and she’s also left-handed and I don’t usually see that many left-handed people that play the same position as me,” said Lee-Rose.
Her introduction to sports in middle school involved track and volleyball, but it wasn’t until the 7th grade that Lee-Rose began her basketball journey while at West Briar Middle School.
Telynn Lee-Rose
IG: @TelynnMichelle
Twitter: @TelynnMichelle
Position: Power Forward
Height & weight: 5-feet-11, 142 pounds
Player she studies: A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces)
Status: Uncommitted
Favorite artist: SZA
Favorite subject: History
Shout-outs: Mom, Dad, Coach Gillespie and my brother
Lee-Rose’s freshman season at Westside High School was impacted by COVID-19, but by her sophomore season, she was able to play varsity basketball and earned her spot in the starting lineup.
“Playing as a sophomore was kind of nerve-racking because I improved a lot that summer. Coach saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself at the time. The more minutes he gave me, the more I felt like I improved as a player,” said Lee-Rose.
Lee-Rose’s second year on the court was abruptly halted by a season-ending ACL injury. This type of injury has sidelined numerous basketball greats, including Derrick Rose, John Wall, and Rajon Rondo. Many athletes struggle to fully recover from an ACL tear, and those who do often return, but not at the same peak level they once achieved.
“At the beginning, I didn’t want to play basketball anymore. I wanted to quit,” said Lee-Rose. “When I had the surgery I spent time in my room thinking, what am I going to do? Then it dawned on me, I have to play.”
After summer workouts, and observing the team’s gameplay, Lee-Rose was fueled by her determination to join her teammates during practice. Unlike many peers who engaged in AAU basketball from a young age, Lee-Rose didn’t get involved with AAU until her junior season after overcoming her ACL injury.
Inspired by witnessing practice sessions and participating in summer workouts, Lee-Rose was driven to unite with her teammates. Though being on the sidelines was disheartening, the camaraderie and dynamic gameplay fueled her determination to persist and eagerly look forward to playing alongside them.
“The more I looked at them, the more I pushed to get back on the court,” said Lee-Rose.
Continuing her momentum from junior season, Lee-Rose secured the Defensive Player of the Year award that year. In her senior season, she further excelled by clinching the HISD tournament MVP in the platinum division.
“It felt great. It felt like I could do anything,” said Lee-Rose.
In her senior season, Lee-Rose is still working to improve her game.
“I’m working on my box out, but I’m trying to get my shot together too. It’s been a struggle for me to improve my shooting, but now it’s time to get that ready,” said Lee-Rose.
Lee-Rose recognizes the significance of aspiring to excel and guides fellow athletes on their respective journeys.
“Strive to be the best and lead as much as you can, even if your teammates don’t want to hear it, keep pushing them no matter what,” said Lee-Rose.
Lee-Rose has not yet committed to a college program but expresses a desire to pursue kinesiology during her academic tenure. Beyond her basketball career, she hopes to transition into the field of physical therapy.
