Jerkaila Jordan aims to continue court dominance in Louisiana
RIVER RIDGE, La. (BVM) 鈥� In early March, the Louisiana High School Athletic Association stated that high school basketball championships would continue in spite of the COVID-19 outbreak. This allowed John Curtis Christian High School to complete its incredible run of state championship victories.
Led by Gatorade Louisiana Girls Basketball Player of the Year, Jerkaila Jordan, the Patriots were able to capture their fourth straight state title.聽
鈥淚 still remember winning my first championship four years ago,鈥� Jordan said. 鈥淚t feels like it was yesterday and that feeling is irreplaceable.
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In the 2019-20 season, Jordan led the Patriots to a 25-4 record. She averaged 21.7 points, 3 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks as a senior. A four-time state champion and title game MVP, Jordan looks up to NBA star DeMar DeRozan for motivation.聽
鈥淚 look up to DeMar DeRozan because he is underrated,鈥� Jordan said. 鈥淗e plays hard no matter how much recognition he gets whether it be a lot or not much.鈥澛�
Throughout her career at John Curtis, the program had an overall record of 112-11. Her success on the hardwood saw her ranked in 贬辞辞辫骋耻谤濒锄鈥檚 top 100 for the Class of 2020 – the only Louisiana baller on the list. Jordan was also voted Lousiansas Ms. Basketball. She is the first ever player in John Cutris鈥� history to earn this achievement.
Jordan looks to her basketball family for support. Her very first coach played the biggest influence as she started the pursuit of her basketball career.
鈥淢y first coach, Tiffany Joseph, influenced me the most because she was actually the one who got me to play basketball in the first place,鈥� Jordan said. 鈥淚 was originally a soccer player.聽
鈥淢y mom was not too big on basketball at first. She had to get familiar with it because I would always take her on visits with me and she would always have to talk to coaches or come to my basketball events, but she has always been supportive of me.鈥�
Jordan signed with Tulane University last November. She will be joining former teammates Dynah Jones and Salma Bates on the Green Wave women鈥檚 basketball team. Coached by Lisa Stockton, Tulane finished 14-17 overall and 8-8 in American Athletic Conference play this past season.聽
鈥淭ulane really feels like home,鈥� said Jordan. 鈥淚鈥檓 familiar with plays. I also played with Dynah Jones for two years and Salma Bates for three years. I feel like as a team we are going to do some great things and we will shake some people up.鈥�
Jordan, who plans on majoring in criminal justice, said she isn鈥檛 concerned that the COVID-19 outbreak will affect her first college basketball season.聽
鈥�I think the virus will die down before I get to college, hopefully,鈥� Jordan said.聽
She will hit the ground running once on campus.
鈥淭he game of basketball means a lot,鈥� Jordan said. 鈥淚 know a lot of life lessons from it actually. It taught me how to be a better person not only on the court but off the court as well.
