Jordana Sampson '21 Recruiting Profile

Growing up I had many hobbies, including playing soccer and basketball; however, basketball quickly became my favorite sport and I began to focus on really learning the game and improving my basketball playing skills. As a result, ever since the third grade I knew I wanted to play basketball at a collegiate level.

Playing basketball has helped me to become the leader I am today, both on and off the court. Having the opportunity to not just play basketball but to start at the varsity level while in the seventh grade, was a great experience. I was exposed to high school level basketball at a very young age. This helped me to mature not just as a player, but also as a student. At that time, being new to the varsity team, which had made it twice to the league championship game only to lose both times, was both nerve-racking and exciting. I love to compete and I was determined to help my team win the next time we made it to the championship. Unfortunately we lost my first year but that did not discourage me; instead, it encouraged me to work even harder when I returned to the team the following year.

As an eighth grader starting on the varsity team, we won our league championship; this was one of the greatest moments of my life.  Each of my first two years I have been voted as an all-star player at the end of the season. I am now in the ninth grade and I already have two years of varsity experience. This experience has been invaluable and has allowed me to easily step up as a leader of my team as we face a new season without our team captain, who was a great player, but who graduated this past June.  I am now both excited and eager to step-up on my team as a leader focused on making each player and our collective team better.