Hi everybody,
This is Jordan Jensen-Whyte a Calgary, Alberta native who is currently living in St. John's Newfoundland playing professional basketball for the St. John's Edge basketball team. I'm also a University of British Columbia Basketball Alum and spent years living, studying and playing basketball in Vancouver. Van is like a second home. I also spend time during my summers training local Vancouver athletes at The Vancouver Basketball Academy so writing these weekly journals is a real honour for me and I appreciate everyone in Vancouver taking time to read. More important, I hope some of the young athletes out there find some level of insight or learn a little from something I share - that's the goal, here. I'm new to this whole blogging experience so I thought I start off giving you guys a bit of background on myself and my basketball career so far.
I was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta Canada and have been playing basketball since I was about 4. I have two older brothers whom I have looked up to my whole life as they have been and still are an inspiration to me everyday. As well, my mom and dad are the driving forces behind who I am today. Growing up with a basketball in my hands I played youth basketball for a community named PSA in the NorthEast of Calgary, special shout-out to Whitehorn community and the the properties around it. I played my club basketball for Eddie Richardson's 'Genesis Basketball' which, I believe, is hands-down the best club in Calgary (Sorry CY but it's only the truth) andI also would like to mention and thank Chris Monfort and Junior Palomino for their club program at the time named 'Foundation' and for everything they did not only for me but also for the direction basketball is heading in Calgary. There is a lot of people I could mention and thank in this so to all of you who are reading this and have had a lifting hand in my basketball career and in my life, from the bottom of my heart I say Thank You. From there at the age of 18 I moved to Ontario to prep for college basketball for the year, it was a big change for me because it was the first time I was leaving my family and friends to really pursue my dream.
Once I finished there I committed to the University of British Columbia headed by coaching staff Kevin Hanson, Vern Knopp, Spencer Mckay and Dahman Boudraa and played all 5 of my collegiate years there. It most definitely had its ups and downs as every student-athlete will tell you but I wouldn't change a single thing about it. It absolutely flew by but UBC was a life-changing experience and I have memories and friendships created there that will last a life-time, and I like to think I had a pretty good career there from the basketball stand-point. After all that I was fortunate enough to cap off my amateur career with a opportunity to represent Canada and play in the FISU games in Taipei, Taiwan.
I've been very fortunate to have these opportunities come my way but the most important part of all of this is that they are only a result of the people I have had surrounding and guiding me.
It's been a dream of mine my whole life to play professional basketball and until a few weeks ago that dream came to fruition. St John's has been such a welcoming city and the people here have been unbelievably friendly. We just had our home opener and it was one of the best, if not the best, atmospheres I have ever been a part of. (https://www.instagram.com/p/BcMlzCuHL6Z/?taken-by=nbl_canada) Our team is full of amazing talent and I am crazy excited to continue learning from my veterans and could not have asked for a better leader in Carl English. If you don't know the name, google it, I'm sure you'll find a thing or two on there about him. Now with all that being said, being a rookie again has been an adjustment for me. Coming from a place where I spent all 5 years working my way up and now being at the very beginning again is crazy but I am so excited to start a new climb and hopefully this one has a great peak just like the last one.
Currently we are 5-2 and have the defending champs coming into our home arena and it's going to be a challenge but we are more then up for it. As the season progresses I will keep you guys updated for those who wish to follow this. I wanted to use this first post as more of an introduction but as we move on they will be much more basketball related with a hint of knowledge and hopefully some helpful insight for all the young guns reading this.
Thanks for reading this and stay tuned for more!
JJW
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