By Andrew J. Barnes ’12
THE ROUNDUP

Since second grade, basketball has been a huge part of the life of Brophy senior Jordan Medl ’12.

“My dad was actually my first coach,” Medl said. “I started playing club in middle school.”

When he arrived at Brophy, Medl played for the freshman team, then made the varsity team his sophomore year.

“Jordan is the opposition’s worst nightmare,” said teammate Greg Patten ’12. “If you take a break for even one second, he will basically make a fool of you.”

Medl said his favorite part about basketball is the aspect of being on a team, and it’s a small sport so “you get to know each one of your teammates really well.”

As starting power forward for the varsity basketball team, Medl carries the title of co-captain of a team that went to the state championship last year.

“We all had this feeling that we knew we could get there, but when it actually came it was almost unreal,” Medl said.

The expectation for the team is to try to win the state championship this year, but nothing is too different regarding expectations, Medl said.

Medl said he believes that he is good at leading by example for the younger players, as well as the seniors.

Medl also believes he has some things to work on as the season progresses.

“Coach Mr. Tony Fuller always tells me that I need to work on my balance,” Medl said. “I also want to have a better free throw percentage than past years.”

Medl has also been involved in plenty of extracurricular activities, including Big Brothers, attending the El Salvador trip last summer, being co-president of the “Family to Family” club, and leading Kairos 114 in October.

“He is a naturally loving guy on and off the court,” Patten said.

He also was named a fall 2011 Distinguished Student, a select group of individuals recognized for their academics as well as involvement at Brophy.

“He has a huge heart, which makes him a great role model for not only guys on the team, but the entire student body,” Patten said.

Medl said that he would like to play basketball in college, but it’s a “hard process.”

“I’ve been fortunate enough to have other things going for me besides basketball,” Medl said. “And if it happens, it happens.”