Air Jordan: Altavista soars into state playoffs on strength of sophomore

Since transferring from Gretna last summer, Altavista sophomore forward Jerrell Jordan has transformed his game and changed the Colonels in a big way this winter.

“I’m a way better player now,” said Jordan, who is averaging close to 13 points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots in helping Altavista reach Saturday’s Group A, Division 1, state quarterfinal against Franklin at Longwood University.

Coach Mike Cartolaro returned one of the youngest teams he has had to work with in his career this year and Jordan, who played defensive end, tight end and some middle linebacker for the Colonels in the fall, has filled a void admirably inside.

“He’s certainly been a catalyst inside with his rebounding, his ability to score around the basket and block shots,” Cartolaro said. “He’s a very good athlete. He does a good job of guarding the post and can really get out on the perimeter and change some shots as well.”

A raw talent on the hardcourts for the Hawks last year, he has become much more polished in the post after practicing with Cartolaro and adjusting to the Colonels’ more disciplined offense.

“We just went in there and worked on things,” Jordan said. “I was willing to get better in a lot of ways, and learned to be more active on both offense and defense. I’ve just gotten more physical and stronger and stronger mentally, too. I’m playing smarter.”

As well as giving the Colonels a dominating inside presence, he has gotten along well with his teammates, improving the chemistry of the team by complementing junior wing Mike Poindexter and senior forward Jawaad Douglas.

“We play hard on the court and stay tight together off of it,” Jordan said. “Most of the other players help me (on defense). They’ve got my back. We’re a tight team.”

On the court, he has learned his role and played it well, using his athletic ability to emerge as a disruptive defensive force and offensive threat around the basket.

“Jerrell has been solid scoring around the rim,” Cartolaro said. “He gets a lot of attention and knows to pitch it out to the shooters. His post presence has made a big difference in our perimeter game, getting our guys open for shots.”

Jordan is adept at receiving rebounds and passes in the paint and distributing the ball to Kyle Andrews, Poindexter and Nick Ferguson behind the arc.

Andrews hit 10 treys and scored 38 points and Jordan netted 30 points in three games last week as the Colonels won their second Region B title in three seasons with upsets of Page County, Buffalo Gap and Riverheads in the championship game at Eastern Mennonite University.

Jordan didn’t just dream it possible that he’d be playing in the state tournament in his first season with Altavista. He predicted it.

“I did imagine that,” he said. “I knew and some of the players knew if I came in here, we could go real, real far. Everything’s coming right together.”

He said the Colonels’ postseason success is a byproduct of their hard work in practice.

“We worked hard and played a lot of close games (in the Dogwood District) and coach (Cartolaro) said something good’s going to happen,” Jordan said. “It’s prepared us and every game’s gotten more and more physical, tougher and tougher, harder and harder.”

But he wouldn’t have it any other way, especially considering the alternative of staying at Gretna, which suffered through a winless season this winter.

“It’s been a real good move, the best move that I could have made,” Jordan said.