Get to know sophomore Jakendrick Clevenger, who started playing basketball when he was 4. He is the starting point guard for the varsity squad this year.

Q: What do you do to prepare on game day?

A: “I listen to music.”

Q: What music do you listen to?

A:  “I listen to Rod Wave, NBA YoungBoy.”

Q: What is your go-to pregame meal or snack?

A: “Probably some Chick-fil-A.”

Q: How did you first start playing basketball?

A:  “On a mini hoop.”

Q: What is your favorite thing about basketball?

A: “Probably dribbling the ball.”

Q: Who has been the most influential person in your life?

A: “My mom, she’s always been there for me.”

Q: How has she helped you overcome challenges?

A: “They’ve helped with paying for me to play basketball.”

Q: What has been the most memorable moment playing basketball?

A: “Probably when I was a little kid, and I had my first game and I hit my first buzzer beater.”

Q: Who has been the most influential person on the team?

A: “I’ll probably say Davion (Sanford) because he has college offers.”

Q: How have they helped you overcome challenges?

A: “They get on me if they see me not in the mood to play basketball, or if I’m playing bad.”

Q: How is this year’s team compared to your past teams?

A: “Last year’s team I was on JV, and we were a younger team.”

Q: What are some of the team’s strengths and individual strengths?

A: “Probably our defense as a team, and my IQ on the basketball court.”

Q: How has starting on the team this year been challenging?

A: “Well, I’m a younger point guard so I have older people guarding me.”

Q: How have your teammates helped you make the adjustment?

A: “Just being there for me.”

Q: What do you feel the team needs to do to be successful?

A: “To just keep working hard.”

Q: How has your coach motivated you to become a vital player?

A: “By telling me that I’m young and that I can do all this stuff.”

Q: What has been the most rewarding part of being a starter on basketball?

A: “The most rewarding part is probably the handshake. Yeah, the player introductions.”

Q: What would you tell people to expect this season to encourage them to attend your games?

A: “That we are going to win, we will win games.” 

Q: What schools do you think will be the biggest challenge?

A: “Probably Lufkin, they’re more athletic and they have good players on the team that have offers.”