College Commitment: Jazz Ross (2019 Tigard HS)
Jazz Ross was going to play sports at the college level. The question for the athletic 6-foot-1, 185-pound senior wasn’t just where he would do so, but which sport he would participate in. Would it be football? Would it be basketball? Would it be both? Ross had been recruited by several schools in both and on Wednesday at a signing ceremony at Tigard High School, he revealed that he would be playing basketball at Pacific.
“I really like the new coaching staff at Pacific,” Ross said. “They share a lot of the same values that I do and I’m really excited for the future and their plans to build that program up. It’s a beautiful campus and the people there are just great. I’m really excited.”
Ross had been getting looked at by several schools in both sports, mainly in football from the likes of Linfield, Lewis & Clark, and also Pacific. But the Boxers were the main ones that wanted him for basketball – and when it came down to it, that’s the sport that Ross wanted to pursue further at the next level.
“I thought that I’ve never really given 100 percent to basketball – it’s always kind of been split with football,” Ross said. “I think now that I’m going to focus 100 percent on basketball and I feel like I’ll be able to do what I’m capable of – I think that my potential is high.”
Ross is a high-energy, hard-working guard that can really get after it on the defensive end. The consummate team player, he feels he should fit right into what Pacific will be trying to do next year. “I feel like I have really good team energy where I’ll cheer on my teammates, no matter how I’m doing,” Ross said. “I definitely need to work on my shooting and then keep on working on ball-handling and my defense. I think the biggest thing is getting my shot consistent.”
Ross currently ranks as the #73 player in the PrepHoops Oregon Class of 2019 rankings.