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Kerpan all net with college hoops scholarship
Comments 0 | Recommend 0Ahwatukee resident, Valley Christian standout to play for Trinity International (Ill.)
Sometimes bigger isn't always better.
At least not as far as Jordan Kerpan is concerned.
After being cut from his seventh-grade basketball team at Kyrene Altadeña Middle School in the Ahwatukee Foothills, Kerpan has earned a four-year basketball scholarship at Trinity International University in Deerfield, Ill., northwest of Chicago.
A setback in middle school didn't discourage Kerpan.
He blossomed at Valley Christian High School, where he perfected his three-point shot and earned two Most Valuable Player awards, was named to the Class 2A All Conference and All State teams, was a starter on the 1-3A state All Star team and won the state three-point shootout championship.
As a student/athlete at a high school with an enrollment of 400, Kerpan was looking for a small college and feels like he found it at Trinity University.
"I was looking at a few schools and they offered me a pretty decent scholarship," Kerpan said. "I kind of wanted a change but wanted to stick to a Christian school, so it seemed like the right choice."
Trinity, which plays in the Chicago Collegiate Athletic Conference, has an undergraduate enrollment of 3,000 students.
Kerpan wrapped up his prep basketball career by winning a spot on the ABCA Arizona All Star team that played in the US Airways Center, home of the NBA Phoenix Suns.
It was a big change from the cozy gym at Valley Christian.
"It was different at first, but you get used to it," Kerpan said.
His three-point shot is what helped separate him from other players in the league, but he said although it came naturally at first he still has to work on it daily.
This summer he plans to keep working on his game and his shot.
"I'm not very strong," Kerpan said, "so this summer I'm going to work on getting stronger and faster and see if I can contribute right away in college."
After playing four years at Valley Christian, Kerpan said he is going to miss the intimacy of a small school.
"But, I wanted a change and I'm looking forward to something new and still being able to play ball."
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