Junior Sets New Records in Varsity Girls’ Basketball
For many talented and committed high school basketball players, achieving the 1,000-point milestone is something they set their sights on as freshmen. But Principia varsity forward Jordan Fredrickson (US’20) has been thinking about it since Lower School!
“When I was in fifth grade, I watched Liz Gilman (US’12) earn her 1,000th point, and right then I decided I wanted to reach that goal, too,” says Jordan. “But I never thought I would get it in three seasons!”
On January 18, Jordan became the first Principia Upper School girl to reach 1,000 points as a junior—in breathtaking fashion, on a free throw in the final minute of the game! “I realize how special this accomplishment is, and I am grateful for all my coaches and teammates who have inspired me and supported me,” she says.
In particular, Jordan and her parents appreciate the mentoring of Shad Nichols (C’98), who was head coach of girls’ varsity basketball for nine years (as well as serving as School athletics director and associate athletics director). Nichols, who is now assistant women’s basketball coach at Washington University in St. Louis, invited Jordan to join a “mini hoopers” group when she was in fourth grade. “At the time, it was fun, and I enjoyed being on a team,” Jordan recalls. “But as I kept playing, I fell in love with the competitiveness and work ethic required to play well. . . . I am deeply grateful to Shad.”
Recalling how Jordan has grown since then—both in skills and height—Nichols says, “She has turned herself into one of the best basketball players in Missouri, testing herself against the best and traveling the country with the top club team in St. Louis.” But, he adds, “Becoming the leading scorer in St. Louis isn’t easy; it doesn't just happen—greatness never does. What it takes is a combination of love and an indomitable spirit—and literally hundreds of thousands of practice shots.”
After her freshman year—during which Jordan set Principia records for highest freshman scoring and rebounds—she worked intensively in the off season. Her goal was to make 20,000 shots before her sophomore season began, but she ended up making 22,500. Her scoring average per game rose from 8.1 points her freshman year to 17.3 her sophomore year. It’s approximately 21 per game this season.
Kara Johnson (US’12, C’16), who is head coach this year, speaks highly of Jordan’s commitment and work ethic. “Jordan lives and breathes basketball,” she says. But more than that, “She radiates positivity on and off the basketball court” and is a consummate team player—a factor also cited by Nichols, who notes that Fredrickson played on the team alongside several other 1,000-point scorers during her first two years. “With so many talented players on the team,” he explains, “in order for each to reach her 1,000-point goal, all had to be unselfish teammates, willing at times to set aside their talent, demonstrate a sincere desire to share the ball, and play in a way that was best for the team.”
Jordan works just as hard in the classroom as she does on the court. She has been on the Honor Roll every semester of Upper School and has particularly enjoyed the series of Bible electives. Last year, she traveled to Israel with the Bible 2 class and is headed to Greece with the Bible 4 class in May. The Bible electives and trips, Jordan says, “have helped me see more of the spiritual meaning of the Bible and how relevant the Bible is to my life.”
Note:
Jordan is the eighth Upper School girl to have scored 1,000 points—and the first to do so as a junior. She follows Sarah (Corbitt) Banning who reached the milestone in 2009, Liz Gilman and Kara Johnson (2012), Alli Ball (2013), Caitlyn Demaree (2016), and Kate Hinds and Cameron Bania (2018).