Obstacles - Shelby Jordan fights through

Wabash Valley-bound Shelby Jordan has overcome many obstacles
in his high school years that sent from Chicago's south suburbs to Nebraska and back.

By Frank Rusnak
It would be common to think Shelby Jordan has gray hair and a cane to guide his elderly body in getting around.

However, combing through the Hillcrest senior's hair, you come up empty. And about the cane ... well, there are dozens upon dozens of basketball players who went up against the combo guard that can certainly attest to no need for a cane.

"I had to make friends in Nebraska. That was pretty hard for me."

Shelby Jordan
Hillcrest High School

The 6'3" Jordan began his journey in the south suburbs of Chicago where he grew up very mature. Only problem is, the maturity was on the basketball court and very little was carried off the court with him.

Entering the Country Club Hills high school as a freshman, Jordan was promoted almost immediately to the varsity after coach Tom Cappel saw his abilities.

Not only was Jordan the only underclassmen on varsity, but he was surrounded by three future Division I players in Reo Logan (Miami-FL, Loyola), Odartey Blankson (Marquette, UNLV) and Monwell Randle (Southwest Missouri State).

"I had a great feeling being a freshman on varsity," Jordan said. "They were older guys, they’d been through everything and I was just there to learn from them."

While Jordan began to feel a little resentment from getting such quick stardom as a rookie, it was the off-the-court problems and fights that got him into trouble.

Realizing that a change would be needed if he ever wanted to accomplish anything beyond high school, Jordan looked for a way out.

"I just went to my momma one day and said, ‘Momma, I’m going to Nebraska,’ just to see what she’d say," he said. "She was like, ‘Go on ahead.’ I said ‘Well, alright, I’m gone then.’"

Easier than what he thought, he was off to stay with his aunt and uncle in Falls City, Nebraska, a town of 4,800. A big change from the Chicago area, where there was always something to do for Jordan.

“I had to make friends in Nebraska. That was pretty hard for me,” Jordan said. “My uncle had to take me to a gym just to meet friends. I went out for the football team just to make friends. My uncle was a football player and I knew if I played, then that would make him happy.”

Playing wide receiver and cornerback on the gridiron, he had fun playing football in an organized fashion for the first time in his life. However, he had even more fun on the hardwood, where his true gifts lie. Leading Sacred Heart, a Catholic High School of 80 students, he helped them to a state title in the second smallest of five classes.

“He just took me like I was one of his kids,” said Jordan, of his uncle. “But I couldn’t even stay there, that wasn’t really me down there. Then I came back, I already knew everyone and it was a lot more fun. Then, my senior year it was the second year back and that was pretty fun.”

So much fun, he helped guide his team to the No. 1 spot in the Chicagoland area for a short time and helped an underclassmen dominated team to a successful 27-2 record.

“He handles the ball and directs the kids well,” Cappel said. “He brings a very high level of competitiveness to the team and sets a terrific example. We are all fortunate at Hillcrest to have him.”

Mr. Everything for Hillcrest, Jordan filled the stat sheets tighter than Shaq in a Ugo. He averaged 22 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, three blocks and two steals a game for the SICA Central and regional championship Hawks.

Among Jordan’s highlights of his senior year was against SICA rival Rich Central and fellow all-state performer Jimmie Miles. Against Miles, a good friend and childhood teammate, Jordan torched the Olympians for 36 points, 18 of which were scored in the fourth quarter. With six seconds left, it was Jordan who nailed a 16-foot jumper to give his Hawks a 74-72 win.

That was just one feature of Jordan’s career, which he’ll be continuing at Wabash Valley Junior College in Mt. Carmel, Illinois next season as an academic non-qualifier.

“Back in the days we used to play together so I always knew what he was capable of,” said Miles, who is headed to Valparaiso. “I’m proud of him because most people who go away for a year and come back you might think they may not be good, but he came back focused and he knew what he needed to do to go to college to play basketball and that’s what he’s doing. So I congratulate him on a lot.”