Hamilton sophomore Jade Fort helped take the Yankees girls basketball team go on a deep run in the CIF Division I City Section playoffs.
Fort improved on her confidence throughout the season, which helped the Yankees make a 21-10 overall record and 8-4 Western League record.
“It’s really all mindset,” Fort said. “That’s what I understand now.”
The Yankees also reached the Division IV CIF State playoffs where they upset the second-seeded Chino Cowboys 54-29 in the first round.
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Playing AAU basketball taught Fort the fundamentals, which expanded her basketball IQ.
“It taught me the main things you need to know to play basketball,” she said. “Playing AAU more and more got me more comfortable playing and more confident.”
This is Fort’s first year on the Yankees, switching schools had been challenging for her. She was happy to enroll at a school with a strong girls’ basketball team.
“I think our press is really good when we run it right,” Fort said. “When we trap, it’s really good and that’s how we score off our defense.”
A proud moment for Fort was when she played her first game with the Yankees.
“It was a sit-out period,” she said. “I had to wait five games and then when I got to play, I was happy.”
Fort understands that being a Student Athlete is significant because an exclusive group of people can juggle the rigors of academics and athletic competition. Balancing the two endeavors is not difficult for Fort.
“It’s not that bad,” she said. “You just do your homework in school and then after practice.”
Fort’s favorite class is English because she likes writing essays.
“It’s just like fancy talking,” she said. “I just like writing.”
Outside of academics and athletics, Fort enjoys cooking and painting.
“I like to cook more but I sometimes bake too,” she said. “I love making salmon and steaks and burgers.”
Fort has also participated in a volunteer effort with the team. They helped kids during a Halloween event at a local park.
“We helped the kids, they had games going on,” Fort said. “Then they had a costume contest.”
