Encouraged from an early age, and hearing comments like “you’re gonna be good at football”, Jonathan Tanori, better known as J.T, always knew where he was headed. He began his journey his freshman year and created an impressive track record in only his first year of football. Not only making varsity as a freshman, but earning the title of “freshman of the year” as well.
However, his hard work does not stop there especially after bouncing back from an ACL tear in both knees that same year. He continues to work relentlessly including training outside of school practices, juggling school responsibilities and actively working on his time management skills.
Faced with more than just injuries, the pressure of school work and expectation to perform the best simultaneously made his grades suffer. Despite these challenges he decided to persevere and enter the early stages of recruiting. He is currently reaching out to schools including Fresno State, out of state institutions, and community colleges while already making visits to some of the schools.
J.T stresses the importance of persistence and to, “Stay on top of things, post game film and make highlight reels.” His experience highlights that you can’t expect results when you don’t try, persistence for him is to continue showing up to practice and let colleges know he is working to become the best player he can be.
While J.T continues to reach out to football coaches, senior Jayvohn Johnson, shares his side as he enters the beginning stages of recruitment for both basketball and volleyball.
Discovering his passion for basketball in third grade and volleyball in eighth grade, he decided that same year that he would play basketball in college. What he would not decide until his junior year was to pursue the same path for volleyball. Through his high school career he has worked hard to earn awards like MVP for volleyball and for basketball.
Previously a member of a club basketball team outside of school, finding a balance between both sports and academics has been one of his toughest challenges. Although he has yet to start his final high school basketball season in the fall and volleyball season in the spring, he has already made plans to pursue both Division 1 and 2 programs.
He is set on reaching out to schools including SJSU, Sacramento State, CSU Long Beach and Chico State for both sports. As he reaches out to coaches via email, he encourages others to, “don’t hesitate and stay on top of recruiting and scholarships.”
