Fun-loving Hanson looking to soar o'er hoops

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

Her smile tells you that Jodi-Ann Hanson is your typical teenager who loves to have fun, whether playing the game of basketball or just hanging out with her friends on regular school days.

"I always love to smile, but whenever it is game time I am very serious," she said.

The 17-year-old, who stands at 6' 6'', has every reason to be be smiling as she is regarded by many as one of Jamaica's brightest female basketball prospects.

Hanson, a fifth-form student at The Queen's School, plays both the point guard and forward positions and says her aim is to become the best basketball player in the country.

"My plans for next season are to win all the individuals awards in the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association's (ISSA) competition, because I think that I have the right attitude and good work ethic to achieve this," Hanson told The Gleaner.

Since getting involved in the sport two years ago, Hanson's development has been very rapid, which resulted in her being voted as the top rebounder in last season's ISSA competition.

"I tried the sport and it is really fun and I love it," stated Hanson. "I think that I am a very good player because I have been working very hard to improve my game all the time."

Rounded athlete

A rounded athlete, Hanson had a fair bit of success in the pool, and also tried track and field, but admits it never worked out, so she decided to turn to basketball.

"I also tried swimming and I was good at it because I won a few medals. But after that, I tried basketball and it just worked out for me because I really love the sport."

Hanson says she is still working on improving her concentration on court, because this is the weakest part of her game.

"I am looking forward to greater things next year because I believe that I have matured a lot more in the game, and I also have a better understanding of the game," she said.

"I always tend to lose my focus whenever I am tired, and I am going to make sure that I improve on this for next season."

She added: "I see myself playing for Jamaica's national team and also in the WNBA one day."

Her coach at Queen's, Lorrel Meikle, said she is a very good all-round player.

"Jodi-Ann is a very laid back person and so I need some more aggression from her on the court.

"However, she is a very good player because she has a perfect jump shot and her ball-handling skills for a tall player is excellent," Meikle pointed out.

Hanson and members of The Queen's School were among students from three Corporate Area schools who received 30 pair of sneakers donated by national basketball player Simone Edwards, through her foundation Simone4Children, at a function on Wednesday. The other recipients were Camperdown High and St Hugh's High schools.