When you talk to senior Jaaden about basketball, you don’t just hear about the sport — you hear about commitment, resilience, and the power of showing up for the people around you. It’s no surprise he was recently nominated for Student Spotlight at Royce and recognized as Teammate of the Week for the Savannah Jaguars.
“I got nominated because of the effort I put into the team,” he explains. “Even though I don’t get put on the court that often, I still get my team’s support — and I give them mine.”
For Jaaden, being a teammate isn’t about minutes played. It’s about attitude. After every game, win or lose, he’s the one reminding the team what really matters.
“If we don’t win, it doesn’t matter how,” he says. “I tell them we did better than the last game. And if we didn’t, then we know what we’ve got to work on and improve.”
That mindset carries into practice too. Even when he’s hurting — literally — he refuses to hold back.
“One time my ankle was hurting, but I still tried to give 100%. Even if something’s holding me back, I still go all out.”
The Jaguars practice at the Winter Forest Baptist Church gym, where the energy is loud, supportive, and full of familiar faces. Several of Jaaden’s Royce classmates — Ahmed Minor, Thomas Davis, and Tamaj Williams — are right there beside him.
“We’re a team together,” he says. “I feel like the basketball team actually brought me closer to my friends. It really helped me improve — not just my basketball skills, but me.”
That’s the heart of Jaaden’s story: effort that inspires others, a team that lifts each other up, and a student who has grown through every challenge he’s faced.
At Royce, we celebrate students who lead with character, resilience, and heart. Jaaden embodies all three.
