Photo credit: MCS Girls Basketball

Midland Christian sophomore Jordan Stokes runs the floor for the Lady Mustangs with energy. When things speed up, she stays steady and keeps everyone else there with her.

“I don’t feel a lot of pressure to play basketball because I love it so much,” Stokes said. “It’s fun for me. I find a lot of joy in everything I do, and I love playing with my teammates, so it makes the pressure disappear.”

Around age 10, Stokes began playing at the Boys and Girls Club, where she quickly stood out. She later joined AAU basketball, bringing more competitive players and cementing her love for the game.

“I was the GOAT of the team,” she said with a laugh.

Her mother played high school basketball and advanced to the state tournament, finishing as a runner-up, and Stokes said she wanted to be just like her mom. When she was younger, she played nearly everything. She lined up at quarterback in backyard football games with her brothers while her dad coached. She ran track, played softball, and competed in cross country.

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Since she became fully focused on basketball, whether in the offseason or during the season, her training has been relentless. After school, she shoots 1,000 shots a day under her dad’s supervision. Ball-handling comes next, two-ball combinations from half court and back, each sequence repeated twice. She said this repetition helps her in practice and in games.

In practice, she gravitates toward drills that feel like real possessions. “Square up” is one she enjoys. Competing against the scout team raises the intensity. She said these drills help the team get better.

But Stokes’ preparation goes beyond reps. The night before each game, her dad gives her a pep talks and walks her through ways she can impact both herself and the team When tipoff arrives, she relies on her simple resets: a reset button and a cross.

That reset applies to more than just her own shot. She also aims to lead others by managing emotions and energy across the floor.

“I try to make sure people are out of their heads, having fun, and doing their job,” she said.

When teammates struggle or need a boost, she steps in as an anchor

“I tell them to hit their reset button and that they’ll make the next shot,” she said. “I remind them to listen to the coach and not the people in the stands. If they need me, I tell them I’ll get them on the next play.”

“When people on the bench get to play, I try to get them the ball as much as possible,” she said. “I want them to score and play. I’ll do anything to help them get points and playing time.”

For Stokes, running the point is just as much about making sure everyone else feels steady.