NAVAJO, N.M. — Jordan Louis of Crystal, N. M., basketball player for Navajo Pine High School, signed a letter of intent to play for Paul Smith’s College in New York on June 12 with the support of family members.
Her newly hired Head Coach, and former women’s assistant coach, Andrew Pond was full of praise for Louis.
“I’m excited to announce Jordan Louis … will be joining the roster. The 5’2” point guard will provide balance for the Bobcats in scoring, defensive toughness, and overall leadership as an incoming freshman,” Pond said.
What caught Pond’s eye about Jordan was her floor-general ability to run the offense and put every one of her teammates in the right place. The Paul Smith’s College Bobcats found Jordan on the NCSA recruiting site. Pond watched her film and instantly reached out to her.
Pond said this marks the rebirth of a program whose freshman class is built to be a contender in the Yankee Small Conference.
Paul Smith’s College is located in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains in Northern New York just thirty minutes from Lake Placid, N. Y., where the 1932 and 1980 winter Olympic Games were held.
Louis said in her academic studies, she has an interest in studying international tourism and business development.
“Jordan Louis has been a fantastic and an outstanding student-athlete, Wilbert Nez. Head Girls Basketball Coach, NPHS, said. “She achieved the Navajo Pine High School Class of 2021 Salutatorian with academic excellence.
“As a student-athlete, she has spent countless hours on perfecting her skill and talents at the game of basketball at Navajo Pine High School. Jordan has far exceeded all expectations; she is the overall scoring leader in the State of New Mexico with 666 points during the 2019-2020 Season, and in addition, she has scored over 2000 points in the span of five years with the Navajo Pine Girls Basketball program,” Nez continued.
“We are extremely excited and proud to hear that Jordan will continue her basketball career at Paul Smith’s College, Home of the Bobcats,” Nez said. “We, the Navajo Pine High School Teachers, Staff, the community members of Navajo, N.M., and all of Jordan’s fans, are all looking forward to seeing Jordan play at Paul Smith’s College.
“We wish all the best to Jordan and her successful journey to New York,” he said.
Louis attributes her basketball skill development and style of play to her father, uncles, and grandfather. She said she is grateful to all the coaches she had at school.
“I am most grateful to my older brothers and sisters who played with me on the dirt court at home and helped me to become aggressive as they were all taller and bigger than me,” Louis said.
