Basketball Recruiting Q and A: Jason Todd
Rising senior Jason Todd raised eyebrows in his junior year at Jackson High School in Washington state. Todd (6-foot-6, 200lbs) was named the Gatorade state player of the year after he averaged 21.5 points and 10.8 rebounds per game while also leading his team to a 26-1 record and a second place finish at the 4A state tournament. Todd, a two-sport athlete, in baseball and basketball, is garnering interest from several WCC schools and is one of the state’s top basketball players going into next season. West Coast Convo caught up with Todd to recap his junior year and get the latest news on his recruitment.
Recap your junior basketball season at Jackson. Were you satisfied with how everything turned out?
We were fortunate enough to win our fourth straight WesCo South title, third straight district title and fourth consecutive year of going to state. Looking back, it was a great year going 26-1 , however that one loss is what I remember most and is also what drives me everyday.
How’s the overall recruitment going? Have you decided on focusing solely on basketball?
Recruiting right now is really hectic. There is a lot of interest and people are waiting to see how July goes. I am for sure playing basketball but if the situation works and everyone is on board, I’ll play baseball as well.
You were just on an unofficial visit to Santa Clara, correct? How did that go for you?
Yes, I went down there last week. It went great. I had my mom there with me and it was a good to get a visual of the school itself and see everything the school has to offer.
What schools right now are showing you the most interest?
Santa Clara, Nevada, San Diego, Gonzaga, Portland, Utah, Washington St., Davidson, Montana and Oregon St.
As far as the recruiting process goes, who have you looked to for advice?
My brother and sister definitely, because they’ve both been through the process themselves. My dad will always be my biggest supporter and a guy I can trust with that stuff. I really like to keep my circle close with recruiting which is why I don’t talk about it much.
What’s the summer looking like for you basketball-wise? Who are you playing for and what are some of the big tournaments you’re looking forward to participating in?
I’m playing for Friend of Hoop again and I’m really just looking forward to getting back out there and playing. I wasn’t able to play in the April session because of my ankle, so the Las Vegas and Bellevue tournaments should be a lot of fun.
What are you looking to showcase individually this coming July to coaches?
Not only that my ankle is fine and a no-factor, but also that I can play the wing at the college level. I want to showcase that I know how to play and am willing to do anything I need to do in order to win and create chances for my teammates to succeed.
Anything else you’d like to add that we haven’t covered?
I’m perfectly fine not being the biggest name recruit or highly ranked. I’m gonna work my butt off and let the chips fall where they may.