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WEST JORDAN — Recruiting got off to an early start for West Jordan High basketball player Jordan Loveridge. He received his first offer from Weber State as a sophomore and now the 6-foot-6, 225-pound prospect holds four more.
Loveridge played small and power forward for the Jaguars last year and averaged 23.5 points and 10 rebounds per game as a junior. He was named a first-team all-stater, and many schools have taken notice.
He currently holds offers from Weber State, BYU, Utah and Colorado State, and he is thankful for all of the early interest.
West Jordan
Height: 6-6
Weight: 225 lbs.
Offers
Weber State
BYU
Utah
Colorado State
“I remember when Weber State offered me during my sophomore year, and it was really a bit overwhelming to me at the time,” he said. “It was exciting for sure to know that a college program believed in me enough to offer me a scholarship.”
Loveridge immediately liked Weber’s head coach Randy Rahe and his staff. He’s since visited the school often on unofficial visits.
“I really like it up there,” he said. “They were the first school to believe in me, and gave me my first offer, so I love that about them. The coaches really have a good thing going up there, and it’s a school I’m strongly considering.”
BYU offered him midway through his breakout junior season.
BYU was also experiencing its own breakout season at the time with Jimmermania catching the attention of the nation, and had caught Loveridge’s attention at the time of his offer.
“I was real excited when BYU offered me for sure,” he said. “Coach (Dave) Rose offered me while his team was playing so well, so the fact that he wanted me to be part of his program definitely took me a bit by surprise, but it was a great honor.”
Loveridge was a regular attendee of BYU basketball games last season.
“Those games were absolutely incredible,” he said. “The atmosphere there is really amazing with how much the students and the crowd get into the game. I’d definitely love to play in front of a crowd like that. It’s just real exciting down there.”
It’s not just the game atmosphere that attracts him to BYU, however.
“I love Coach Rose and how he talks to you. He’s a great guy,” he said. “I’m LDS, so I like that BYU has good standards and a clean environment. That’s not the most important thing to me, but it’s definitely a nice thing that BYU has.”
Colorado State offered Loveridge a scholarship shortly after BYU did. Given its locale in Fort Collins, Colo., he hasn’t been able to spend near as much time investigating the Rams’ program as he has with BYU, Weber State and Utah.
“I hope that I can make it up there to Colorado State and see them more,” he said. “I really like their coaching staff, and will consider their offer. I just don’t know nearly as much about them as I do about all the local schools that have offered me.”
Loveridge was Utah head coach Larry Krystkowiak's first in-state offer.
“He (Krystkowiak) made a good impression on me immediately,” said Loveridge. “He’s a real down-to-earth man, and I believe he’ll get Utah back in the right direction real soon. He has a real high basketball IQ, and I just like everything about him.”
Loveridge has since taken the opportunity to take visits to Utah’s campus, and to play ball with the existing team. Like other Utah prospects, he likes the idea of helping to rebuild the Utes’ once-storied basketball program.
“It would be great to be part of all that for sure,” he said. “It’s real exciting seeing how coaches are starting over there with all of the rebuilding. I think they’re going to have a lot of success going to the Pac-12 and all that, so yeah, I’d like to be a part of that for sure.”
Loveridge plans to make his commitment in November prior to the start of his senior season at West Jordan.
“The most important thing for me with which school I’ll commit to is academics,” he said. “You go there to play basketball, but getting a good education is my first priority, so the school I play for has to have good academics. I also want to play, and I want to play soon, and not sit on the bench. I have to believe that whatever school I sign with will give me the best opportunity to play and to contribute to the team.”
Along with academics, being close to home will also figure into his decision.
“I want my family to be able to see me play in almost all my games,” he said. “We’re a real close family, and it’s very important to me that I stay close to home, so they can continue to support me, and see me play. It’s going to be a tough decision for me on where I sign, but I want to make the best decision for me and for my future.”
