Vernon product Jordan Korol will suit up for the UBC Okanagan Heat for the 2015-16 Canada West women’s basketball season.
The 5-foot-11 forward and a former member of the Junior Heat program, Korol will bring a strong inside presence to UBCO as a member of new coach Claire Meadows’ first recruiting class.
With the Vernon Panthers this past season, Korol averaged 24 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks in her senior year.
“I am thrilled to announce that Jordan has chosen to stay home and play at UBCO next year,” said Meadows. “Jordan is one of the top local talents coming out of the Okanagan and she is a great ambassador for the game.”
A former member of the provincial team, Jordan played most of her club basketball with the Junior Heat beginning in her Grade 9 year. The positive experience of the junior program, familiarity with some of her future teammates and knowing that the coaches will push her to the best of her ability made the choice to stay home and play in the Okanagan an easy one.
“My first season with them (Junior Heat) was incredible,” says Korol, whose dad Kevin Korol played at UBC in the 1980s. “I met so many great girls including Hannah Friesen and Emma Johnson,” both of whom have also committed to UBC Okanagan for next fall.
Bobby Mitchell, who will stay on as an assistant coach with Claire Meadows was also a factor in Korol’s decision to play Junior Heat and commit to UBC Okanagan. “I respected him as a coach and knew he would help improve my game to the best of his ability,” explains Jordan. “Having Bobby, Hannah and Emma involved in my university basketball is sure to be an awesome experience.”
“I believe that my strengths as a player are that I rebound aggressively both on offence and defence,” says Jordan who has been preparing for what’s to come.
Proclaiming that university basketball can be very intimidating, the workaholic forward continues to work on her fundamentals, adding that she “loves the physical part of basketball, so I think I’ll be able to have some good battles down in the post.”
“I run the floor well and post up strong down on the block,” she went on. “Next season I will bring both a positive attitude and good work ethic to the team, and I am looking forward to improving my skills with Coach Meadows.”
Jordan’s new coach Clarie Meadows agrees with the self-assessment and is positive that the Vernon forward will be a quality addition to her program, Meadows describes Korol as a student athlete who “has an incredible work ethic; she is extremely tough to play against and is very respectful of her opponents.
“Jordan’s style of play will fit in well with the Heat program as she is able to run the floor extremely well for her size and she brings great strength with a soft touch inside.”
Thinking about a career in health management Jordan thinks that “UBCO is the perfect place to start. I have heard amazing things about the university and I am proud to be a student-athlete at such a respected school.”
Jordan’s mother was also a CIS student athlete, playing basketball at the University of Regina, and both parents were “a big inspiration” to Jordan and supported her “throughout my high school and club career,” says the multi-talented recruit.
Three recruits to the Heat women’s basketball team have come directly from the Junior Heat club program as Claire Meadows was able to keep Korol and also Emma Johnson (F, Immaculata) and Hannah Friesen (F, KSS.)
