Editor’s note: This is a regular feature profiling senior athletes at Bryant High School.
Jakeria Otey
NAME: Jakeria Otey
PARENTS: Ivory Gilmore and Carla Otey
SIBLINGS: Half-brothers and sisters; I have two sisters and four brothers; Kentrell, Jakevious, Ivory, Caleb, Loquesha and Summer.
FAVORITE SUBJECT IN SCHOOL: Math
FAVORITE SPARE TIME ACTIVITY: Shop and hang out with my best friend, Lauren.
FAVORITE FOOD: Nachos
FAVORITE MUSIC ARTIST OR GROUP: I don’t have one.
FAVORITE MOVIE: Taken
FAVORITE TV SHOW: I don’t really have one.
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY AS A KID? Cars
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL? To play college basketball and I want to become a kindergarten teacher.
OTHER THAN YOUR PARENTS, WHO’S HAD THE BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR LIFE? HOW? Coach Brad (Matthews) and my grandma; I wouldn’t be the person I am or the basketball player that I am without them. I just think they’ve made a big impact on my life.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT BASKETBALL? I like meeting new people. I like playing against people and I like winning.
POSITION: Guard
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE SEASON SO FAR? I think it’s going better now. We’re a new team and I think we’re starting to play together more. And I think it’ll get better, be good at the end.
WHAT’S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT TO THE SEASON SO FAR? I would say the Conway game, even though we didn’t finish strong. I think we stayed in the game and we were playing like a team. I think next time we’ll beat them.
WHAT’S IT GOING TO TAKE FOR THE TEAM TO BE SUCCESSFUL THE REST OF THE SEASON? Everyone making shots and everybody contributing to the team, like getting in and playing good defense coming off the bench or starting or whatever; just everybody giving all they have at all times.
TALK ABOUT YOUR GAME NOW; WHAT ARE YOU MOST CONFIDENT IN YOUR ABILITY TO DO? Right now, shoot and try to get my team going.
WHAT DO YOU WORK HARDEST TO IMPROVE ON IN PRACTICE? Shooting.
WHEN YOU’RE THROUGH PLAYING BASKETBALL AT BRYANT HIGH SCHOOL, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’LL LOOK BACK AND REMEMBER MOST FONDLY ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE? I’ll remember the team. The team this year, there’s really been no drama. And the coach and all the fun times we had in practice and getting better going against each other. It’s been great.
