Jackson Bredy figures he’s been connected to basketball for most of his life.
“As far back as I can remember, I’ve at least had a basketball in my hands,” said Bredy, who tipped off his journey in organizational ball in second or third grade. Over the years, he’s played a multitude of AAU games and will complete his three-year Mercer Island High School varsity trek this season as a 6-foot-5 senior power forward.
Bredy joins fellow captains 6-6 senior center Mykolas Kovarskas and 6-foot junior guard Syver Lanctot in leading the squad this season. The hard-working unit features a host of solid athletes who can make an impact on offense and defense, Bredy said.
Over the last eight to nine months, the Islanders have been diligently preparing for this season and Bredy is confident that their dedication will result in a successful campaign.
As he assessed the team, Bredy noted that it possesses, “A lot of returning players, a lot more experience on the team this year than last year. I have very high hopes for the team and know that there’s just a lot of skill and potential.”
At press time, the Gavin Cree-coached Islanders were 0-1 in 3A KingCo action and will next take on Juanita on Dec. 6 and Hazen on Dec. 9.
Bredy reflects on his copious years in the basketball realm and what he’ll bring to the court this season: “All those years have, I think, given me a pretty good sense of the game. (I) know what good spacing looks like, know what a good shot looks like, know where I’m supposed to be on defense.”
On the leadership front, he can apply those critical skills to his life on and off the court. Working together as a group and understanding others are a pair of key elements that Bredy and his teammates can tote with them wherever the proverbial ball bounces.
The Reporter asked Bredy a series of questions to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into his life:
What’s your favorite subject in school?
Biology, by far. I took AP biology last year; this year I’m doing biotech research and ethics and AP environmental science, which don’t compare in terms of course load or rigor, but are still fun and things that I enjoy learning about.
What’s your biggest pet peeve?
Probably people who aren’t willing to look at someone else’s point of view.
What’s a skill that you’d like to learn?
I am not very good at cooking. I think I’d probably like to learn how to make some pretty mean dishes.
Let’s feed off that, so if you could go to dinner with one person, who would that be?
Steve Nash.
If you could have a super power, what would that be?
Have you heard of the Iron Fist from Marvel? His power, summoning chi into his fist and stuff like that; he can also heal people with it. I just have always thought that was pretty cool and he’s also experienced with martial arts. I think it would be cool if that came with the power, but if not, I think I’d still manage.
What’s a really good binge-worthy TV series that you’re into?
It’s between two shows and they’re both animes. One of them is called “Hunter x Hunter,” and the other show is called “Kuroko’s Basketball.”
