West Fork hoops star signs on with JBU
Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2008
ANDY SHUPE Northwest Arkansas Times John Brown University women’s basketball coach Jeff Soderquist, left, speaks with Sherry Ferrell, right, and her granddaughter, Jordyn Ferrell, after Jordyn signed to play basketball at JBU during a ceremony Thursday at West Fork High School.
WEST FORK - When girls basketball coach Nathan Wells first came to West Fork, Jordyn Ferrell was just a sixth grader. Five successful seasons later and Wells gets to see his top player take her game to the next level.
In front of a large gathering of family and wellwishers on Thursday at West Fork gym, Ferrell signed her letter of intent to play college basketball at John Brown University in the fall. “ The Custer twins [Christina and Renee ] kind of got our program started and she’s just taken it to another level, ” Wells said. “ She’s just been a rock since she’s been in our program. She’s been our best player every year, but more importantly she’s been a great person. ” Ferrell is happy to be playing her college ball in Siloam Springs, nearby enough that her family can attend her games. “ I hate to leave but I know JBU will be a good change for me, ” she said. “ I have a lot of support here at West Fork, and I’m just happy I’m not going too far away so I’ll still have my support system. ” Jordyn is the daughter of Kelly and David Ferrell, West Fork’s senior boys basketball coach and athletic director. “ When I took her out on the court for her first individual workout, I asked her, ‘ How good do you want to be, ’” David Ferrell told the gathered crowd. “ She said, ‘ I want my team to be a winner. ”
Wells said JBU is “ getting a good deal” with Jordyn, who averaged 24. 5 points and 9. 0 rebounds last season.
“ She’s a scorer and she’s a winner, ” Wells said. “ The bigger the game, the better she’s going to play. ”
Jeff Soderquist, in his 12 th year leading the JBU women’s team, has been following Jordyn’s career for years with much interest.
“ I’ve known Jordyn since she was a little girl, ” Soderquist said at Thursday’s signing. “ She’s going to be an asset to our program on the floor, off the floor and in the classroom. I think she’s a perfect fit for John Brown and what we’re trying to do. ”
While Ferrell is unquestionably the focus of opposing defenses at West Fork, Soderquist believes she will be able to develop even more as player with good college athletes around her to draw some attention.
Ferrell should help the Golden Eagles with their transition scoring, an area where Soderquist wants to get 25 percent of his team’s points.
“ Two things that stuck out to us about Jordyn was her athleticism and her ability to drive to the basket and finish, ” Soderquist said.
Jordyn was equally impressed with the JBU campus and Soderquist’s program.
“ It was the Christian atmosphere, and I felt I really fit in with the players and coaches, ” she said.
At JBU, Jordyn will join Chelsea Garrison, who she faced a great deal when Garrison was a dominating post for the Shiloh Christian Lady Saints.
Jordyn also played against former Bergman standout Ashley Taylor in the state tournament. Taylor is JBU’s leading scorer (12. 0 ppg ) while Garrison is averaging 10. 3 points and 8. 8 rebounds per game so far this season.
Soderquist’s Golden Eagles have opened the season 4-0 and are coming off a 77-28 rout of Texas Wesleyan on Monday. JBU will next take the home floor on Saturday at 3 p. m. against Dallas Christian before hosting the JBU Classic Nov. 21-22.
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