For freshman Jadyn Weltz, playing Division I basketball has been a lifelong goal. With immense support and inspiration from her family in partner with strong self-motivation and determination, she has worked extremely hard to achieve this goal. Following several accomplishments such as training with Team Canada, gaining a silver medal in the Canadian Nationals Tournament, and being a two-time provincial champion, Jadyn is more than eager to begin her first season with her new Binghamton family and take in every moment.

When did you first start participating in basketball? What is your first memory?

I started playing organized basketball when I was 8 years old, but my first memory of the game started much earlier than that. My first memory of basketball goes back to when I used to participate in basketball camps that my father organized. To this day, I still remember going to the gym early at 5 years old and shooting with my dad before the day camp started.

Which family member(s) were the impetus/inspiration for you to compete?

Every single family member has played a significant role in my athletic career. Early on, it was my dad who pushed me to compete and taught me the necessary fundamentals of the game. As I got older, my sister became my inspiration to play because she was constantly dominating on the court. She was one of my inspirations to play because I've looked up to her since I was little and continue to strive to be like her, even if that means I have to beat her. Finally, throughout this entire journey, my mom has played a significant role in my inspiration to compete. Although she never provided me with much training advice, she is always there to support and motivate me to set, pursue and achieve my daily goals.  

When did you realize you were good enough and interested in becoming a Division I athlete?

Becoming a division 1 athlete has been my lifelong goal for as long as I can remember. There wasn't a point in my life, however, that I just assumed it was guaranteed for me. This journey has been one solely driven by passion, hard work and determination. From day one, I knew that my training mentality was my determining factor, rather than my skill. I held onto the hope and worked very hard to realize and obtain my goal.   

What do you love most about basketball?

Basketball has always been and will always be my escape from the chaos of the world. What I love most about the game is the feeling you get the moment you walk onto the floor. I love how nothing else matters when you're competing and that all you have to focus on is how you can contribute to the team. The competitive aspect of the sport is what drives me to get better, to train harder and to sacrifice things in life, in order to continue playing. 

Favorite memory on the basketball court?

Basketball has provided me with some of the best moments that I continue to value each and every day. My favorite memories on the court lie between early morning shoot sessions, all the way to winning championships. Personally, I find it hard to pick just one memory because the sport has provided me with an endless amount of experiences. 

Greatest individual and team accomplishments?

One of my greatest individual experiences has been the ability to train on the national level for Team Canada. Alongside of this, I am proud to be an All-Canadian Biosteel all-star game player, a provincial team award winner, a silver medalist for the Canadian Nationals tournament, a two-time provincial champion, and most of all, a division 1 athlete on the Binghamton Women's Basketball team. 

Any special reason you chose your jersey number, either in High School or at Binghamton?

When I was 8 years old and I started playing basketball, I chose to wear #24 in honor of Kobe Bryant. As the years went by and I continued to switch teams, my first choice has always been #24, #8 which was Kobe's secondary number and/or #2, his daughter Gianna's number. Since the day of Kobe and his daughter's tragedy, I have significantly increased my desire to wear #24. Throughout my playing career, I have tried to embody the Kobe mentality to the best of my ability and will continue to train in the conditions that my idol did and will wear his number to carry on the Kobe legacy. 

What were your initial emotions/reactions regarding the death of Kobe Bryant and how has it inspired you?

I was absolutely devastated when I heard the news about Kobe. To this day, I still remember exactly where I was and what I was doing. I had just finished playing in a basketball tournament and I was in the Toronto airport on my way home. I remember looking up at one of the TVs in the airport and reading the headline of the accident. I was immediately overcome by emotions. For the most part, I was absolutely torn because my childhood hero/idol, who did nothing but the best for the game (on both the men and women's sides), had just passed away. At the same time, I felt almost motivated because I knew I had such a big role to play by continuously wearing the number 24. Even though there are millions of people in the world that still wear the number, I thought that it was more necessary than ever to wear the number with pride, to play each game like it was my last and to ultimately carry out everyday with the Mamba Mentality. I will forever be one of Kobe's greatest fans and will continue to work in the way that he did. 

Do you have a nickname? What's the origin of it?

I have several nicknames because of the way my name is spelt and how common the letter J is for names. My name is Jadyn Weltz but my nicknames include: J/Jay, Jay-Jay, Jado, Jdawg, Weltz, Weltzy, JW, J-dizzle, J-willy, and J-money. 

Who are your idols/mentors?

As previously mentioned, my family members and Kobe Bryant are my idols. Alongside them, I idolize professional players such as Sue Bird, Sabrina Ionescu and Steve Nash. I wish to elevate my game in similar ways that these legends have throughout their careers. 

Who has had the greatest impact on your life? Why?

First and foremost, I would like to say my family and teammates have had the greatest impact on my life because of the support they have given me and because of all we've been through together. In addition, I believe that I personally have had the greatest impact in my own life because of how strong of goals I have and how strong my desire/competitive nature is to achieve them. Without my support system, including my own-self, I would have never gotten to where I am today and will not be able to get to where I still want to be. Everyone in my life plays an important role, whether they realize it or not. I have not only my biggest supporters to thank but those who have heavily doubted me; they have all played a part in my journey. 

What is something not many people know about you?

Some things people don't know about me are that I love to cook/bake, paint/create graphic design logos, speak fluent French and I played the piano for almost 4 years. I am also surprisingly good at speed-walking and limbo. 

Your best non-athletic talent is …

My best non-athletic talent is cooking/baking and memorizing song lyrics/movie lines. I love to try new recipes all of the time. I love to be creative and to make my own adjustments in order to find the perfect combinations for myself, my friends and my family. In particular, I love to cook breakfast meals, bake desserts and prepare different dinner meals of several cuisines. My personal favorite recipes are homemade breakfast/dessert crepes, cinnamon rolls, sesame chicken with rice/vegetables and finally, homemade pizza with my dad. 

Any pre-game rituals or superstitions?

Before any game, I like to get a good pregame meal/snack and listen to the same set of songs. 

Any family members who played collegiately or professionally?

Both my dad and my sister played/play at the university level in Canada, both in the point guard position as well. 

Any family or friend connection to Binghamton University?

The only family/friends connected to Binghamton university are my teammates here and the bond that we share. Also, the Canadian connection with my assistant coach...shoutout to coach TK. 

How many siblings do you have and where are you in the birth order?

I have one sibling, an older sister named Emma. I am the baby of the family but often think I uphold the role of the eldest. 

Five years from now, what do you hope to be doing?

Five years from now, I hope to still be active, to be happy and to keep working towards achieving my goals. I'm not sure what that plan exactly entails but when I am there, I hope to be appreciating every moment and to embrace the blessings that come with it. 

Best vacation you've ever taken?

Best vacation I've been on has got to be my family trip/cruise to Europe where I visited Croatia, Greece, Italy, or my school trip in Europe where I visited Germany, the Netherlands, France and Belgium. 

What are your personal goals for your sport and academics during 2021-22?

My personal goals for this year are to grow as a student athlete and to learn from the upperclassmen. I would like to uphold a strong GPA and to contribute to the team's success as much as I can. I would love to form strong connections, make great memories, and enjoy my first year of college with my new family. 

What major do you intend to pursue? What are your career goals?

I am currently in the school of management but am unsure of which business major I would like to pursue. The ultimate goal is most likely starting my own business or working somewhere in the fitness/sports world. 

What were some of the best parts of the summer session with the women's basketball program?

Some of the best parts was getting to know my teammates/coaches and getting to form bonds with them all. It was a great way to get comfortable, get into the swing of things and start our winning season off right.