James Wood High School 17-year-old senior
Sport: Basketball. Position: Shooting guard
Parents: Jordan Tran and Helena Renne
Hometown: Winchester
What do you love about basketball?: I love the energy the most and, in the stands, the tension of the fans when the clock is counting down. I really like being there for my team when it matters and putting all my effort into the next play.
Most memorable moment in basketball: The shot I had against Sherando last year when we made it to the [Region 4D] playoffs. It was a step-back three [that made it 42-41 with 46 seconds remaining in a 46-41 loss]. That’s probably my most memorable play of my career.
Most embarrassing moment in basketball: In eighth grade, I don’t think we won a single game on my middle school team. There was one game where we got beat by Daniel Morgan by almost 50 points.
Most difficult moment in basketball: Probably returning this year for the season. I’ve had a lot of personal things going on during the summertime, so basketball has kind of been an outlet recently.
People you can have dinner with, dead or alive: Tyler, The Creator, Kyrie Irving and Kendrick Lamar. Tyler, The Creator is [because] I make music, so Tyler is a really big influence on my creative process and just helped me get to things. He’s really funny, a super entertaining guy, obviously, very intricate mind. So I think it’d be really interesting to have a conversation with him.
Kendrick Lamar [has a] really, really powerful brain, just the depth of his bars, the production … it’s just very meaningful, every single move that he makes. And I would like to take some of that into my own life as well. And Kyrie Irving, he’s just one of my biggest influences in basketball. Growing up, you’d always be in the back yard, trying to emulate people. He was the one who I really try and be like.
Biggest athletic influence: Probably the one who’s always been there for me the most is my dad. He’s always right there and is always the first one to review game film with me, give me pointers on my shot. We used to wake up at 5 a.m. all the time, getting shots up. He’s the only one who I know would be as committed as he is to my improvement.”
Favorite teacher: [James Wood science teacher] Ms. [Stephanie] Britton. She’s always kind of allowing me to be myself in her class, and we’re always able to have fun in her class, but also get things done. The way that she explains things, I think it really resonates with how I learn and the way she puts out notes and stuff. So I just really love her, and I can always come to her about things that I need advice with.
Favorite athlete: LeBron James
Favorite TV show: “Big Mouth”
Favorite music artist: Tyler, The Creator
Favorite food: Chicken
Worst thing you’ve eaten: I eat everything, I’m not gonna lie. I love everything.
Plans after high school: I would love to do music. I’m still figuring out my path in college. I think I might major in music and then also get my pre-med because one of the things that I was looking into was being a doctor, like my dad, a family practice doctor.
Music is pretty much my passion that I spend a lot of my free time with when I’m not with friends, something I work really hard at individually. And with being a doctor, I’m just a service person. I love to help people. Whenever somebody is hurting, I’m always the first one over there. So I would love to get my doctorate and be able to help those people.
— Compiled by Joe Tuman