Athlete Spotlight: James Wood Basketball Player Jacob Potter

Posted: December 16, 2014

Jacob Potter
James Wood High School 16-year-old junior

Sport: Basketball

Position: Guard

Parents: Jill and Darrell Potter

Hometown: Winchester

What do you love about basketball: Just how it’s a team sport, get everyone involved and it’s so intense.

Biggest strength and weakness in basketball: [Strength] my court vision. It’s always been a strength for me, I can usually see who’s open. [Weakness] my shot confidence. If I miss one I need to get out of my head and believe I can miss the next one.

Funniest person on the team: Probably [senior forward] Brady Hepner because he always lightens the mood no matter what’s going on, he can always make us laugh.

Pregame routine/ritual: I listen to music before every game, that’s a must. And [when the starting lineups are introduced] I do a little two-bump and then the Cam Newton “Superman” thing with [senior forward] Tanner Lipold.

Most memorable moment in basketball: Probably last year, it was the last game of the season [against Handley] and my grandpa’s last game he went to. He’d been to every game since I was a kid and he’d sit right behind the bench and pat everyone on the back like he was the coach and I scored 15 in that game. He passed away last year, but that was his last game and I just remember that.

Most embarrassing moment in basketball: I air-balled a free throw once and that was very bad. That was last year against Musselman (W.Va.), it was the first of two and I made the second one, but the crowd kind of went “Oooh.”

Favorite athlete: [Washington Wizards guard] John Wall because he’s quick and I like relating my play to him and going off what he does. I watch him all the time and he’s just so quick, but he’s got to work on his jumper just like I do.

Three people you can have dinner with, dead or alive: My grandpa [Robert Stiff] because he supported me in everything and I’d just like to see him again; my aunt, Jodi Frye, who passed away four years ago, I was very close with her; and probably [actor] Will Ferrell because I love all the movies he’s in, he’s very funny.

Most interesting person you follow on social media: I like this one account [on Twitter] called @TheFakeEspn that kind of makes fun of stuff ESPN does. I think it’s pretty funny.

Favorite thing to do in town: I like going fishing with my friends.

Best live sporting event you’ve been to: The year Butler went to the [2010 NCAA men’s basketball championship] we went to the first round of down at the Verizon Center and saw Gordon Hayward play, Kemba Walker, Jeremy Lamb, it was cool.

Plans after high school: I want to go somewhere to play in college if I have offers, but if not I’ll probably go to JMU or WVU, WVU is my favorite college. I’m thinking about going into the medical field, but I’m not sure yet.

— Compiled by Kevin Trudgeon