McClure family well represented in Kentucky high school basketball
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BVM) – Two McClure siblings are showing Louisville how good they are at playing basketball. Senior twins Jaya and Jordan McClure are leading their respective teams through the basketball seasons, with Jaya headlining the Christian Academy-Louisville girls squad while brother Jordan heads Atherton for the boys. While both have had varying degrees of success in the sport both individually and for their respective teams, both have been able to show how well the McClure family can play the game.
“That’s what you dream of, us being a duo,” Jordan said. “Her being able to do it at CAL and me being able to do it at Atherton that’s just a blessing…Her doing big things and her doing big things that’s a lot of blessings. To see that happen, that was so great.”
Jordan produced well for the Ravens in his first year with the team. The senior scored the second most points for Atherton this season with a 10.1 scoring average on 44% shooting. He’s the team’s best 3-point shooter averaging 1.4 a game while shooting nearly 35% on the year and averaging 2.7 rebounds as well.
“I feel upset because you put in so much work, at the gym in the early morning and late at night,” Jordan said. “I feel a little upset that it ended but I feel some happiness just because I know I put in a lot of hard work and achieved some of the goals I had wanted to.”
After transferring over from CAL, Jordan felt immediately embraced by the Atherton community. While he wasn’t able to bring the team the success he’d hoped, he was happy to represent the school separate from his sister, who still plays for CAL.
“That was a blessing. Transferring from CAL to Atherton they showed me so much love the minute I stepped into Atherton,” Jordan said. “Just me being able to do my own thing at Atherton, playing really good against top teams, that was a blessing that I got to do that in front of my school.”
Senior night was a blessing! Thank you @CoachTudor for the opportunity and just wanted to thank everyone who made this moment special! Here’s some of the clips from the night @PrepHoopsKY pic.twitter.com/NWwEQJy9RF
— Jordan McClure (@way2Jordan) February 16, 2022
Jordan’s play has earned him many opportunities at the next level. In November, the 6-foot guard earned his first offer to play collegiately when he earned an offer from NAIA program University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis. While he hasn’t gotten other offers since then, Jordan has gotten attention from other schools and has been working hard to get more, using his social media to try and drum up more attention.
“It’s been pretty good,” Jordan said. “I’m more of a person who’s going to go out there and try to get my looks. I want the looks to come to me, but at the end of the day there are so many kids that play basketball in America so you have to put yourself out there and make yourself available.”
After a great talk with @CoachDaddyBrown I’m very blessed to receive my first offer from UHSP! @CoachTudor @CoachEllis1524 @LouisvilleStor1 @NateInSports @PrepHoopsKY @kyhighs @Moore42 @G_EliteTraining @KYINhoops pic.twitter.com/PBCQpFto7Q
— Jordan McClure (@way2Jordan) November 4, 2021
Jaya may be even better than her twin brother. Playing six years for the CAL Centurions, the senior has scored over 2,000 points, grabbed over 650 rebounds, dished over 400 assists and recorded 300 steals during her career. With that success, Jaya was able to get recruited by a number of Division I programs including Bellarmine, Lipscomb and Tennessee Tech and ultimately committed to Ohio University in August.
“That was crazy,” Jordan said. “When you hear somebody in your family say they’re an OU commit it’s special. We are always watching her team’s games too. Whenever OU is playing we will go upstairs and watch that, the whole family sitting there talking about it.”
— Jaya McClure (@Way2Jaya) August 14, 2021
Jaya has more than lived up to the expectations of her senior season. This season, she has averaged a team-high 15.6 points with 5.1 rebounds. She’s also earned a number of accolades including being named to the Kentucky 2A All-Tournament team and the tournament MVP by helping the Centurions win their third title in four years.
She was also selected as a McDonald’s All-American nominee during her senior year, proving her ability on a national scale.
I am honored and blessed to be a McDonald's All-American Games nominee! Check out my final 2A State Championship highlights @McDAAG @CenturionsWBB @Kentucky_2A @OhioWBasketball
Video by @alyxwhite_ pic.twitter.com/kboBF74mX8— Jaya McClure (@Way2Jaya) January 25, 2022
In addition to these honors, Jaya was named the 2022 Donna LJ Murphy Award winner presented by Mr. and Mrs. Kentucky basketball which is given to a standout female senior basketball player who exemplifies the meaning of being a great student athlete.
“I love the game. I love the poetic flow, I love the feeling it brings; but most importantly, I love the way it’s shaped my life,” Jaya said in a press release. “I’ve given my all to this game; in return, it’s blessed me in so many ways. This game has transformed my perception of life in a way deeper way than words could ever explain. This game has taught me that I’m a leader, who can get anything done with the right mindset. I want to instill confidence into young kids, whether that’s in basketball or life. I will be a voice for our future.”
Unsurprisingly, the pair have had their fair share of games against each other growing up. While the two are competitive and showed that to each other early in their basketball career, Jordan acknowledges that the two have a great bond and are part of the reason they’ve both had success.
“It helped out so much,” Jordan said. “We talk all the time. Some siblings hate each other, but we love each other. We just help each other with everything. If there’s something I’m not doing to the best on the court she’ll be like, ‘What’re you doing out there?’ and vice versa.”
With the McClures set to graduate in May, expect both to make their way to the collegiate level. As the twins enter the college ranks, they will look to have similar success that they’ve had during their time at the prep level in Louisville. The two McClures will be names for Kentucky basketball fans to keep their eyes on during their time at the next level, with the expectation of them continuing their success.
“That’d be the biggest blessing,” Jordan said. “Our family is so loving and with us they love us the same. They treat us playing in college like it’s a blessing. Whenever that day is when we go to the next level it is going to be crazy…There are going to be big things [from us]. I can’t tell you exactly what it’s going to be but there will be big things from us next year.”
