Dodging and weaving past opponents, junior Ethan Jin leaps and scores his 19th point against Monta Vista High School’s varsity boys basketball team on Jan. 24, securing a close victory of 65-63. Jin’s outstanding performance at that game secured him a nomination from the Mercury News Bay Area Boys Athlete of the Week.
From Jan. 20-25, Jin was nominated for his exceptional athletic abilities in recent games, along with 10 other high school athletes across the Bay Area. In the respective week, journalists reviewed performances from athletes who stood out, selecting those who made the greatest impact and showcased their skills the best. A poll was then released, where the public voted for who they believe is the most qualified. Although another player won the poll, Jin’s nomination for his performance among the hundreds of thousands of athletes in the Bay Area is an exceptional feat.
“We went out for a team lunch, and one of my teammates showed me the post,” Jin said. “I was honestly surprised, but also really happy.”
Monta Vista’s team played man defense, where each player guards another player, rather than zone defense, where each player guards a specific spot on the court. Jin credits this as the main reason he was able to excel.
“When we need him to step up and have a big game, he does it for us like he did in the game against Monta Vista,” senior and varsity boys basketball player Vasisht Kartik said. “When he was nominated, I was pretty excited for him. I knew what he was capable of on the court, so I expected this kind of achievement from him too.”
Growing up, Jin’s father and grandfather were both huge basketball fans, introducing the sport to him at the age of 4 years old. They would often watch basketball games together, where he grew fond of players, such as LeBron James, and drew inspiration from them. Aside from basketball, Jin also played soccer, though he ultimately found his skill set excelled in the former and decided to commit to basketball.
Previously, Jin had played basketball with coaches outside of school. However, in sixth grade, Jin decided to join Miller Middle School’s boys basketball team. When COVID-19 hit in seventh grade, he was left unable to practice and compete with the team, but he continued practicing on his own. Luckily, the basketball team, and other athletics, were able to resume in 2021, and Jin immediately joined back in eighth grade, but as a starter this time. He gravitated toward being a point guard, one of the most demanding positions, where he defends against opposing guards, sets up plays and controls the ball.
Entering high school, Jin joined the JV team, continuing to play as the point guard. He began working with his new teammates, but the competitive environment was still unfamiliar to him.
“I was nervous at first because I thought the coach was scary,” Jin said. ”I figured out later I just wasn’t familiar with the team yet,”
When he moved up to varsity in his sophomore year, Jin was able to form deeper bonds with his teammates and play at a more competitive level. As he grew as a player, Jin continued to hone his skills as a point guard on the team. His dedication and continuous practice proved valuable; he became the team’s starting point guard in his junior year.
“I enjoy playing point guard,” Jin said. “There’s a lot of pressure because I’m the one who has to dribble the ball, and other people don’t have to deal with the pressure of turning the ball over as much. But there are no other positions I would prefer.”
This season, the boys basketball team has formed an especially tight connection with each other, which works to their advantage when communicating during games. Whenever they won a game, the team would go out for a team dinner to spend time with each other and share stories. Jin has been able to become close with all his teammates, constantly interacting with them on and off the court.
“When we’re playing badly, being close helps us not fight with each other,” Jin said. “If there’s an argument, it’s easy to forgive each other because we are all good friends.”
Since many players played together from JV to varsity, they’ve been able to watch each other grow and develop into stronger players.
“I met him when he was a freshman and I was a sophomore on the JV team with him,” Kartik said. “Over time, he became a better shooter, a better ball handler and a better passer.”
Despite his growth, Jin has faced issues with his confidence on the court. In ninth grade especially, he wasn’t confident in his skills and gameplay, and these nerves often resulted in careless mistakes. With the aid of his coaches and teammates, Jin has grown to become more self-assured and is able to approach a game with renewed confidence.
Compared to other basketball players, Jin has found his physical size to be a challenge on the court. While guarding, those who are taller and larger in size often shove him on the court, throwing him off balance.
“Usually, I just take it since there’s no way around it,” Jin said. “When I guard another team’s point guard — which some schools have pretty tall and strong ones — it’s hard to guard them well, and I have to deal with getting pushed.”
Despite these difficulties, Jin has found his place in Lynbrook’s team as the starting point guard. As Jin continues to train and hone his skills, he hopes for the team to continue bonding and becoming close, ultimately improving their record and winning in their league.
