KELOWNA, BC – Emma Jonas, a 5’6” point guard coming from Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary School in Surrey, has been signed to play for the UBC Okanagan women’s basketball team this coming September.
Since she began playing basketball in her grade eight year, Emma has put together an impressive athletic resume. She and her Lord Tweedsmuir teammates just barely missed a berth in the AAA Provincials last year, losing a close deciding game in the Fraser Valley tournament. Fraser Valley was one of the toughest basketball regions in the province last year, supplying eight of the sixteen teams playing in the provincial tournament. Individually, Emma was named to the Surrey FireFighters All Star Team, was awarded Most Dedicated on her team, and recorded a thirty-point game that included five made three-pointers.
Outside of her high school season, Jonas has also played each of the last two years in the Team B.C. program. Two years ago, she was a member of a provincial u16 team that placed second in the Western Canada Championships. This past summer, Emma played with the u17 team that finished fourth in the National tournament in Edmonton in July. She also finished fifth in assists for the tournament. Emma said about the experience, “both these teams were not only successful on the court, but off the court as well. We were all really good friends and had good team chemistry.”
The soon-to-be Heat student-athlete also has a well rounded view on why UBC’s Okanagan campus should be the right fit for her. “I am planning to apply to the fine arts program at UBCO. Academically, UBCO is one of the best universities in Canada so the decision was easy. It also helped that I loved the campus and the team.”
In terms of what she believes she can bring to next year’s Heat squad, Emma is confident and determined in her answer. “One of my strengths is my work ethic, I always give it 100% when I’m on the floor. Also, I definitely consider myself to be a scoring point guard. I will take my fair share of shots, but I also see the floor well. I hope to bring overall intensity to the team next year. I want to work hard and make good decisions as a point guard.”
As impressive as her confidence is her understanding of the work to be done to compete at the CIS level. “ I think I will be ready for university basketball. I have been lifting for almost a year and I already notice how much of a difference being stronger makes on the court. A lot of the older university players are really solid, so hopefully I will be able to keep up with them.”
Aside from basketball, Jonas has proven herself to be a well-rounded athlete; she has competed previously in figure skating, cross country, and track and field.
In terms of her education, Emma’s plans are admirably passionate. “My long term academic goal would be to get my BFA and figure out what kind of career I can pursue with my art. … I really enjoy fine arts, I have been taking art classes since I was 11. My house is littered with my paintings. I also play the piano.”
Emma is one of two recruits Claire Meadows has already locked down for her Heat program, the first year coach has also solidified her front court with the addition of Vernon Secondary’s six-foot forward Jordyn Cullum.