Jordan Brock had seen this story before, the one she faced three years ago as a freshman starter on a Tennessee Tech basketball team hoping for a turnaround.
She was an eighth-grader on Harlan’s 13-15 squad in 2013, By the time Brock left, Harlan had won back-to-back 13th Region Tournament titles and finished as state runner-up in the All “A” Classic while earning all-state honors along the way in addition to setting the all-time scoring record for the county.
Brock found a new challenge in college, again joining a program in need of a boost. Brock led a revival with her fiery style and aggressive approach on the floor. Tennessee Tech was 10-20 in 2017, the year before Brock and coach Kim Rosamond arrived. The Golden Eagles struggled to a 7-22 mark in 2018 with an extremely young team but improved to 22-11 in 2019 and posted.a 17-13 record last season. Brock averaged 11.3 points per game as a freshman, then earned first-team All-OVC honors as a sophomore by averaging 11.5 points and shooting almost 87 percent from the free throw line. She averaged 10.1 points as a junior, joining the school’s 1,000-point club in the process.
“It’s hard to put into words what Jordan Brock and this group of seniors have meant to Tennessee Tech women’s basketball.Jordan was part of our staff’s first signing class. When she committed to us in the fall of her senior year, our 2016-17 team was picked to finish 11th out of 12 in the OVC,” Rosamond said. “Jordan’s freshmen season, we were one of the youngest teams in the nation and suffered through the growing pains of establishing a winning culture and rebuilding a program. To see this senior class go from a seven-win season their first year to 49 wins (along with back-to-back winning seasons) the last two years, speaks volumes about their buy-in and commitment to each other and our coaching staff. Jordan has played a vital role in helping us get this program back to the point we can compete for championships.”
Brock is also pleased with her decision and has enjoyed watching the program become an Ohio Valley Conference contender.
“I am super blessed and thankful about how everything has went so far. Tennessee Tech has been the best program and I am thankful for the teammates and coaches that I have been able to be with during my four years,” Brock said. “For this upcoming season, I feel like I can be the best teammate and leader for this team. Being a veteran player, I want to really help lead this team, not only by my play but as well as my voice.”
Rosamond said Brock’s grit and competitiveness made her a priority recruit for her first class of freshmen at Tech.
“I could rattle off a list of things that make Jordan special, but from a coach’s perspective, her competitiveness and true love for the game makes it so fun to coach her. There are a lot of players who like the game, but Jordan truly loves it,” Rosamond said. “ I can still remember watching her will her team to the state tournament her senior year and leaping into the arms of coach (Derrick) Akal to celebrate. I knew in that moment I couldn’t wait to coach her and have her in a Tech uniform. When you combine talent with relentlessness and passion, big things can happen. I am a passionate coach, and I want to coach kids who are passionate about the game, passionate about their teammates and passionate about winning. That is Jordan Brock.”
Long-range shooting has been a strength of Brock’s game since grade school. By the time she was a star in high school, it seemed like Brock was in range once she stepped past halfcourt. She has hit 215 of 574 3-point attempts at Tennessee Tech, averaging almost 38 percent.
“The 3 ball is such a big part of today’s game, but what separates good shooters from great shooters is consistency. There are a lot of players who can get on shooting streaks on any given night, but the great ones do it game in and game out. Jordan’s consistency, even though she’s being face guarded nightly for the last two years, has been something we know we can count on, and it is a vital part of our offense,” Rosamond said. “She wants the ball in her hands in crunch time, and that is something you can’t coach. When the game is on the line, Jordan is in her element.”
Known for her offense and intensity in high school, Brock has expanded her game on the collegiate level.
“It has been fun to watch Jordan develop as a player. She isn’t just a shooter. She has worked really hard to elevate her entire game. From getting to the free throw line off the bounce to being a great screener, Jordan has embraced doing whatever it takes to help our team win,” Rosamond said. “I have seen her commit to and grow tremendously on the defensive end the last two years, and she now takes pride in being one of our leaders in charges taken. J has always loved offense, so when she finally figured out she could generate offense off her defense, she learned to like the defensive end a little better. She also figured out I was much easier to get along with when she guarded somebody.”
Rosamond said Brock’s grit and competitiveness made her a priority recruit for her first class of freshmen at Tech.
“I could rattle off a list of things that make Jordan special, but from a coach’s perspective, her competitiveness and true love for the game makes it so fun to coach her. There are a lot of players who like the game, but Jordan truly loves it,” Rosamond said. “ I can still remember watching her will her team to the state tournament her senior year and leaping into the arms of coach (Derrick) Akal to celebrate. I knew in that moment I couldn’t wait to coach her and have her in a Tech uniform. When you combine talent with relentlessness and passion, big things can happen. I am a passionate coach, and I want to coach kids who are passionate about the game, passionate about their teammates and passionate about winning. That is Jordan Brock.”
Like many others across the nation, Brock has had her own bout with the coronavirus this fall.
“I was out for 10 days. I did not have it as bad as some people are experiencing, but this week was my first week back,” she said. “Going through protocol and phases to return to play was very helpful. I am not totally back to full strength, but practice is getting better every day.”
Even with her success in college, Brock says she will never forget her high school experiences, something she still appreciates as she approaches the end of her time at Tennessee Tech.
“Harlan High School will always hold a special place in my heart. Looking back now, those are some of the best memories of my career. I’ll never forget everyone that followed my journey through high school, including players, coaches and supporters,” Brock said. “ I am super thankful and blessed for coach Akal for all the time and effort he put into me and my career. He is the main reason I am the player and the person I am today. I am forever grateful for him.”
Tech is scheduled to open the 2020-2021 season on Friday at Chattanooga and will have its home opener on Dec. 13 against Jacksonville State. The Golden Eagles will play at Morehead on Jan. 7 and Eastern Kentucky on Jan. 9.
“With all the challenges and distractions that 2020 has brought, there is no better time to have a veteran team like what we have. This group has lived the lows and highs of Division 1 basketball, and I think their maturity and experience will pay dividends in a season that is so unpredictable,” Rosamond said. “This team understands the price you have to be willing to pay to get to where they want to be in March, and they embrace it. As a coach, you know when you have a special locker room, and there is a different connection with these players. Every day on the court with them is a gift, and that’s how we will treat this entire season.”