A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Highlands’ Jordyn Tavarez

By: Ted Sarneso
Monday, January 1, 2024 | 11:19 AM

Last season, current Highlands senior guard Jordyn Tavarez was a versatile role player for the Golden Rams.

Tavarez was the point guard and best defender on a squad that made the WPIAL semifinals two years in a row: in Class 5A in 2021 and 4A a year ago.

“Jordyn knew what his role was last year in being a complementary piece,” Rams coach Corey Dotchin said. “Guarding the other team’s best player, being a ball handler for us, making good passes, basically doing the little things that necessarily don’t show up on the stat sheet. It’s opened up a lot for him.”

With the loss of graduating seniors Chandler Thomas and 1,600-point scorer Jimmy Kunst, Tavarez has been showing up more on the scoresheet this year, averaging 15.5 points per game on top of his defensive duties.

“Whenever we lost Jimmy, I felt like I had to step up to fill that role,” Tavarez said. “Bradyn Foster is going to get his high point totals, and Cam Reigard is always scoring, but we needed a third scorer to step up and I took charge of it.”

Added Dotchin: “One of the biggest things that has helped him along the way is his basketball IQ. He sees the game pretty well. He’s probably our best passer, and that comes from knowing the offense and seeing what the defense is giving you. He’s an important piece for us.”

Tavarez’s offensive emergence will be counted on to boost Highland’s chances at extending its WPIAL semifinals appearances to three straight. In the early going, the Rams are 3-3 with their Section 1-4A schedule coming up.

“I think we can make another run. (Class) 4A is the toughest classification from top to bottom, in my opinion,” Dotchin said. “We just have to iron out the little things that are preventing us from ending up in the winner’s column so that we’re playing our best basketball at the end of the regular season.”

Said Tavarez: “If we pull everything together, play as a team and step it up on the defensive end, we’ll make it deep into the playoffs.”

Tavarez took a few minutes for a Senior Spotlight Q-and-A:

What have been the keys to the program’s success the last two/three years?

Defense and our toughness, to always play aggressive.

Coach Dotchin mentioned you’re his go-to defensive guy, guarding the other team’s best player. What’s it like to go against the other team’s best guy?

It’s not easy to do, because you don’t have a guy on the JV team in practice that has the same skill set as the guy you would guard in a game setting.

How do you mentally make that adjustment?

It takes a whole different mindset. I just go into games believing the other guy isn’t better than me.

What is the strongest part of your game?

Probably attacking and getting to the rim. Defensively, I’m proud of my ability to cover anybody from a guard to a big man. I’m 6-foot tall, but I think it’s more of a technique than a skills thing when guarding anyone.

What were your goals coming into the season?

Making it to the playoffs and going to the Pete, same as everyone else’s.

What about individual goals?

I’d love to get some college offers and play at the next level.

Are you looking at any schools yet?

Not really. I have talked with Penn State Behrend’s coach and Waynesburg’s a couple of times.

What are you looking at studying?

I’m still undecided right now.

What’s one fact about yourself that would surprise people to learn?

I’m a big family guy, love to spend time with them.

What is one piece of advice you would want to leave your teammates before graduating?

Stay together through thick and thin no matter what. You have to stick together as a team, even when losing.

Tags: Highlands