From his first shot on the basketball court, Jack Belden knew he loved basketball. Belden, seven at the time knew, something felt good when he was on the court; it came naturally to him.

Belden, now a freshman at Community, starts at shooting guard for Skyline’s freshman team. The best part of his game is he shooting “I’m good at shooting … I average 12 points a game.” Belden said. He also is good at dishing the ball: he averages four assists a game.

Another aspect to his game is his defense: “I’m better at stealing than blocking.” But he prefers blocking: “… I back boarded a kid from Lincoln the other day: that was pretty hype.” Before Belden started for Skyline, he played AAU.

Belden has been playing AAU for three years, and still plays. He likes AAU more than high school: “… It’s a higher difficulty.” Nobody on his AAU team plays for Skyline, so he has a special bond with the Wildcats.

Belden believes the Wildcats’ biggest strength is offense: “Our biggest strength is scoring.” Belden feels the team’s biggest weakness is defense: he said “Nobody even plays defense even me.”

Belden’s favorite player in the NBA is Russell Westbrook but he doesn’t think his playing style is comparable to Westbrook’s, I play like Jabari Parker… his play is very well rounded said Belden

Belden loves the game: “I love the competitiveness, the feeling of winning.” Belden thinks to be a champion “You need an attitude and you need to have a want to win … I think I have these qualities.” He also thinks his team possesses these qualities: “Yeah, most of us have it.”

If he could change one thing about himself, it would be his height. Currently he is 5’11 but he is going to get taller: “I’m supposed to be 6’4”.”

Belden likes practice, “I like practice sometimes… when it’s fun… I love games”.

Belden is surprisingly superstitious. He needs his shoes to be equally tight: “I hate it when one shoe is tighter than the other, that always messes with me.” He is also superstitious about what shoes he wears, “I don’t wear Adidas. they are cursed.”

But what Belden is most excited about is the annual 4v4 tournament. The tournament takes place on the court on the back lawn. It will likely start after March madness.