On the courts at Lakeland Highschool is an ambitious freshman who simply loves basketball and being on the court with her friends.
Jorja Coppinger is recognized by many for her athletic ability and kind personality, always having a smile on her face.
She attended the majority of elementary and middle school at Stem Charter Academy where she built up a strong foundation for her academics. There she learned how to balance between a lot of homework and sports.
Throughout her time at Stem Charter Academy she did a variety of sports including soccer, swimming, and basketball.
Now that she is in high school she continues to play basketball and she is trying track for the first time. She plans on being a sprinter along with many of her close friends. She hopes to improve her speed so she will be able to run down the court in record speed.
However she has been playing basketball as long as she can remember, and so has her family.
Coppinger’s father Justin played college basketball and has even been a coach for young athletes.
Both of Jorja brothers Cole and Cyrus played basketball as well, so Jorja grew up playing with them in their driveway. Here she learned to play against much stronger and faster basketball players. Her brothers did not only help her be more competitive but were always there for her along with her sister, Brooklyn, and her parents.
“My family really supported me by cheering me on during games,” Coppinger said.
Jorja Coppinger is the youngest of her three siblings so she had many role models in her life that have helped her learn and develop into the person she is today.
Jorja played with the Lakeland elite club team from sixth to eighth grade, where she experienced some of her favorite basketball memories.
In eighth grade Coppinger was playing in a game against the Coeur d’Alene Lakers and they won the game. This was important to Jorja and her team because in all the games before that the team had beaten them a lot.
“Beating that team was very exciting for us because it showed all of our hard work that season,” said Jorja Coppinger.
Another memory Jorja recalls is when she made the most baskets in a lakeland elite competition and she won a new pair of nike jordans.
Jorja Coppinger now plays for the Lakeland high school JV team and she was able to go down with her team and cheer them on at state. This is a memory Coppinger will keep with her forever.
Jorja plans on continuing playing basketball for lakeland high and is going to be a valuable asset to the varsity girls basketball team. Jorja hopes to go to state again and have her team mates cheer her on in the court.
After high school Coppinger is not completely sure what she wants to do or if she wants to go to college but she likes the idea of playing college basketball for fun just like her dad, Justin.
She loves basketball for many reasons besides the amount of benefits from the exercise.
Jorja likes the team atmosphere and being an important part of a team that relies on her.
“Basketball has been an important part of my life because I’ve played since I was little and love being a part of a team,” Coppinger said.