HomeSportsBasketball Season Is a ‘Go’ for Collegian Torres

Basketball Season Is a ‘Go’ for Collegian Torres

Jadyn Torres

It’s not perfect, but considering the circumstances and other possible options, Jadyn Torres will take it.
With school activities being gobbled up by the insatiable COVID-19 pandemic, Torres — a member of Luther College’s men’s basketball team — was pleased by the recent announcement that the Norse will be able to play an abbreviated schedule in the American Rivers Conference.
Luther, located in Decorah, Iowa, recently began an eight-game conference schedule that will be followed by a conference tournament including all nine ARC teams.
This will be the fourth season for Torres, a 2017 graduate of San Marino High School who has served as a captain for two Luther campaigns.
“The leadership skills I have learned from being a team captain in 2019-20 and 2020-21 will help me throughout my life, and I’m grateful to be given an opportunity like this,” said Torres, who lettered three times in basketball and twice in football while at SMHS. “Especially this year, we have a great group of guys and the atmosphere is awesome. Practices are intense and lighthearted at the same time, and I love it.”

Tribune file photo
While at San Marino High School, Torres was named to the all-CIF Division 4AA first team, the first Titan to accomplish that feat since the 1990s.

During his career at Luther, Torres has played in 62 games and has scored 358 points, including six points in Saturday’s 77-70 loss to Simpson College.
The 6-foot-2 forward is the son of Shali and Jonathan Torres and brother of 2013 SMHS grad Maureen, all of San Marino. He is majoring in business management and minoring in communications. After graduation he will pursue a business analyst position, though he said playing professional basketball overseas is a possibility “if an opportunity presents itself.”
While at SMHS, Torres lettered three times in basketball and twice in football. He was named to the all-Rio Hondo League first team in basketball after his senior season and also was named to the all-CIF Southern Section Division 4AA first team after leading the Titans to the quarterfinals, where they lost to eventual champion Redondo Union. Torres averaged 16.7 points and 9.3 rebounds per game for the Titans during his senior year and was believed to be the first all-CIF first teamer since Matt Barbarics in the 1990s.
Titan varsity basketball coach Mihail Papadopulos was present for all four years that Torres was a member of the program.
“We’re so proud to see Jadyn’s growth as a person and basketball player over the years,” said Papadopulos. “He has certainly earned all of his accomplishments and represents the absolute best of what our program stands for. We use Jadyn as a standard and a role model in our program and have no doubt that he is leaving the same impactful footprint at Luther College. We are proud that Jadyn represents San Marino.”

Photo courtesy Luther College
Jadyn Torres has been named a captain for each of the past two seasons at Luther College. “We are proud that Jadyn represents San Marino,” said Titan basketball coach Mihail Papadopulos.

Torres fondly remembers a game during his freshman year at Luther when the Norse squared off with Nebraska Wesleyan, which would later win the Division III national championship.
“Although we fell short, we played some of our best basketball and had a real chance to end their undefeated season,” Torres recalled. “I could’ve picked a game that we won, but the level of basketball being played in that game was unlike any other and I was just happy to be able to see the court and play in a game like that.”
Torres also said he was “nervous” heading to Iowa four years ago.
“Looking back on it, I wouldn’t change my decision at all,” he added. “I was able to take my basketball skills to a place I never thought I could go.”
How about the Southern California native’s acclimation to the winter weather?
“The cold made some things harder, like walking to class and hanging out outside,” he said. “But as long as it doesn’t affect me playing basketball, I couldn’t really care less. It’s just a matter of getting a really good winter jacket.”

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Most Popular

[bsa_pro_ad_space id=3]

27