The562’s season previews for the 2022-23 school year are sponsored by Vertical Raise, the official team fundraising partner of The562.
The562’s coverage of Jordan Athletics is sponsored by John Ross, Class of 2013.
The Jordan girls’ basketball team continues to develop under coach Wesley Rosenbaum, and a young Panthers squad is excited to see what 2022-23 holds for them.
“We put a ton of work in this offseason, a ton of work into game experience and game reps,” said Ronsebaum. “We played a lot of games, trying to help them get used to the speed. I think it paid off, and we’re really excited. We’ve got a lot of the same players as last year and they’re all North Long Beach girls, we take a lot of pride in that.”
The unquestioned leader of the Panthers is junior point guard Asia Edwards (pictured), a returning second-team All-League quick ballhandler who has a bright future ahead of her.
“She just hasn’t even come close to touching her potential,” said Rosenbaum. “She’s taking it all in and learning every game. We’re really excited for her.”
What sets this Jordan team apart is its bigs, though. Sophomore Savannah Hernandez is a standout volleyball player, who will play alongside her sister Marlene Hernandez, a six-foot volleyballer as well.
“We’re big, we take a lot of pride in our size and length,” said Ronsebaum. The Panthers’ other post will be Brianna Patu, with Alexis Gutierrez rounding out the starting lineup.
“Year one was about building a culture and now year two is about learning the system and competing to win,” said Rosenbaum, whose team was 12-9 overall last year and fifth in the Moore League. “We say that success isn’t a straight line, and we’ve been working really hard on that next step.”
Jordan has also added some big names from the community to its coaching staff including Poly alum Destiny King, who played at Hawaii after high school. And while Rosenbaum is ready to see his program compete and win this year, he also knows the future is bright, with a starting lineup of all underclassmen and a supportive administration behind him.
“Our administration has been amazing, they’ve supported everything we’re doing,” he said. “The whole community wants to see this on the right track, we all feel it.”
