Most teenagers go to the lake, get a job or just hang out during their summer vacations. Jordan Sullivan, a junior from Sidney, spends her summer months playing basketball. That sounds quite normal, but Sullivan doesn’t just shoot hoops with family outside her home. She travels the nation playing with and against some of the top prospects in the nation.

Sullivan plays on an AAU traveling team. She began playing on the Montana team last summer after a coach who had seen her play years before asked her to join his team. “He asked me if I would like to travel the nation and play basketball. I definitely jumped at the chance,” explained Sullivan.

Her best memory of last year was when her team traveled to San Diego. Was it a game winning shot or an excellent game? “I got to swim with the dolphins at Sea World. It was so much fun,” Sullivan recalled.

Submitted Sidney High School junior Jordan Sullivan (#55) is pictured with her AAU basketball team, the Northwest Blazers.

She got used to style of AAU basketball last summer. The pace and physicality of the game took a while to get used to. “Everyone is so athletic, and the guards really force the ball up court. You really learn to stretch the court and run the floor hard,” stated the post player.

Sullivan plays for the Northwest Blazers, a team made of five players from Washington, three from Montana and one player from Minnesota. Sullivan is getting the chance to play with national recruit Joslyn Tinkle, a senior at Big Sky High School in Missoula. Tinkle made the 18 and under U.S. National Team this year.

“It is so much fun to play on this team, especially with Joslyn. She is a great player who you love to play with. She makes all the players around her better,” Sullivan said.

The AAU season begins in early spring with multiple tournaments through the summer. The Blazers have traveled across the nation while going to tournaments in Las Vegas, Phoenix and Portland, just to name a few. “It is fun to travel and play in different venues. If I had to choose a favorite, I’d probably say Portland. That tournament is huge,” Sullivan said.

A great number of college coaches attend each of these tournament to scout potential athletes. In Portland, Sullivan looked up and saw Duke women's basketball coach Joanne P. McCalli. “I couldn’t believe that it was her. It was a real neat feeling to see she was there watching everybody play,” said Sullivan.

Sullivan believes that her experiences can only help her during the high school basketball season. “Playing AAU has helped give me the chance to step out and play forward at times because I’m not the tallest player. Any chance to play against high competition is a positive situation. I have had a blast.”

Sullivan is looking forward to getting back and playing for the Eagles this season.

sports @sidneyherald.com