When sophomore Jillian Chen steps onto the court, the rest of the world fades away. The internal pressure to live up to expectations and external roar of the crowd disappears, narrowing to the squeak of sneakers and echo of the basketball. She’s focusing on her movements, chasing the next play, the next possession. That committed mindset has come to define her as both a player and person.
“Basketball really formulated my ‘get it back’ mindset,” Jillian said. “You don’t have time to think — every time I miss a shot, I have to go get my rebound. Every time I lose the ball, I have to get it back.”
Yet, her resilient attitude did not develop overnight. Jillian’s basketball journey began in fourth grade, when she would spend hours playing pickup games during recess with friends. Before long, the sport made Jillian feel like she belonged as she worked together with her team toward a common goal.
“Basketball is physical in a way that no other sports are,” Jillian said. “Everyone’s so competitive that it really brings you into a team more. When you go through hardships together, it brings you closer than any other friendships.”
In fourth grade, Jillian qualified for the Harker travel team, and by seventh grade, she began playing for club team San Jose Ninjas. This year, she also started competing for Fever Basketball AAU, a Cal Storm-affiliated club outside of school that plays in the selective Nike Elite Youth Champions League (EYCL).
Jillian’s skill led to her being selected for both the 2024 and 2025 North-South League, a tournament showcasing the top twenty high school Asian basketball players from California. She was exposed to new levels of competition that allowed her to represent her community.
Teammate Finley Ho (11) has played alongside Jillian on the Harker team and the same club team since fourth grade and noticed how Jillian’s confidence has grown. She used to place pressure on herself whenever she made mistakes, but now she does not allow them to affect her.
“When I’m on the court with her, it feels like she is in control of the game,” Finley said. “She always brings up the energy or settles it when we’re up. She controls the flow of the game, and even though she was just a freshman last year, her presence on the court was really big.”
Professional players Paige Bueckers, with her support for her teammates and Kaitlyn Chen, who serves as a role model for Asian Americans, have inspired Jillian to push her limits and develop leadership in basketball. Now a point guard on the varsity girls basketball team, Jillian serves as a pacesetter.
“Basketball’s taught me how to be a leader and how to make my voice heard,” Jillian said. “On the basketball court, there’s so much noise, so many distractions — I know not only to be loud with my voice but also how to be efficient with my words. It’s not just leadership verbally, but also leading by example. I can’t be telling people to do something if I’m not doing it myself.”
Club coach Derrick Nguyen has watched her skill evolve since third grade, describing her as a ‘dawg,’ someone who plays with purpose and with heart. He highlighted her leadership and strength, especially when Jillian stepped up to deliver an impromptu speech to her teammates after the Ninjas lost a difficult championship game in October.
“She started as somebody who was just a teammate,” Nguyen said. “Now, she’s taking accountability and holding others accountable. She challenges the team to be better, to fight to the very end. She’s one of the most vocal players on our team.”
Jillian cites her teammates as the people who strengthen her resolve and continue to encourage her when suffering through setbacks like a knee injury in the spring.
“Some of the best friends I have are from basketball,” Jillian said. “My teammates help me with my mental game whenever I lose confidence. They’re the ones that can get on me for not doing my work, but they are also my biggest supporters. They’re the ones that give that verbal and physical encouragement.”
Basketball has transformed Jillian, boosting her self-confidence and instilling a mentality that grounds her through every hurdle or victory: get it back, and keep fighting.
“Basketball is the thing that has helped me the most in being who I am today,” Jillian said. “It teaches you how to learn from your mistakes and knowledge you will actually use in your life, like being a leader. I’ve gained so many new experiences and learned so much not just through the game.”