With his family seated by his side on a circular table and with a throng of backpack-sporting students all around, Churchill High senior Jordan Kent — son of Ernie — announced his much anticipated plans for the future.
“I just felt after the summer I had that I was ready to make a decision like this, so, as of next fall, I’m going to bypass my college career and declare myself eligible for the NBA Draft,” Jordan said.
Laughter erupted throughout the room while his dad playfully nudged his head with his hand and asked, “What?”
“Just kidding,” Jordan Kent said.
Kent then turned serious when announcing his real plans.
“But honestly, it’s my great honor to declare that I’m going to the University of Oregon next fall,” Kent said.
With those words, two Oregon sports teams added a promising new future player as Jordan plans to participate for his dad’s men’s basketball team as well as Martin Smith’s storied track and field team.
Jordan turned down scholarship offers from Kansas, Stanford, Michigan and Illinois. He may redshirt his freshman 2002-2003 hoops season to concentrate solely on track with the intent of resuming both the following year.

As a junior last year, Jordan had the type of athletic success that competitors dream of. The 6-foot-4 forward, who averaged just under 13 points and five rebounds a game, played a key role in the Lancers’s state title run in basketball that culminated with a thorough 78-46 victory over Benson in the championship game.
A few months later, he dominated the 4A Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field when he won the individual state titles in the 200- and 400-meters as well as the long jump. His success propelled the Lancers to the overall state title.
Now, he’s eager to continue the Kent legacy at Oregon. Along with his dad, he’ll be joined by his older brother, Marcus, who graduated from Churchill in June and is preparing to be a freshman walk-on on this year’s Oregon basketball team.
“I get to play at Oregon where my dad played and where my mom went to college,” Jordan said. “I get to play on the same team as my brother and get to play for my dad. It almost seems like a chapter out of a storybook, but it’s business now. This is going to be the hardest thing I’ve ever done.
“I’m ready to step up to the challenge because both coaches have big expectations and it’s my job to fulfill that.”
One of those coaches took off his coach’s hat Thursday and spoke as a proud father instead.
“The fact that I have so much passion for this University and it means so much to me, to be able to send your kids there, that says a lot,” Ernie said.