BY MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
When Jordan Wilson first heard Spanish dialogue in the Valley, it served as yet another reminder that he was far from home.
Two years ago, Wilson and his family left behind Arkansas and the violence that plagued their community for a calmer setting in Harlingen. On the good word of a family friend, the Wilsons relocated there for a year before finding a home at Sharyland Pioneer.
That’s where the Diamondbacks reaped the benefits of Wilson’s overall play. He averaged 14.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.0 block in his first season there, earning a spot on The Monitor’s All-Area second team.
At 3:30 p.m. today, the 6-foot-2 guard will culminate his junior season by participating in the sixth annual All-Valley Showcase — in conjunction with RGVSports.com and the Rio Grande Valley Vipers — at State Farm Arena in Hidalgo.
“It means a lot,” Wilson said. “Three schools in three years, it was tough. Building relationships, making friends, it’s kind of hard. But I had to get used to it.”
Wilson’s versatility has made him an invaluable player for Sharyland Pioneer. In only his first year, Wilson took on a lead role, carrying the team in four statistical categories. They finished second in District 31-5A, behind state-bound Edinburg Vela, and into the area round of the playoffs.
With a knack for attacking the paint and a 55-percent clip from the field, Wilson proved himself a capable all-around athlete, willing to drive, kick and create a wealth of opportunities.
“He adapted really good in the offense,” Pioneer coach Rene Gonzalez said. “Our job is to get to the paint, make everyone around you better. And how did we do that? By making the extra pass. And Jordan did that well.”
For Jordan, the biggest adjustment was learning a new philosophy and trying to establish chemistry with his teammates. By the time he settled in at his high school in Arkansas, he moved for Harlingen High. And within a year, he found himself packing for Sharyland Pioneer.
The speed never changed, he said. Players were just as quick in Arkansas as they have been the past two seasons that he’s played in the Valley. The height, however, became less of a concern when he landed at Harlingen.
At 6-foot-2, Wilson is one of the taller guards. And his capabilities on both ends of the court have made him indispensable for a Pioneer team looking to take the next step.
“I think what made it work was that his teammates embraced him,” Gonzalez said. “He’s a great kid. He’s been through a lot in his life. He’s seen a lot. And that’s what makes him stronger.”