MBK | Page Plays Big Role For Gaels
3/5/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By George Robles
SMCGaels.com correspondent
MORAGA, Calif. -- The country of Australia has produced high-quality basketball talent for the Saint Mary's men's basketball team over the past decade, which has helped the program become an elite West Coast power.
Look no further for talent than 6-foot-1 guard Jorden Page, who has emerged as a leader on and off the court in his fourth year as a Gael.
Even though basketball is not considered the most popular sport in Australia, the love for the game came early for the Queensland native. His grandparents ran the local basketball arena and Page would practice almost every day as a child.
"It was the right sport for me," explained Page. "I practiced a lot by myself and it just clicked from there."
He got better and better at the sport, earning a scholarship to the Australian Institute of Sport, where he thrived playing against the best competition in Australia.
A few American colleges began to recruit him, but in the end it was an easy decision for Page to come to Moraga because of the success of Australian basketball players at Saint Mary's.
Once at Saint Mary's, the transition of being in another country thousands of miles away from home was not as difficult for Page as he had originally thought, especially with four other Australians around.
"The most difficult thing was being away from family," said Page. "It was hard being away from the beach because I was used to going to the beach every day and you can't really do that here. It was honestly pretty easy to adjust aside from family."
Off the court, Page is just the average young adult going through college. When not playing basketball, he enjoys listening to music, skateboarding, surfing, eating at the Cheesecake Factory and like any other college student, sleeping.
"He's laid back. Really laid back, really chill," describes Australian teammate Mitchell Young. "He likes relaxing and doing his own thing. He's into music, like indie and hipster rap. Kendrick Lamar and all those guys."
Page believes that if he had not had taken up basketball, he would have pursued a career in surfing in Australia.
"I definitely would have tried to be a professional surfer," he explained. "It's one of those sports you really have to start from a young age like I did."
Gael fans are thankful that he did pursue basketball and came to Saint Mary's were he has developed and thrived.
"Jordie as a person is pretty laid back, he's a cool kid" said head coach Randy Bennett. "I think a very likeable and fun to be around and very easy going. Everybody likes him."
As a sophomore, Page had a minor setback when he had season-ending knee surgery early in the season. His absence proved to vital, as the team failed to make the NCAA Tournament.
He eventually returned, and last season Page came up clutch in the WCC Tournament final with 16 points in a win over Gonzaga. He also made several key free throws down the stretch.
"As a player he has become a great playmaker. We have started using him that way," Bennett said. "Good passer, he see's things, good vision and beating you off the dribble. He didn't use to be that but that has happened this year. This has been his best year at being able to do that without disrupting the rest of our offense. He is a real hard cover for other teams."
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