PeacePlayers South Africa Storybook FINAL - Flipbook - Page 93
A robust support system with great parents and coaches has fortified his path and helped
him tread through his environment as a kid. This was most evident when he rose to
his calling of being a natural leader and became Head Boy of Addington in Grade 7. At
Addington, he was a part of a programme where Clifton High School selected him to get a
full scholarship to attend their highly regarded, private institution.
Jacques flourished instantly in the classroom and on the basketball court at Clifton. On the
court, he had the guidance and mentorship of a PeacePlayer Alumnus and local Professional
basketball player, Mfanafuthi Ntombela. Jacques remembers one of his best games was
against a few former Addington-PeacePlayers participants who attended Northwood High
School. Jacques had 25 points, 5 assists, and 2 rebounds in this game. Although he had a
strong season, his teams at Clifton weren't as competitive as he's now accustomed to at
University of the Witwatersrand, where he now studies.
Jacques's confidence most recently led him to be a winning member of a University of the
Witwatersrand (WITS) basketball club, who most recently won the University Sports South
Africa (USSA) Basketball Championship in 2021. This event is South Africa's equivalent
of the United States’ National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) March Madness
tournament. During his first year at University, he was proud to hoist the trophy with his
teammates.
Jacques hopes to have an exciting final three years at one of the most prestigious
universities in the country. He understands how rare winning the University Sports South
Africa championship was and he’s grateful to have achieved this feat early in his career.
When speaking to family and friends, they often coin him "the chosen one" because of his
natural ability to confidently lead and persevere. Yet, through it all, Jacques never forgets
where the game of basketball started for him, with PeacePlayers at Addington Primary
School. "PeacePlayers made me," Jacques confidently states. While many people and
fortunate situations added to his overall success, PeacePlayers is proud to call him a product
of the local programmes.
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