UBCO Heat point guard Jalen Shirley embodies the underdog story that everyone loves to cheer for. His rise through adversity is not only remarkable, but inspiring.
"Once I step on the court, it feels like all of my problems go away," said Shirley, a Brampton, Ont., native whose path to university basketball stardom was anything but ordinary.
From a young age, Shirley stood out as a gifted athlete, excelling in both basketball and baseball at elite levels. He won multiple provincial championships in baseball and was recognized as one of the top basketball players in Ontario.
However, pushing his body year-round came at a cost. In the summer before ninth grade, Shirley was diagnosed with Osgood-Schlatter disease, a painful knee condition that forced him to step away from baseball. This led to him feeling disconnected from his team and the sport.
The timing of the injury felt like a sign, and it pushed him to fully commit to basketball, a decision that ultimately paid off. He went on to win many championships throughout middle school and high school while also earning multiple Athlete of the Year awards along the way.
When Shirley turned 15, his family had moved to the outskirts of Brampton, but that did not stop his parents from being his main support system. "My dad was a basketball player, so he naturally became my trainer," said Shirley. "He was my favourite player growing up. Watching him play made me want to follow in his footsteps. He stayed consistent and committed to training me hard and would tell me, 'If you're not working on your game, somebody else in the world is.'"
His mother, Charmaine Bolt, also played a crucial role in supporting him. "We were living 90 minutes away from my school and games. My mom would work evening shifts, often getting home around midnight, but she'd still wake up early to make sure I was prepared and on time for school," he said.
The dedication from his parents showed him what it meant to work hard and to never give up when the odds are against you. "I would not be here without the discipline and confidence my parents instilled in me. They believed in me and sacrificed so much, so that I could live out my dreams," stated Shirley.
After graduating from Henry Carr Prep School in 2020, Shirley took a year off to focus on basketball and explore his post-secondary options. The COVID-19 pandemic complicated his recruitment to the United States, and with limited exposure, Shirley decided to stay in Canada – a decision that would open doors in unexpected ways.
In Kelowna, Heat men's basketball head coach Clay Pottinger was starting his recruitment process for the 2021-2022 season. It just so happened that he was scouting a player from Brampton: Shirley's childhood best friend, Courage Ogbeide. Ontario-based coach Travis Noel shared Courage's information with Pottinger but also slipped in a YouTube link to Shirley's high school basketball highlight tape, telling him that Jalen is very overlooked, extremely talented and that teams in Canada West will regret not recruiting him.
Though initially focused on Ogbeide, Pottinger decided to take a chance on the pair of best friends. "When I came to Kelowna, it was a long way from home, so I didn't know what to expect," said Shirley. "It was the first time I was playing against guys older and bigger than me. I was nervous, but I let my game speak for itself."
It did not take long for Pottinger to notice something special in Shirley. "After a few practices, I realized this kid is different," he said. "This quiet, small guard from Brampton was battling our team veterans with no fear and no hesitation." Pottinger recalls one game early in Shirley's career that stands out to him. "I called him up to sub in for our starting point guard and started giving him instructions. He looked at me and said, 'Coach, don't worry. I got this.' That's when I knew Jalen was not like the rest."
By the end of the season, Shirley was nominated for UBCO's Male Rookie of the Year award. "I often do not get recognized due to my size and flair," he said. "But that is what motivates me to keep getting better."
As Jalen finished his fourth year with the Heat, he became the third player in Heat men's basketball history to score 1,000 career points, averaging 16.7 points per game — tenth in Canada West — along with 4.5 assists, 3.8 rebounds, 22 steals, and six blocks. He also posted a single-game career-high 32 points against the nationally ranked Victoria Vikes, a team that would go on to win the U SPORTS national championship.
But his impact cannot be measured by stats alone.
On January 17, in a tightly contested road game against the Alberta Golden Bears, Shirley was double-teamed and held below his usual scoring pace. "I told myself, if I do not do something now, this loss is on me," he said. What followed was a clutch performance that will always be remembered: nine straight points, all threes, with the game-winner coming with 23 seconds left. It sealed UBCO's first-ever win over Alberta.
"There were kids heckling us behind the bench all game," recalled Pottinger. "Next thing you know, they're swarming Jalen asking for autographs. That's the effect he has – he can make you a believer, that is what he does."
Just six days later, Shirley proved his resilience once again. Late in a game against Trinity Western, he dislocated his finger driving to the rim. "At first, I thought I just jammed it, but then I looked down and my finger was practically backwards." Once the refs blew the whistle, he took off running out of the gymnasium. "I was in the hallway in excruciating pain, but all I could think about was going back into the game because I did not want to let my team down." After getting his finger put back into place, Shirley returned just minutes later to finish the game with 19 points, five assists, and six rebounds.
Following the season, Shirley saw all his hard work pay off as he became the first UBCO men's basketball player ever drafted into the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), selected 28th overall by the Edmonton Stingers. He spent a week at training camp this summer, learning from the best in Canada. "At the next level, you have to pick things up fast. Every day you show up, you have to be prepared to work and compete," he said. "You have to eat, sleep, and breathe basketball."
Now, with one final season ahead, Shirley is focused on leaving his mark and helping lead the Heat to new heights.
"If I could tell my younger self one thing," he said, "it would be to keep running the course, because there is a light at the end of the tunnel."
