Jordan Black perseveres, leads Macalester basketball team

Jordan Black is the sixth-leading scorer on Macalester's basketball team. But watch the Scots practice, and you see him setting the tempo with his energy and positivity, hustling for loose balls and encouraging teammates in scrimmages and drills.

The senior captain has leaned on his faith to overcome two ACL tears in his right knee just 16 months apart.

"Throughout my life," Jordan says, "I have never heard quit, and that’s something I will never do." 

"Coach Whittle was probably the only coach I talked to where I felt he would actually treat me as his son," Jordan says. "That’s something I really wanted to have, because I haven’t had a father figure, and I’m excited that God put him in my life."

For Whittle, that's not a responsibility he takes lightly. 

"Developing young men," Whittle says, "that’s my job."

Though the Scots are 3-16 this season, Jordan loves being on the court with his teammates - and he will not buckle to negative thoughts. 

Jordan Black-Matthews' basket with 38 seconds left as @MacalesterBball beat Gustavus, 68-63. https://t.co/Z578ti93Vs pic.twitter.com/JoywxSAI2Q