Jesse Ledbetter is a point guard for the Southmoore Sabercats and attributes his success to continually working on his game.
“It takes a lot to be successful,” Ledbetter said. “I try to overcome challenges and acquire new skills to be the best player on the court every game.”
A junior, Ledbetter has had several people in his life that have helped shape him into the person he is today.
“My mom, dad, brothers, grandparents, Dexter Murphy, and Daniel Harper,” he said. “Without them, I wouldn’t be anywhere near where I am today. Another person would be my teacher, Ms. Swartz. She has always encouraged me to be in the honor society and keep my grades up.”
Whenever he puts on the Sabercat uniform, Jesse knows that he is there for more than just himself.
“I am very proud to be a Southmoore Sabercat,” he stated. “I have true respect for my coaches and teammates, and I know it’s a privilege to play basketball. I strive to always show good sportsmanship and represent my team in a positive way.”
On the court or in practice, Jesse enjoys playing alongside all his teammates, but he has a couple that stand out.
“Rodney Gray was the most similar to me in the way we play,” he said. “We could get competitive and we would really go at each other, but at the end of the day, we were best friends. I think an underrated player on our team is Camden Stewart. He may not have always scored the most points, but he was a leader and always made big plays in needed times, taking charges, getting steals, and getting clutch buckets.”
Along with playing basketball, Jesse also coaches in the Junior Sabercats Basketball League and is a partner on the Special Olympics basketball team. Away from sports, he is a member of the National Honor Society.