Athlete of the Week — Jamane Peterson

West Ashley High junior, Jamane Peterson is a first year starter for the boys Varsity basketball team and is this week’s Athlete of the Week. “I like it. It makes me feel special,” said Peterson when asked how he felt about earning the honor of Athlete of the Week. A center and power forward for the team, Peterson has averaged 6 points and 7 rebounds per game so far this season.
Peterson has been playing basketball since he was 10 years old. While in the 4th grade, Peterson’s cousin, Marcus, ignited his love for the game. “He would take me to the park to play basketball,” says Peterson who then out for the team the next year.
According to Peterson, the boys grew up together in a small neighborhood and playing basketball was one way for them to escape reality. “It’s just something you can do to get your mind off everything,” he said. Marcus was more than just a playmate for Peterson; he is his biggest supporter. “He always helps me and motivates me,” says Peterson.
One of Peterson’s goals is to earn a full scholarship to play basketball in college. In order to achieve this, he works hard during and after practice and goes to the weight room to build his strength. Even during the off-season he practices at least three days a week. Peterson’s efforts have already paid off. He has started the first three games of the season in his first year on the varsity team.
Even though Peterson’s performance so far this season has been successful, Peterson admits that sometimes life gets in his way. He says sometimes his ability to perform is negatively impacted if he’s had a bad day. But, he has found a way to overcome this obstacle. “I listen to music,” says Peterson. “It helps me and gets me hyped up.”
Basketball is not Peterson’s only area where he has found success at WAHS. He’s academically inclined as well. “Jamane is an A/B student who is a great role model for all student athletes,”says Varsity Basketball Coach James DuPre. “He displays a great attitude and work ethic both in the classroom and on the court.” When Peterson is not playing ball or working on schoolwork, he enjoys hanging out with friends. He also likes to ride dirt bikes at Sugar Hill in Hollywood.
When he gets to college, Peterson wants to major in engineering in order to become a welding engineer. When he was in the 8th grade, he had a teacher who was an underwater welder. This sparked his interest in this as a potential career path. “It’s something that caught my eye,” says Peterson.