Broken Arrow’s JD Talley

By Trina Walker

Punctuality and discipline are two important lessons JD Talley learned playing basketball. With plans to study aerospace engineering in college, these lessons will be put to good use in his future.

JD is a senior at Broken Arrow High School. 

“It feels good to represent Broken Arrow because everyone in Oklahoma knows it as the biggest high school in the state. I take pride in it and love that I have had the opportunity to play basketball there. I am passionate about basketball because I have invested so much time into it. It has become an essential part of my life. My favorite part about being on a team is making friendships with my teammates and growing up with those same guys,” said JD. 

The most dedicated players spend time extra time in the gym perfecting skills. When JD was a sophomore, senior Justice Sutton set the example of dedication. 

“He was always putting in extra work after practice and it made me realize that it actually makes a difference when you are separating yourself from other people,” he said.

Even the most dedicated athletes need downtime from their sport. JD’s passion is basketball, but he also enjoys pickleball. He says this new game he recently discovered is really fun to play.

Making it to state his junior year is the biggest accomplishment of JD’s basketball career. “My team played Choctaw for the third time in the season in area playoffs to go to state after losing to them twice prior to that game. It was the best feeling beating them in that game after many people doubted we would go to state that year,” he said. 

JD is thankful to those who positively impacted him. 

“First, I would like to thank my parents for investing a lot of time and money into my basketball career. Secondly, I would like to thank my siblings for always being there for me and keeping me humble. Thirdly, I would like to thank my grandparents for their unwavering support and the love they have shown me throughout my life,” JD said. “Last but not least, thank you to all of my coaches throughout my career for turning me into the player I am today. They not only made me better on the court but off the court as well.”