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‘A threat’ on the basketball court

Glover making D-1 mark with UN-Omaha

Ja’Sean Glover plays for the University of Nebraska-Omaha after a stellar high school career at Madelia

Ja’Sean Glover has seen success on the basketball court for a long time.

Glover started playing basketball for the Madelia High School boys basketball team when he was in seventh grade and has never looked back.

He finished his high school career with the 10th most career points in Minnesota state high school history, scoring 3,100 points in his time at Madelia and averaging over 30 points in his senior season in 2021-2022.

His accolades and on-court dominance led the University of Nebraska Omaha — a Division 1 basketball college — to seek to add his talents to their team. Glover accepted and is now nearing the end of the season with his new team.

Glover prides himself on being a two-way player, impacting the game on both ends of the court.

Ja’Sean Glover plays for the University of Nebraska-Omaha after a stellar high school career at Madelia

“I like to be able to be a threat on all three levels, offensively and defensively,” Glover said. “I’m big on keeping on the ball and really competing on defense. Somebody that I watch literally every day would be of course the GOAT, Michael Jordan. I just try to emulate my game from him and try to be great in any way I can.”

Glover started the season on the bench, but as of Feb. 27, he has started in 11 of the 30 games that the Mavericks have played.

Glover is very appreciative of the chance to start at the college level his freshman year.

“It was a great experience,” Glover said. “My teammates and my coaches, they’ve been believing in me all year. They’ve been telling me to stay focused and be disciplined with all that I’m doing and everything else will take care of itself. Just trying to be able to be beneficial on both sides of the ball. That was the main thing. I was excited because, coming from a small town like Madelia, being able to be a starter for a Division 1 college is crazy for me, so it was an exciting experience.”

Glover has averaged 19.6 minutes, 4 points, two rebounds, and just over an assist per game. Glover has season highs of 16 points on Jan. 14 against North Dakota St., nine rebounds on Feb. 4 against Western Illinois, five assists Feb. 2 against the University of St. Thomas MN, and four steals on Feb. 25 against Denver University.

Ja’Sean Glover plays for the University of Nebraska-Omaha after a stellar high school career at Madelia

Glover admits that there’s a big difference between playing in high school and competing at a D1 college level.

“The biggest change is mostly the physicality and the pace of the game,” Glover said. “Just adjusting to the pace and the physicality has always been a thing. But I’ve been putting the work in, so I’m pretty adjusted to the pace now.”

Always wanting to learn more, Glover says he’s grown a lot in his approach to being consistent and dependable.

“The biggest thing I’ve learned, I would say, is discipline,” Glover said. “Being able to get up every day, whether it’s a good day or a bad day, win or lose, you’ve got to get up and put the work in.”

Glover has also gotten better at working more fluidly with his team.

“I’ve learned how to try to be a great teammate,” Glover said. “Both on and off the court. Whether that’s helping my teammates out with homework or just going bowling or playing video games with my team, I’ll support and encourage my teammates in a positive way. Whether that’s a missed shot or something bad on defense happened, I try to encourage them in a positive way any way I can. I’m just getting good at it.”

In spite of his previous talent and success, Glover knows he has a lot to work on in order to become the player he wants to be.

“There’s always room for improvement,” Glover said. “The two biggest things would probably be my ball handling and my shooting. Those are the two main things.”

Outside of basketball, Glover appreciates the atmosphere and support that the University of Nebraska Omaha has provided him.

“Outside of basketball, it’s been lovely,” Glover said. “I love the campus here, I love the staff and students that come to U of N. I’ve got a great support system, my mom and dad. And even my academic advisors, they’re always encouraging and looking in at my studies. And my coaches, they’re always asking me outside of basketball how I’m doing.

“I tell them I’m blessed because I have nothing to complain about because things have been great for me.”

Glover also had some advice to share with those who are hoping to follow in his footsteps and play basketball at the most competitive college level.

“First and foremost, you’ve got to believe in yourself,” Glover said. “If you don’t believe in yourself, then there’s no way that you can believe in what you can put out. One is believe in yourself, and two is putting the work in.

“Don’t be afraid of having a bad day, or something doesn’t go right, or you didn’t make an amount of shots, or if you don’t feel like you put in enough work that day. Just stay consistent and stay disciplined with how much you’re doing. Just believe in yourself, and anything is possible.”

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