Sports Spotlight: Jacob Crain, Foundation Academy basketball

A rising sophomore on the Foundation Academy boys basketball team, Jacob Crain most recently dominated for the Lions during the recent FA Summer Shootout. In the tournament, which saw the Lions go 9-1 — falling in the championship game — Crain finished with 14 points per game and 7.5 rebounds per game.
 

When did you first get into basketball?

I transferred from Bridgewater to Foundation my seventh-grade year, and I tried out for the team and made it, and that’s all that really happened. I fell in love with the sport.
 

What was it about basketball that you loved so much?

All of my teammates have been motivating me and pushing me to get better, and I find the competitive nature of basketball is something that I really enjoy.
 

What is your favorite part about playing at small forward? Your least favorite part?

My favorite part about playing the position is sometimes some of the plays we run, I’m either a decision-maker or they’ll feed me in the post when we need to get going. My least favorite part is when I usually guard the other team’s tallest player.
 

What is the most challenging aspect of playing basketball?

I’d say the most challenging part is reading defenses and making the right decision when we’re on offense.
 

Do you have a highlight moment during your time at Foundation?

There was one game we played against Seven Rivers, and the reason it stands out to me is because our whole team was excited to play, and we sent it to double overtime and ended up winning 100 to 95. Our whole team was just working really well to get a comeback going, even though we lost players to foul trouble.
 

What did you and the team get out of the most recent FA Summer Shootout tournament?

The main goal of the tournament, like coach said, was for all of our players to prepare for the regular season. I feel like, with the competition, it was great to get ready for the upcoming season — even though some of the teams we won’t play — and it showed our team what we needed to improve on to go far in upcoming division tournaments. 
 

The regular season is a while off, but are there any goals you hope to accomplish?

I’d love for us to become district champions and make it to the regional and, hopefully, state tournament. And, like my sister (Abigail Crain), in my high school basketball career, I want to score 1,000 points.
 

Is having a family member who is great at the same sport a motivator for you?

It’s great; she has helped me improve my game a lot, and it’s a real motivator to not be the second best in the family.
 

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

I like to hang out with friends and lift weights — sometimes I’ll go lifting with my friends at the Y or something.