University of Georgia Athletics
Ross Has Grown Up Quickly Through Hoops
January 02, 2026 | Men's Basketball, The Frierson Files
Ross Has Grown Up Quickly Through Hoops
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Jordan Ross didn't set out to be a man on the move, but that's how things have turned out.Â
"Despite what it looks like, I actually hate moving around," said the junior guard on the No. 23-ranked Georgia men's basketball team.
Ross is in his first season with the Bulldogs after starting his collegiate career at Saint Mary's in Moraga, Calif. Before that, the native of Pleasant Grove, Utah, played two seasons at Pleasant Grove High School, followed by one year at Link Academy in Branson, Mo., and his senior year was spent at Arizona Compass Prep in Chandler, Ariz.
"I kind of like settling in and getting comfortable in one spot. But at the end of the day, you've got to do what's best for your career," he said.
When Ross transferred to powerhouse Link Academy to play for head coach Rodney Perry, he didn't plan on playing anywhere else before college. When Kansas State hired Perry as an assistant coach, Ross decided to move on to Arizona Compass Prep. Ross said he learned plenty about basketball and life at both schools.
"You grow up pretty quickly," he said. "It starts with just doing your own laundry and dishes, you're feeding yourself, and everything like that. What was good for me is I did my first two years of college in high school, basically. So when I got to California, it was kind of like I was an upperclassman in the sense of living on my own."
Georgia head coach Mike White said Ross, who has been in the starting lineup since the season opener, has been a pleasure to coach.
"He's got maturity on the court, off the court, and he's been a great addition to the program," White said.
After playing limited minutes as a backup during his freshman season at Saint Mary's, Ross started all 35 games last season and averaged 8.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists. Through Georgia's first 12 games, Ross averaged 7.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game, while shooting 47.7% from the field and 80.6% from the free-throw line. He's on a deep Georgia squad that regularly plays 11 guys at least 11 minutes a game, and has seven averaging 7.9 or more points per game.
One of the things Ross and his Georgia teammates like to do away from basketball is head to the bowling alley. On a team with a lot of new players, going bowling was a way to build chemistry and get to know one another — and mix in a little competition at the same time.
"As soon as we leave the gym or the locker room, we're still hanging out at someone's house together, or we're going bowling," he said. "We go like eight to 14 (players) deep."
Who's the best bowler on the team?
"Myself," Ross said. "Without a doubt."
In 12 games for Georgia, Ross has scored in double figures four times: scoring 14 against Georgia Tech, 12 against Tennessee Tech, a season-high 15 versus Western Carolina, and 10 against West Georgia.
"Jordan has brought a high basketball IQ, he's a coach's son, and he's a consistency and culture guy," White said. "He's very smart, he understands the game, and he's a good communicator. I wish he'd stretch himself a little more and put more of an imprint on the program with his communicating, but right now, what he says resonates because there's substance behind it."
Ross' father, Ronnie, was a point guard at Utah State in the early 2000s and played professionally overseas for several years. He's now the boys head coach at American Leadership Academy in Spanish Fork, Utah. Ross said he isn't sure if coaching is in his future, but he's learned from a lot of good ones in his career.
"I get to take all the bits and pieces from each coach and each teammate that I've had in my life and put it all together," he said.
Ross is the oldest of five children, with two younger brothers and sisters. He said some of his maturity came from being the big brother in the family.
"I love it," he said. 'I think it also played into me being a point guard and being a leader."
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Jordan Ross didn't set out to be a man on the move, but that's how things have turned out.Â
"Despite what it looks like, I actually hate moving around," said the junior guard on the No. 23-ranked Georgia men's basketball team.
Ross is in his first season with the Bulldogs after starting his collegiate career at Saint Mary's in Moraga, Calif. Before that, the native of Pleasant Grove, Utah, played two seasons at Pleasant Grove High School, followed by one year at Link Academy in Branson, Mo., and his senior year was spent at Arizona Compass Prep in Chandler, Ariz.
"I kind of like settling in and getting comfortable in one spot. But at the end of the day, you've got to do what's best for your career," he said.
When Ross transferred to powerhouse Link Academy to play for head coach Rodney Perry, he didn't plan on playing anywhere else before college. When Kansas State hired Perry as an assistant coach, Ross decided to move on to Arizona Compass Prep. Ross said he learned plenty about basketball and life at both schools.
"You grow up pretty quickly," he said. "It starts with just doing your own laundry and dishes, you're feeding yourself, and everything like that. What was good for me is I did my first two years of college in high school, basically. So when I got to California, it was kind of like I was an upperclassman in the sense of living on my own."
Georgia head coach Mike White said Ross, who has been in the starting lineup since the season opener, has been a pleasure to coach.
"He's got maturity on the court, off the court, and he's been a great addition to the program," White said.
After playing limited minutes as a backup during his freshman season at Saint Mary's, Ross started all 35 games last season and averaged 8.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists. Through Georgia's first 12 games, Ross averaged 7.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game, while shooting 47.7% from the field and 80.6% from the free-throw line. He's on a deep Georgia squad that regularly plays 11 guys at least 11 minutes a game, and has seven averaging 7.9 or more points per game.
One of the things Ross and his Georgia teammates like to do away from basketball is head to the bowling alley. On a team with a lot of new players, going bowling was a way to build chemistry and get to know one another — and mix in a little competition at the same time.
"As soon as we leave the gym or the locker room, we're still hanging out at someone's house together, or we're going bowling," he said. "We go like eight to 14 (players) deep."
Who's the best bowler on the team?
"Myself," Ross said. "Without a doubt."
In 12 games for Georgia, Ross has scored in double figures four times: scoring 14 against Georgia Tech, 12 against Tennessee Tech, a season-high 15 versus Western Carolina, and 10 against West Georgia.
"Jordan has brought a high basketball IQ, he's a coach's son, and he's a consistency and culture guy," White said. "He's very smart, he understands the game, and he's a good communicator. I wish he'd stretch himself a little more and put more of an imprint on the program with his communicating, but right now, what he says resonates because there's substance behind it."
Ross' father, Ronnie, was a point guard at Utah State in the early 2000s and played professionally overseas for several years. He's now the boys head coach at American Leadership Academy in Spanish Fork, Utah. Ross said he isn't sure if coaching is in his future, but he's learned from a lot of good ones in his career.
"I get to take all the bits and pieces from each coach and each teammate that I've had in my life and put it all together," he said.
Ross is the oldest of five children, with two younger brothers and sisters. He said some of his maturity came from being the big brother in the family.
"I love it," he said. 'I think it also played into me being a point guard and being a leader."
Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files.
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