On Point

Late one night, after most of her classmates had gone home, Jadyn Wooten was still in the gym.

The echoes of basketballs bouncing off the hardwood filled the quiet space as she worked on her shot over and over again.

It wasn't unusual for her to call her high school coach, Bruce Erickson, at 10 p.m. with a simple request: "Coach, I need to get some shots up." Erickson would oblige, often finding himself unlocking the gym doors for her late-night sessions.

"I remember asking her how many shots she got up one night, and she told me, 'Oh, only 1,800. I got tired around midnight,'" Erickson recalled, laughing at the memory. "That's just the kind of player she is."

From those late-night gym sessions to the bright lights of Oklahoma State's Gallagher-Iba Arena, the freshman guard has always been fueled by an unwavering work ethic and a deep passion for the game.

"Basketball has always been my escape," Wooten said. "Growing up in an environment you wouldn't want to stay in, the gym was my outlet. At first, it was just fun, but as I got better, it became my peace. It's everything to me."

Wooten's journey to Oklahoma State wasn't just about finding the right basketball program—it was about finding the right family.

After a standout high school career at Blue Valley, Wooten was heavily recruited as one of the nation's top 100 recruits, but she found something special in Stillwater: a community of coaches and teammates that felt like home.

"When I got here, it was humbling," Wooten said. "The people I'm surrounded by—my coaches, my teammates—it's literally like family. You never have to question who has your back here."

Her decision to join the Cowgirls has already started to pay off, but that does not mean the transition has been without challenges.

Like many student-athletes, Wooten had to adjust to the demands of balancing basketball with academics. Time management, she admits, has been the toughest part.

"You look on Teamworks, and it's like, 'whew, until 7 p.m.,'" she laughed. "The biggest adjustment has been managing my time. On the court, it's been about playing through fatigue–there's no easy way out here, and you have to keep pushing."

Even as a freshman, Wooten brings an advanced basketball IQ to Oklahoma State, something her high school coach noticed early on.

Erickson saw her unique ability to read the game, often likening her to a coach on the floor.

"Her vision and passing are what set her apart," Erickson said. "She's a great floor leader. She would make a pass I didn't even see and I coached at the collegiate level. Jadyn just makes everyone around her better."

While Wooten has the skillset to score when needed, she is most comfortable distributing the ball, making sure her teammates are in the best positions to succeed.

Erickson, who spent time in Stillwater as former Cowgirl head coach Kurt Budke's director of player development, compares her to OSU legend Tiffany Bias in that regard, noting how Wooten can control a game with her leadership and ability to facilitate.

"Jadyn is closer to Tiffany Bias than Andrea Riley," Erickson explained. "She distributes the ball and runs the offense so well. She has great handles and is always thinking a few steps ahead. That is what makes her special."

As she adjusts to the collegiate game, Wooten remains focused on staying true to herself and her faith.

Despite being aware of the legacy of Oklahoma State point guards like Bias and Riley, Wooten is not looking to follow in anybody's footsteps, but rather seeking to forge her own path.

"I am not much of a 'following footsteps' type of person," Wooten said. "I believe everyone was put here for their individual reason. I'm going to take the gifts the Lord placed in me and carry those the best way I can."

Basketball, for Wooten, isn't just a sport–it's an extension of her faith and a platform to give back.

She hopes to use her position to inspire the next generation, particularly those who may not have many role models to look up to.

"Honestly, I just want to use the platform basketball has given me to give back to the community, to little boys and girls who need guidance," Wooten said. "I know what it is like to not have people to look up to, so I want to be that inspiration for them."

Wooten's journey at Oklahoma State is just beginning, but those who know her best believe she is destined to make an impact both on and off the court.

Erickson, who coached her through many of her formative years, knows the Cowgirls are lucky to have a player as dedicated and driven as Wooten.

"It was a win-win for us," Erickson said. "I let her play and didn't put any handcuffs on her because I knew how special she was. I didn't have to push her because she pushed herself."

For Wooten, stepping onto the floor in a Cowgirl uniform is the fulfillment of a childhood dream.

But more than that, it's a chance to prove herself and show that she belongs at the highest level of collegiate basketball.

"This is a dream of mine," Wooten said. "It's been a dream since I was a little kid. I'm ready to prove that I belong here and prove everyone right who believed in me."

Oklahoma State University Athletics

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