Born into an athletic lineage, Jada Holland is a 21-year-old student athlete and senior sociology major who was born in Canada and is currently a junior point guard on San Jose State’s women’s basketball team.

Raised in Pleasanton, a city 30 miles north from San Jose, Holland attended Grand Canyon University her freshman year and spent two years at UC Riverside as the Highlanders’ starting point guard before transferring to SJSU this season. She transferred because she fell in love with the culture being implemented by the new head coach April Phillips.

“They bring very different things, but all of them genuinely care about you as a person, rather than just a student athlete,” Holland said. “Obviously, the vision that she [Phillips] has for San Jose turning the program around and everything that we could do, and I just really connected and vibed with her and coach Mitchell on the first couple conversations.”

Phillips said she believes that Holland can bring another dynamic to this year’s team.

“Jada does a really good job of controlling our pace, and we want to play at a fast level,” Phillips said. “She fits right in with the style of basketball that I want to play for sure and she’s definitely going to bring some extreme impact to the program right away.”

Holland played the indoor version of lacrosse called box lacrosse when she was growing up, but eventually moved onto cheerleading. Her dad, John Robert Holland, a former defensive back for the San Francisco 49ers in 1993, encouraged her to give basketball a try in fifth grade. She later became indecisive between picking which sport to pursue.

“I just couldn’t not play basketball. I think I fell in love with it at a young, very young age. And I really never looked back from when I stopped cheerleading,” Holland said.

Holland gives credit to her dad for pushing her to play basketball and always challenging her whether it be mentally or physically. 

“My dad has definitely built me and made me to be a great athlete, one of the best athletes wherever I step in, wherever I’m at,” Holland said.

Her dad is the owner of Holland Fitness and Performance Training, a gym that provides a variety of programs to educate and train athletes in Pleasanton.

“He is definitely someone who works tirelessly and endlessly to make sure that we are in the best spot ever,” Holland said, “And then my mom because she, you know, she’s the bread and butter, she is the glue within our family. And we really couldn’t get anything done without her.”

Holland’s competitive motor on the court comes from her family. She said her parents and siblings helped her build character on and off the court.

“They love to rewatch plays, they love to break down and understand the game, and I think that’s something that I’ve definitely taken from them,” Holland said. “I love to watch film, even practice film, like right after practice, I’ll go home and I’ll watch.”

Her brothers, Jamirr, 26, and Jevon, 22, are two of her biggest motivations for becoming an athlete.

Jamirr Holland signed the Montreal Alouettes, a team in the Canadian Football League, in 2019 but is no longer playing football. Holland said Jamirr’s determination and hard work after getting injured numerous times inspires her. 

“My oldest brother, he has been through a lot I’d say, even through high school with getting injured, breaking his foot and all types of crazy stuff,” Holland said. “But still took a different route and made his way to the Canadian Football League, which is still a professional football league.” 

Jevon was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft and plays safety for the team.

Holland said Jevon’s work ethic shows he will get anything done. 

“My other older brother, he’s the middle child who is currently in the NFL, he plays for the Miami Dolphins. He works his butt off like 24/7, 100 days on end, he doesn’t give up,” Holland said.

Holland said that she sees basketball in her future but possibly wants to be a recruiting coordinator or an assistant coach. 

“I also really love being able to break down and watch film as well as traveling which is why I really love the recruiting coordinator aspect, even though I know it comes with a lot more.” Holland said.

Zhane Duckett, a junior english education student and a point guard for Chico State University’s women’s basketball team, said she and Holland have been playing basketball together since middle school.

Duckett said Holland is one of the hardest working people she knows because of how much she is willing to improve and push for the best version of herself.

“She’s always been coachable and has a level of intensity and confidence that forces everyone around her to step it up,” Duckett said. “Basketball was her first love and she’s going to give it her all everyday until the end of her career.” 

Duckett said the distance is hard for them to maintain a friendship, but says she would do anything for her.

“We played with each other growing up and I’m not going to lie, it wasn’t easy,” Duckett said. “We went at each other in practice like crazy, but looking back on it, it’s probably a big part of the player I am today. We always pushed each other to be better and can now bring that kind of energy to any team we join.”