| BGHS graduate Jordan Fortney (Photo courtesy West Liberty) |
WEST LIBERTY, W. Va. – On a team putting up numbers that could be seen as ridiculous even in a video
game, Bowling Green native Jordan Fortney is one of its most productive players.
The BGHS graduate is a senior on the West Liberty (W. Va.) men’s basketball team, leading the Hilltoppers
in scoring at 16.8 points per game.
Fortney leads NCAA Division II in 3-point shooting percentage, hitting an impressive 52 percent from
beyond the arc. He also leads the team in steals and charges taken.
Although Fortney’s numbers alone are impressive, the fact that West Liberty is averaging a mind-blowing
119.9 ppg as a team is what really stands out.
Add to that the fact that the team is undefeated at 20-0 and ranked No. 1 in the nation, Fortney’s
college career is ending with quite the proverbial bang.
"It’s been amazing. We’re all having a good time," said Fortney, who graduated from BGHS in
2007. "Coming into the season we didn’t really know how good we would be … Having this kind of
success so far has just been an amazing ride and we’re all enjoying it and just making sure that we keep
it up and see it where it takes us."
The statistical anomalies are abundant and are too many to list for a team that has taken even its head
coach by surprise with its output.
The team has led by at least 37 points in the second half in 17 of 20 games and is out-scoring its
opponents by an average of nearly 40 ppg.
"We’ve put up some numbers as a team that I would have never foreseen," head coach Jim
Crutchfield said. "We have guys like Jordan that can shoot the ball and get the ball to the basket.
They’re very multi-skilled. So we’ve kind of come up with this overall package that leads to an up-tempo
game. But I never in my wildest dreams saw the numbers that I’m looking at right now."
Fortney, who played under current coach Von Graffin while at BGHS, averaged 18.1 ppg as a senior for the
Bobcats when he was named the Northern Lakes League player of the year. He was a first-team All-District
and Special Mention All-Ohio selection as a senior, and holds every assist record at BGHS, where he also
lettered in baseball.
Still, Fortney didn’t receive much recruiting attention from schools around the area.
"Coming out of high school, obviously not many people heard of West Liberty … it’s on top of some
hill in West Virginia," Fortney said. "So I was a little unsure at first, but now looking back
at it, I wouldn’t have chosen anywhere else to go.
"Obviously I would have liked to stay close to home at Bowling Green, Findlay, Oakland … just all
those close schools. It would have been nice to play there," Fortney added. "It was just kind
of heart-breaking knowing that not all these other close schools were recruiting me as much as West
Liberty was … It was a good fit for me and I’m having a great time here."
Fortney and West Liberty still have unfinished business this season. The Hilltoppers lost in the Sweet 16
of the Division II tournament last season, being upset on the road by Indiana (Pa.) University.
Barring a major collapse, West Liberty should host the regional tournament this year, and should it win
the regional, the Hilltoppers would be one of eight teams to advance to the Division II Elite Eight
which is held at the home of the National Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass.
"Our main goal is the tournament. We were pretty upset at getting upset in the Sweet 16,"
Fortney said. "We’re all just practicing hard and keeping our heads and making sure that we have no
letdowns."
Fortney, who has a goal of playing professional basketball overseas once his college career is over, is
scheduled to graduate this spring with a degree in accounting. He is the son of Ken and Pam Fortney.
"He has become a very, very valuable and versatile player for us. I didn’t really picture this type
of player that he became," Crutchfield said. "He was more of a point-guard in high school.
He’s become more of a scorer and an all-court player for us.
"It’s kind of hard to imagine anybody having the success Jordan has had because it’s been incredible
what he’s done here," Crutchfield continued. "I knew he was a good player and we liked him
personality-wise, he’s a good fit for us. But the great player he has become, it’s just only been a
bonus … I think he’s going to succeed in anything he does."
