College Commitment: Ja’Vary Christmas (2016 De La Salle North HS/Sheridan College)
It’s definitely been quite the journey for Ja’Vary Christmas. But through every step along the way the lanky 6-foot-5 guard kept the faith. The 2016 De La Salle North graduate was focused on getting back to college basketball’s highest level and after making an official visit this past weekend, Christmas will be returning to D-I hoops – and this time it will be on scholarship.
On Tuesday afternoon, Christmas announced that he had committed to sign with Idaho. “I just felt like it was the best fit for me,” Christmas said. “There have been a lot of Portland guys that have gone through there under Coach (Don) Verlin and they’re losing a lot of guys. He knows my game – they came out to a lot of our games ever since the beginning of the year. When I went to visit, it was good and I just felt at home.”
Christmas made the trip to Moscow this past weekend and detailed more about what he experienced. “I like the Kibbie Dome where they play,” Christmas said. “I like the whole setup and I like the campus, and how they would help me academically and the support that they give their players. Coach Verlin and (his staff) are super player oriented and they care more about the players more than anything. That was it for me.”
The acceptance of the scholarship offer from Idaho accomplishes a goal for Christmas ever since he graduated from De La Salle North in 2016. Since then he’s been walk-on practice player at Oregon and been at two separate junior college programs at Cloud County CC in Kansas and Sheridan College in Wyoming, and with the future now in Idaho, Christmas can reflect back on the road that has gotten him here.
“I just feel so blessed right now,” Christmas said. “There are a lot of emotions about how I got here and how overlooked I was out of high school. Just being able to put the work in proves to everybody that I’m a Division I caliber player. Through the help of everyone that’s helped me get there – it’s a big accomplishment for all of us.”