Crusaders Alumni Newsletter

What advice could you give to student-athletes about the recruiting process?

Go where you are wanted, go where you can be challenged, and go where you can win. If you are wanted, you will build great relationships with the coaches and teammates who will one day be in your wedding — and that is something you can't replace. If you go where you're challenged, you will grow and become a better player and person, which will simply help you in life. Winning also makes your experience better; you build memories and leave a legacy at a place that is super special to you. I would also say don't compare your journey to others. When you focus on yourself and how you can contribute to winning, everything will fall into place and opportunities will come. Everyone has their own journey.

How has grassroots basketball changed since your days with the Crusaders?

It's changed a lot, and it's only been six years. It's all about making a name for yourself, which is important — but without making a name for your program, your state, and trying to win, people won't notice you. I think it's really hard to recruit high school kids these days with the portal, so fewer coaches are recruiting at the live events, and these young guys have a hard time finding a great fit out of high school. I miss when grassroots was about representing your city and state foremost. We had so much pride winning tourneys and competing at a high level against teams that had no clue where Omaha was. After every tournament, people would find out where the 402 was, and the scholarship results started to roll in — because we made a name for our program and played the right style of basketball with each other. I wish that's what these kids would strive for.

Tell us about your life now — a day in the life of Jadin Booth!

I'm now living in Lakeland, Florida with my wife Kiki, and we are expecting our first son at the end of July. We're super involved with our church and community here in Lakeland, and I'm currently interviewing for several jobs in the area. We love to stay active and work out, as well as spend time with both of our families — both sets of parents are within an hour of us, so we enjoy being close with them. I'm done playing ball; I prayed and prayed and felt like God was calling me to invest in my family. We all know the game can be so demanding, physically and mentally, and I want to be fully present for my son and wife as we follow the steps the Lord has for us. We love keeping up with Omaha hoops and everyone who has gone on to accomplish so many cool things, and I'm forever grateful to have played for such a great program like the Crusaders.

What advice could you give to student-athletes and coaches about today's recruiting process?

Understand the full picture of what you want and what you need — not just as a player, but as a person. When I joined the Crusaders, I had never thought about earning a college scholarship. As I moved into high school, recruiting opportunities increased quickly, and honestly I had very little preparation for that kind of attention. Student-athletes need honest people around them — people who care about them beyond basketball.

For coaches recruiting in the NIL era, I'd encourage you not to lower the standards of teamwork, education, sportsmanship, and integrity. Those values still matter, and the right athletes will always respect programs built on character. For student-athletes: stay away from social-media hype, remain humble and coachable, and listen to the people who knew you before success arrived. The experiences we treasure most are usually not the wins or rankings — they're the relationships.

How has grassroots basketball changed since your time with the Crusaders?

It has changed tremendously. The biggest difference is the amount of time and money families invest in select basketball today. Players now miss school regularly for tournaments, practices compete with homework and family schedules, and many athletes feel pressure to specialize in one sport year-round. That wasn't my experience growing up — I never had to miss school for tournaments, and I was still able to participate in church activities and other parts of life. The financial cost today is also staggering; between league fees, travel, hotels, uniforms, and equipment, families can easily spend thousands of dollars for one athlete in a single season. Exposure matters, but I still believe balance matters too.

What's life like now — a day in the life of Courtney!

Basketball continues to impact my life today, just in a different role. After graduating from Rockhurst University, I had the opportunity to play briefly in Forssa, Finland before my playing career came to an end. Since then I've transitioned into coaching and education — I've coached middle school girls basketball at Monroe Middle School and the Bellevue Lied Center, where I love teaching life lessons through basketball and teamwork. Today I serve as the elementary principal at Cornerstone Christian School in Bellevue, where I have the privilege of watching students grow academically and spiritually every day. It's been especially meaningful to have my niece and nephew attend school there with me. Basketball may no longer be my profession, but its influence continues to shape who I am, and I remain grateful for the friendships and life lessons that began with the Crusaders.