Why I'm building Waypoint.

Basketball has been part of my life for as long as I can remember.

There was a time when I expected to keep playing the game for fun myself. Injuries ultimately changed that path. Before I was fully into adulthood, I had undergone three knee surgeries that made it increasingly difficult to continue doing something I loved.

Eventually, my body made a decision that my heart never would have made on its own.

I had to stop playing.

But the love for the game never left me.

The lessons stayed. The competitive instinct stayed. The friendships stayed. The memories stayed. The frustrations stayed. The joy stayed.

As I have gotten older, I have realized that my relationship with basketball does not have to end.

It can simply take a different form.

Waypoint is that next form.

I want Waypoint to become more than a basketball program.

I want it to become a community.

Players should build relationships with one another that extend beyond a single season. Older players should eventually return and mentor younger players. Alumni should remain connected to the program.

I want players to know that being part of Waypoint means something.

And years later, you should still be able to call one another.

A waypoint is not the final destination.

It is a meaningful point along a longer journey — a place that helps you understand where you are, recognize how far you have come, and decide where you are going next.

That is how I think about basketball.

For a young person, basketball can be an important waypoint. It can demand discipline, create friendships, introduce new places and people, and teach lessons that remain useful long after the games end.

But the game is still only part of the journey.

Waypoint should help players see more of the world, understand themselves better, and think more seriously about where they can go next.

Outside of basketball, Jacob works in finance and financial operations, with experience spanning accounting, financial analysis, data, and the development of internal systems and processes.

His work has centered on building more disciplined operating environments — improving reporting, reconciliations, financial controls, workflow automation, and the systems organizations rely on to operate accurately and consistently.

That professional background shapes how he is building Waypoint.

The same principles that matter in his work — preparation, accountability, organization, sound judgment, and attention to detail — will be expected in the administration of the program.

Waypoint Basketball is being built with the understanding that working with young people carries a significant responsibility.

Parents should be able to expect clear communication, thoughtful planning, strong standards, and an organization that takes both basketball development and the well-being of its players seriously.