For Jordan Hobbs, progression is always the plan

Amid a sea of players flowing in and out of the Michigan women’s basketball team’s roster, senior guard Jordan Hobbs is one of the few who kept a clear direction. As the Wolverines’ only returning starter, her direction hasn’t wavered: she’s going up.

To Hobbs, progress is paramount, and her career is a testament to that. 

“I’m a big believer that hard work is going to pay off,” Hobbs said at Big Ten Media Days Oct. 2. “It’s not going to be linear growth, there’s going to be ups and downs, but over time, you’re going to get better.”

As a freshman, Hobbs’ role was far from the starting spot she occupies today, appearing in 19 games off the bench. But that didn’t mean that Hobbs stopped putting in the work. Rather, she stepped it up, and by her sophomore season, she appeared in 30 games, nine of which she started.

Now entering her fourth season with the team, Hobbs has certainly established herself, becoming a staple in the Wolverines’ starting lineup last season. Always keeping an eye out for opportunity, Hobbs played an instrumental role in orchestrating Michigan’s offense. In fact, she led the team in assists after tallying only one during her freshman season.  

“Jordan (Hobbs) has grown tremendously,” Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico said. “She’s ready for the opportunity. I think she showed that last year, and I think she’s ready for the next steps in her game this season.”

Barnes Arico preaches player development — Hobbs is the epitome of that. After rising through the lineup, her senior season will be taking those next steps toward refinement. And for Hobbs, those next steps will give her control all over the court. 

“I think I’ve worked a lot on the midrange game,” Hobbs said. “I feel like that’s an area that’s underutilized in college basketball. Not a lot of people perfect that area, but the ones who do are really successful.” 

With a constant desire to improve her game, Hobbs knows that the next big step for her is the hard-to-make midrange shot that could become her defining factor as a successful player. 

One example of a player who utilized that factor is former guard Laila Phelia, who excelled at scoring for the Wolverines last season. Making use of her midrange shot, Phelia steadily fueled the bulk of Michigan’s offensive output. But instead of returning to the Wolverines, Phelia transferred to Texas, now potentially leaving those shots in Hobbs’ hands. 

“I think I’m gonna have to be a little bit more aggressive and seek out my shots ahead of other people,” Hobbs said. “Laila got a bunch of shots last year, and those are gone now, so we’re looking at who’s gonna fill that role. I think it’s going to be distributed among a bunch of people, but I’ll definitely have to be more aggressive.”

So, while Hobbs’ knack for reading the court has been a vital asset for Michigan in the past, the Wolverines now need her to do more. And she’s prepared to take that next step, just as she has been the last three years. 

With almost an entirely new roster, there’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding Michigan’s season, and rightfully so. But one thing there’s no question about is Hobbs. Her consistency and continuous desire for improvement will help bolster the new roster for the new season.

A player who prides herself on progress, Hobbs has every intention of taking her game to the next level — just as the Wolverines need her to.

Related articles