Celebrating Black History Month: Q&A with USTA Oklahoma's 2023 High Performance Junior Player of the Year, Taytum Jones

Q: Where do you go to school?

A: I attend Edmond North High School.

Q: How long have you been playing tennis?

A: I picked up a racket for the very first time when I was 9.

Q: Where are you from?

A: I’m from Edmond Oklahoma 

Q: Favorite Tennis Memory?

A: Playing in my first L1 Clay Court Nationals Tournament.

Q: Who is your tennis coach?

A: Randy Robinson and Caitlyn Sagraves… they’re amazing.

Q: Where do you play tennis?

A: I play tennis at ECC (Edmond Center Court) and Edmond North High School

Q: What are some accomplishments you've had this year?

A: A goal I’d set for myself was to break the National 14’s top 100 before I aged out and I did just that. I was 99th ☺ Playing in both the Clay and Hard Court L1 Nationals was an unforgettable accomplishment. Maintaining my 4.0 gpa is important to me and being able to keep it up feels good. My biggest accomplishment has been the deepening of my relationship with Jesus. It means everything to me. I wouldn’t be where I am without Him.

Q: What are you looking forward to in the future?

A: I look forward to playing tennis in college right along side my brothers, going pro and winning the US Open inside the prestigious Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Q: What tennis racquet do you play with?

A: Pure Arrow Babolat 

Q: Do you prefer singles or doubles? 

A: I prefer Singles but doubles is always a blast with the right partner.

Q: Favorite restaurant?

A: Saltgrass Steakhouse and Qdoba all day. 

Q: Hobbies besides tennis? 

A: Hanging out with my boys for sure! My cello, beating my mom in chess and hanging with my mentor Pastor Tre Clark.

It is such an honor to be awarded the Jr. High Performance Player of the Year Award. And to be given this distinction in this celebrated Black History Month makes this award that much more special. I am proud of where I come from, my culture, my people and to be a young black male. Black History IS American History. Black History is yesterday, today and most assuredly tomorrow. I am honored to be a piece of that rich history. My favorite all time tennis player is none other than the late great Arthur Ashe.

Some words of wisdom from him are these, “We must reach out our hand in friendship and dignity both to those who would befriend us and those who would be our enemy.”

-Arthur Ashe