\u201cIt\u2019s awesome,\u201d Jayden Wright said. \u201cJust the way it all worked out, it was really cool. It was like meant to be because they both went there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite the family history, Jayden Wright wasn\u2019t familiar with the campus in Charleston until the recruitment process.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think when I went there for my visit, that was the first time I had ever been there,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve heard a bunch of stories.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jerry Wright, who was inducted into the EIU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006, is a former two-time All-American. He earned first-team honors in 1984, when he caught 76 passes for 1,029 yards. The Panthers\u2019 quarterback at the time was Naperville Central graduate Sean Payton, who is the head coach of the Denver Broncos<\/a>.<\/p>\n Jason Wright told his son all about EIU\u2019s basketball program.<\/p>\n \u201cHe said he really liked his time there, and so he thought I was going to like it too,\u201d Jayden Wright said. \u201cHe said the basketball program is good and the environment there is good and he thought it was a good fit for me too.\u201d<\/p>\n Jayden Wright thought so, too, after visiting EIU.<\/p>\n \u201cI just felt really wanted,\u201d he said. \u201cEspecially when I was on campus, I just liked everything that I saw.<\/p>\n \u201cThe way that they play, I\u2019m going to fit in really good, and I think I\u2019m going to have a chance to play right away, so that was a big thing for me too. But probably the biggest thing was they really wanted me.\u201d<\/p>\n The Panthers offered Jayden Wright in June, and he committed on Aug. 2, thrilling his relatives.<\/p>\n \u201cThey were really excited,\u201d he said. \u201cMy dad would have been excited no matter what place it was, but since it was there, he was even more excited. It was kind of a full-circle moment.<\/p>\n \u201cSame with my grandpa. I remember when I committed, he called me right away, and he was really happy for me and excited.\u201d<\/p>\n So was Benet coach Gene Heidkamp.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of family tradition there, a lot of history there,\u201d Heidkamp said. \u201cWe\u2019re all excited to see him make that commitment, and I couldn\u2019t be prouder of him or the opportunity he\u2019s going to have there.<\/p>\n \u201cI know he\u2019s worked very hard for the opportunity. He\u2019s had a great career for us so far, and we\u2019re hoping for a big senior year as well.\u201d<\/p>\n The Redwings are counting on Jayden Wright to take on an even bigger role in his third varsity season. As a junior, he made a team-high 74 3-pointers and averaged 12.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists while splitting point guard duties with Blake Fagbemi.<\/p>\n![\"Benet's](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/NVS-L-BBK-BENET-SECT-0308-13_9e2dac.jpg\")
Benet\u2019s Jayden Wright (3) drives to the basket against Downers Grove North during the Class 4A Benet Sectional championship game in Lisle on Friday, March 7, 2025. (Troy Stolt \/ Naperville Sun)<\/p>\n
![\"Benet's](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/NVS-L-BBK-NAZ-BENET-0215-03-e1739886101863.jpg\")
Benet\u2019s Jayden Wright (3) shoots over Nazareth\u2019s Luke Dimit (4) during an East Suburban Catholic Conference game in Lisle on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (Jon Cunningham \/ Naperville Sun)<\/p>\n