It was on the smooth blacktop of the Strawberry Creek and Ruth Acty Elementary courts where Berkeley High School senior and boys basketball guard and team captain Kavi Jivan first fostered his love for the game of basketball. Today, Jivan is a fourth-year varsity player and leader of the squad who takes pride in the lessons the sport has taught him. “Every single player on the team responds differently to things, so they’ve taught me a lot about how my words can come off,” Jivan said, reflecting on the ways he supports his teammates and the ways they support him. “I feel like it’s important to have that relationship with my teammates where they’re comfortable enough to tell me what I’m doing wrong, and I can learn from them,” Jivan explained.
Off the court, Jivan channels that same drive into his extracurriculars as vice president of clubs Best Buddies and the Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA), which both focus on uplifting the student community of BHS. In moments of struggle, Jivan turns to the other areas of his life and remembers the roots of the game that first brought him joy. “I like to remember how basketball is a game and there’s so many other parts of life,” Jivan said, “So, I feel like just keeping basketball in perspective as one part of my life, helps me get through challenging times, because I know there’s so many other things to cherish.” Currently, Jivan hopes to continue his athletic career by playing basketball in college at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) level. As the heart of the season approaches, Jivan is looking to cap off his final year on the team with a strong finish in the league and an exciting season to remember alongside teammates he’s grown up with all throughout his basketball journey.