Jalen Montonati: OHS’s gold medalist
By Jillian Childress
Photo of Jalen Montonati taken by Sam Hays
A gold medalist in the 2023 FIBA America’s U16 Championship, with 11 Division I basketball offers, Jalen Montonati is one of the most accomplished athletes at Owasso High School—as a sophomore.
Montonati has been on the rise of a successful basketball career. While managing an athletic, academic and social life, he sets a prime example of passion and dedication. Receiving multiple Division I offers by his freshman year, Montonati exceeds expectations of talent for basketball players his age.
Montonati grew up around the basketball scene; his father played at OSU and internationally, which has sparked interest in his career choice. Upon asking Montonati about his turning point in basketball, he revealed a time in 7th grade when he decided that basketball was his sport. Going into freshman year, a starter on varsity, he certainly had big things ahead.
Smiling, Montonati shared, “When Owasso beat Broken Arrow to go to state [during the 2022-23 season], that was a great memory because I got to share the victory with my dad.”
This was a monumental game for Owasso, as Broken Arrow’s perfect record was broken after that game.
As stressful situations in games are nothing new to him, Montonati’s talent for staying focused shows through his ability to execute plays while remaining composed.
When asked about how he keeps a good headspace during the game, he stated, “I remember all the hard work I’ve done to get there, and I trust in it.”
This mindset is evident in the way he exudes confidence while speaking about the game’s hardest moments.
Having the opportunity to play for the U16 national team, Montonati is no stranger to the spotlight. He described his thought process when stepping onto the America’s Championship court: it is important to represent not only his hometown but also his country. Montonati shared that he enjoyed playing with his like-minded teammates and expressed how amazing the victory felt to everyone.
Montonati shared about his downtime in Yucatan, where he stayed with the U16 team, and how he loved riding bikes with the team around the city.
He described the overall experience as “The best time I’d ever had.”
While discussing his personal goals outside of basketball, Montonati shows wonderful character by describing how he wishes to be “a good person in the community and influence people in a positive way.”
He also explained how motivating younger generations to work hard is something he values highly.
Montonati appreciates the support of the Owasso community as he strives to improve every day in his journey with basketball. He never fails to show gratitude and set an example of perseverance as he represents Owasso on and off the court.