Jaylen Cross Commits to Charlotte
Basketball is a special game. It connects all types of individuals while building community among children and adults. Going back nearly a decade, you could find an elementary-aged Jaylen Cross suiting up on Saturdays at Proehlific Park’s rec league. Despite a completely different physique, one could easily recognize that he possessed an “it” factor. However, Cross was merely a kid who loved a sport. He, like most, had no idea what the future would entail.
Cross had a very normal middle school experience. He was a talented player and mature young man who conducted himself professionally on and off the court. By his eighth-grade year, quiet murmurings about Cross and his potential ability had started to generate. Given that he was still largely unknown to the masses, he kept his head down and continued to work.
Entering high school was the start of a journey Cross describes as “an unexpected rollercoaster.” He reflects on how times changed, “I went from a nobody to a somebody, and even to an underrated player in certain circumstances. Starting out at Northwest Guilford, I was a true freshman on varsity. I had a couple of good years [at Northwest] before going into the summer between my sophomore and junior seasons.”
Whether he realized it or not, this would be the period when Cross ultimately put himself on the map. He played with a local team and was legitimately unstoppable. Not only had he grown and gotten more athletic, but his overall skillset also took massive leaps. The dominance was natural, but Cross was simply having fun. Shortly thereafter, he joined an insanely loaded Team United squad and immediately started turning heads on a bigger stage. Despite coming off the bench and working to integrate himself, he remained humble and eager for the opportunity. Even general spectators noticed his leadership by example and unselfish approach to the game.
Going into his next season. Cross decided to transfer to Caldwell Academy and reclassify to the 2025 Class. He recalls the shift in momentum upon making this major move, “As a 2024 prospect, I was unknown with interest but no official offers at the Division I level. When I moved to 2025, my recruitment and life changed.” Cross had an incredibly productive sophomore season for the Eagles, averaging 17.8 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 3.4 APG, and 1.5 SPG with 58/35/71 shooting splits. Beyond the numbers, Cross helped push this group to their best season in five years.
Cross could feel something shifting, as he stated, “After that year, my recruitment blew up. My first offer was from Hampton University. Then, after joining Team CP3, they started rolling in. I went from no offers and no stars to being labeled a four-star prospect with 10+ offers by the end of the summer. It was a surreal feeling and a true blessing to get what I have now. I started to learn that the offers come with a responsibility to deliver on the court.”
After essentially taking off and becoming a nationally regarded talent, it felt like everything was coming together for the Greensboro native. However, adversity was lurking around the corner. According to Cross, this is when things started to get awry. He recalls, “The rollercoaster really began during my junior year. My recruitment process started to flat-line, which helped me understand the significance of consistency and showing up some way each night. After this realization towards the end of my junior year, I used it as fuel to really dedicate myself even more to the game and take advantage of the time leading into my final season.”
Going into his last summer of travel ball, Cross still had things to prove—and he was fully aware. Already an extremely selfless teammate willing to do anything to win, he adjusted his approach even more. He states, “I went into this summer season with the mindset to be a complete player, team-first guy, and great defender. After this past year, I truly realized the business side of things and the importance of being consistent.”
Now, he has officially halted his recruitment to announce his decision to commit to Coach Aaron Fearne and the University of Charlotte. Cross discusses some of the reasons he chose to further his playing and academic career with the 49ers, “They’ve shown genuineness and I’ve created a great bond with Coach Fearne and the entire coaching staff. Their program has been on the rise over recent years. They just moved to the American Conference and finished in the top three last year. Their expectations as a program are to win and continue finishing high in the conference. A big thing that led me to the program is the amount of opportunity that is available for me to grow and develop. I know they will develop me into a great player, set me up to excel, and get me to the next level. I see myself as the ultimate glue-guy for a team. I’m really versatile as a player; I can fit into any role and thrive. I can play on or off the ball. I bring a sense of togetherness and family bond to a program, both on and off the court, due to my selflessness and overall love for seeing others succeed.”
In addition to everything Cross said, the Charlotte program is genuinely getting one of the best humans you’ll ever find. He’s incredibly mature, intelligent, and charismatic. Basketball aside, Cross is the type of person who makes others strive to be better individuals. In addition to netting a winning basketball player, Coach Fearne also secured someone who will succeed in all facets of life in Cross.