It took only one time for Jordan Foot to become addicted to spikes, kills and digs.
"I just have a craving for volleyball," said Foot. "It can't really be cured. I just want more of it."
The 17 year old was able to feed his addiction in July during the Western Elite Championship for under-17/16 players in Winnipeg where Team B.C. earned a silver medal with a 5-1 record - their only loss coming in the final against a powerful Alberta squad - in the Baden Cup.
"It was definitely something I'll remember for the rest of my life; just being surrounded by some of the greatest players in the province you just learn so much from everyone," said Foot. "It's a great learning curve in my life."
There were 24-30 players selected for Team B.C., practicing in Kamloops for a week before leaving for the three-day competition in Winnipeg.
Foot said his experience with Team B.C. will benefit him as he returns for his senior year with the D.P. Todd Trojans volleyball team as they push for a provincial double-A title.
"I think we'll have a solid team," he said. "As long as we get some fundamentals down and we practice hard we'll be good."
At six-foot-five, 185 pounds Foot towers over many of his high school classmates, sometimes a bit awkwardly.
"I can be really good at checking for lice on people's scalps," laughed Foot.
Team B.C. assistant coach Nathan Bennett believes once Foot becomes comfortable with his size he'll be unstoppable.
"He has to realize his body size," said Bennett. "I don't think he understands how big he is. He's a big dude. Once he grows into his body, or realizes it, then I think his game's going to come around pretty quickly."
Foot plays middle-blocker, the same position Bennett played during his playing days with the University of Alberta Golden Bears and during his professional career in Europe. Foot left a strong impression on the assistant coach.
"He's probably the most gifted athlete I've seen at that age in a really long time," said Bennett. "He has just a great attitude towards volleyball. When you watch him every point that he scores is a pure joy. It's just infectious throughout the whole team, even the coaches. Every time he gets a point it just puts a smile on your face.
"He just has a great attitude toward the game and he's a really good listener and really wants to improve," he added.
It was Foot's second summer competing with Team B.C. in the Western Elite program and after a disappointing 2011 experience where the team finished second last, earning the silver medal was sweet.
In the final B.C. lost in four sets to Alberta but, Foot said it was a different story against the other teams. They beat the Saskatchewan B-team in three straight sets in only 32 minutes.
"That was phenomenal for us because we didn't lift our foot off the gas pedal at all," said Foot. "We just kept at them even though they were an easy team."
Bennett wasn't the only one left with a positive impression of Foot's abilities. The middle-blocker for Alberta enjoyed going head-to-head with Foot.
"He'd get a kill then I'd get a kill," said Foot. "He'd get a block and I'd get a block. It was good competition. After the game we traded warm-ups [shirts] which was kind of cool. The respect thing was there."
Foot said he's looking to play volleyball at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport level, following his sister Elise's path. After a stellar high school career, Elise played one year of volleyball at Thompson Rivers University before giving it up to focus on her academics.
"I'm still debating because I really want to focus on the academics with my business programming," said Foot about his future. "I don't think I can make much of a profit from playing professional volleyball. I love volleyball and I hope I'll always get to play it but it's important to manage what's really important in life."
