Jared Roth remembers the moment he realized he could jump higher than most people.
As a fourth grader at Prince Elementary, Roth and his classmates attempted to touch the net in the basketball gym.
Only two people could do it, Roth recalled.
"Me and Ka'Deem Carey," Roth said, "and he was in fifth grade. That's definitely when I realized I could jump pretty high."
Now a senior at Amphitheater, Roth aims to win his second consecutive high jump state championship this season. As a junior, he jumped 6 feet 6 inches to win the state title by three inches.
"I didn't do as well as I would have liked at state because I think I could have gone higher," Roth said. "But, I found a passion for track."
Finding that passion meant saying goodbye to a lifelong love - basketball.
People are also reading…
Here's a closer look at Roth's last 12 months.
• State championship No. 1: Roth was a reserve on Amphi's first-ever basketball state championship team in 2011.
Basketball was his No. 1 love and the game "always was my focus," Roth said.
With a 44-inch vertical leap, Roth, who stands 6-3, can easily dunk. His flashy YouTube dunking videos show off his skills. One video has more than 8,000 views.
"I would always dunk on low rims and always practiced it," Roth said. "Once I got taller, the rim went up, and I started dunking regularly my freshman year."
He says his favorite dunk was when he brought the ball between his legs and then finished the dunk with a reverse.
But, as Roth knows, basketball is more than dunking. He didn't play as much as he would have liked his junior year and after his high jump title, he gave up basketball to focus on track and field.
"It was probably one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make," Roth said
• Learning on the go: Roth can jump higher than most people, but dunking a basketball and clearing a high jump bar require different skills.
He joined the Tucson Elite track and field team. He placed third at the state USA Track and Field Junior Olympics meet last summer. He was second at the sectional meet and placed 10th at nationals in Wichita, Kan.
"I was really distraught," Roth said. "That's when I really decided to give up my senior year of basketball and just train for track and field. I never take a day off. Whether it's stretching, getting more flexible, strength training, working on my explosiveness, anything."
• Planning for the future: Before the basketball season began, Roth told several of his former teammates and friends that he likely wouldn't go to Amphi home games. It would be too hard to watch and not step on the court.
He made an exception for the postseason. Once the Panthers made their state tournament run, Roth was there to support his former team.
"After the first one I went to, I broke down once I got home," he said. "Basketball is still in my heart. But, I know I needed to make a sacrifice to get to the level I want to be at.
"In the long run, this will be the best decision for me."
He wants to jump 7-2 at this year's state meet, which would tie the state record. It's also the mark UA coach Fred Harvey told him he'd have to hit if he wanted a shot at jumping for the Wildcats.
His career-best is 6-8, but Roth thinks he has a shot even though it's a drastic leap.
Girls watch list
• Michaela Crunkleton- Wilson, So., Salpointe Catholic
• Kathy Fisher, Sr., Sahuaro
• Kendra Knittel, Jr., Rincon/University
• Sarah Macdonald, Jr., Pusch Ridge Christian
• Sydney Madrid, So., Marana
• Brianna Rodriguez, Sr., Cienega
• Jaide Stepter, Sr., Canyon del Oro
• April Steward, Sr., Canyon del Oro
• Jamee Swan, Sr., Marana
• Alyssa Thompson, Jr., Salpointe Catholic
Boys watch list
• Quintin Kime, Sr., Canyon del Oro
• Brian McCarty, Jr,. Nogales
• Alfonso Mejia, Sr., Douglas
• Robert Metz, Sr., Canyon del Oro
• Nick Orr, Jr., Thatcher
• Edgar Poe, Sr., Cienega
• Cruz Rodriguez, Sr., Empire
• Jared Roth, Sr., Amphitheater
• Tyler Stamp, Sr., Sabino
• Tyler Williams, Jr., Ironwood Ridge
Note: Athletes chosen by Star staff in consultation with area coaches.
