Student Athlete of the Week: Ocean Springs High’s Jak King

For the last WXXV Student Athlete of the week of this school year, we are spotlighting a player that could go by the title ‘king of Ocean Springs,’ if a crown was swapped out for his lucky headband that he has to wear for every game.

News 25’s Grace Boyles catches up with Ocean Springs senior football and baseball star Jak King to reflect on his time as a Greyhound.

Whether it is a Friday night game under the lights at Greyhound Stadium or a sunny spring day at the baseball field, Ocean Springs fans have no doubt heard the name Jak King over the speakers countless times in the last four years.

For the dual-sport athlete whose high school sports career has come to a close, those atmospheres won’t be something King will be forgetting anytime soon. “There’s nothing like it. Stepping out here and playing the fight song and the National Anthem and just about the whole town coming and rooting for us is awesome. Then we have out in right field all the dads go out there grilling and cooking, having a good time. And then all the parents and there’s a huge student section just about every game. The energy is crazy.”

It is in these environments and with the support of his family and community, that King pieced together impressive senior seasons in both sports, finishing the football season with over 500 yards and six touchdowns and ending the baseball season with the team’s highest batting average with .409 and the most runs at 32.

These stats and accomplishments won’t be what the senior will miss most about being a Greyhound though. “Definitely, I think I’m going to miss the little things more, like practices and bus rides and stuff like that.”

While King may be equally talented on the gridiron as he is on the diamond, only one sport has claimed his heart. “I think it really depends on the season. Playing football, I like football more. Playing baseball, I like baseball more. But at the end of the day, I think football really is my true love.”

Just like on the baseball diamond, King played everywhere on the football field, including quarterback, wide receiver, running back, and even safety. King’s versatility on the field and leadership in the locker room earned him the Greyhound Award his senior season of football, which is given to a player who if he isn’t on the field, it just isn’t a team. “That was probably my proudest accomplishment through actual school sports.”

Following his performances in both sports, King also earned first team All-District honors.

In his next chapter in life, King will be attending Ole Miss where he hopes to study sports administration. “I’ve always just been huge into sports– just about every sport. Any game here at the high school, I’m just about at every single one. I just love sports. I’m big SportsCenter guy, too so I like to watch that.”

While King has chosen not to play baseball at MGCCC next year, the future Rebel still intends to keep sports a big part of his life. However, King is keeping those plans under wraps for now.