The crack of the bat. The pop of the glove. The spikes across the cement. The squeak of sneakers on the hardwood. The swish of the net. Baseball and basketball have very different but very nostalgic sounds to many who play and watch the two sports. But what do these two vastly different sports have in common? They are both played and beloved by Cabrini University sophomore Jaden Dickerson. 
 
Jaden, or "Staxx," as both friends, coaches, and teammates refer to him, began playing both sports as early as he can remember. When he was five years old, his dad signed him up for tee-ball and later he started playing organized basketball. The two sports have been linked for Jaden since his early days. His dad played high school basketball and so did all the neighborhood kids, so it was always there for him, but the love for baseball especially ran deep as Jaden's father passed down the passion to him. "Baseball comes more natural to me," Jaden said. "Basketball is more something that I grew up on. My dad played and my friends were playing so I kind of know the game more than a normal person would, so I play it, but baseball is something I feel real passionate about." 
 
Knowledge and passion. Jaden's knowledge of basketball and his passion for baseball led him to a successful high school career in both sports at St. Elizabeth High School in Wilmington, Del. Having been recruited by schools like Randolph-Macon College and his eventual choice in Cabrini, made Jaden confident in himself that he could pursue both sports at the next level.
 
 "I didn't want to change. I wanted to pursue both and give myself the opportunity. I feel like this is all I know. I felt like I had to prove to myself that I could come here and do this." 
 
Cabrini always seemed like the clear-cut choice for Jaden. He visited Randolph-Macon in Ashland, Va. where he spoke with the Yellowjackets basketball and baseball coaches, but it just didn't feel right to him. It didn't feel like how Cabrini felt. "It was my visit and it being close to home. It felt like home, and I really was comfortable here." Cabrini was not only the clear choice for Dickerson because of his comfort level when he stepped on campus, but he attributes his decision to head men's basketball coach Tim McDonald and head baseball coach Nick Weisheipl. They gave him the opportunity to pursue both sports on the campus he felt most comfortable on. "The opportunity to play both and their transparency. They laid it out for me and said it wouldn't be hard," Jaden said humbly. 
 
The percentage of high school athletes that compete at one sport is miniscule compared to how many compete in high school. The amount that goes on to compete in two sports is even fewer. For Jaden, having the chance to play two sports in college is both a blessing and an opportunity to help those that come after him.
 
"I always look at myself as a leader because in some ways it's kind of like being a trailblazer. People aren't really used to seeing someone play baseball and basketball with the seasons going back-to-back. I just have big shoulders internally and I just think I can handle it." 
 
Handling it as Jaden put it, has been instrumental in his successes both on the court and the diamond. But what else continued to drive his passion for his favorite sports? 
 
Representation. 
 
"It was a big factor in my decision to pursue playing baseball [at the next level]." College baseball is predominantly played by white athletes as almost 75 percent of all college baseball players are white with just under nine percent being Black or of African American descent. 
 
"I've always been one of the few African Americans on the team and for me that's a big deal to be able to keep being myself and not change for anybody. Just connect for the love of the game." 
 
Since 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic bringing more attention to many societal issues in America and the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, February has seemed to gain a larger spotlight every year with the celebration of Black History Month. But what about the other 11 months of the year? For Jaden, this question sticks with him every February.
 
"For me, it's important to be myself. I know this month is about being Black, but I'm Black 12 months out of the year and you can't change that. It's important to showcase what we got going on. But really, it's a year-round thing." 
 
As each year comes and goes, Jaden makes it a point to stay true to himself no matter what and pushes others to do the same. 
 
"Just be yourself. Never change for nobody. You owe it to yourself to be yourself."