Jordan Hampton grew up in a baseball family. His summers were spent at the Trigg County Recreation Complex on the baseball field watching his older brother Taylor play, watching his father Scotty coach, or playing baseball himself.
Jordan’s dad and uncles are Trigg County softball legends and have worn more complex dirt than some of the fields.
And when they weren’t on the baseball diamond, the Hamptons were in the outdoors — hunting, fishing, and camping.
But Jordan’s interest in baseball began to wane as he entered middle school. But his love of the outdoors didn’t.
On the suggestion of a friend, Hampton joined the Trigg County High School fishing team. That friend — Hunter Shelton — later became his boat partner.
Hampton teamed with Emily Huntsman to finish 22nd at the 2019 KHSAA State Bass Fishing Tournament. Then the 2020 spring season was canceled due to COVID-19.
But it’s the tournaments outside high school where Hampton has flourished.
In October, Shelton and Hampton won the ninth annual Bradley Roy High School Fishing Open Sunday sponsored by Kentucky BASS Nation.
The tournament win was the first for a Trigg County fishing team outside of KHSAA competition.
They also have qualified for the Student Angler Federation National Championship to be held later this year on Pickwick Lake in Alabama. It marks the second straight year that the duo has qualified for the national event.
In February, both Hampton and Shelton signed to continue fishing at Bethel University in McKenzie, Tennessee.
In high school, Hampton is a member of the Trigg County DECA chapter where his mother Andrea is the advisor. He was named the outstanding chapter member and the Region 1 DECA scholarship winner.
Jordan plans to study business in college. He says if a career on the pro fishing circuit doesn’t pan out, he wants to use his degree to become a sales representative in the fishing or outdoor industry.
But first things first. Hampton and Shelton have a spring fishing season to complete and try and become the first high school state bass fishing champions from Trigg County.
