Henry Daily Herald

Photo by Brian Paglia / Rising junior Jordan Session grew from 6-foot-2 to 6-foot-8 the summer before last season, turning him into one of the state’s most intriguing prospects.

This isn’t the Anthony Davis story.

But it’s pretty close.

College basketball fans know well the literal rise to stardom of the former Kentucky center turned NBA draft No. 1 overall pick. How an anonymous 6-foot-3 shooting guard in high school grew into a 6-foot-10 center between seasons.

Everything changed for Davis in one summer — shoe size, shirt size and college destination.

Almost everything has changed for Jordan Session.

He entered Eagle’s Landing as a 6-foot-2 freshman three seasons ago.

Then Golden Eagles boys basketball coach Clay Crump saw Session getting off the bus at the beginning of last school year walking next to teammate and 6-foot-8 center Desmond Ringer.

“He was almost as tall as Desmond,” Crump said. “That was one of the fastest growth spurts I’ve ever seen. So, he’s probably 6-foot-8 easy.”

Session will enter next season as one of the state’s most intriguing prospects and a pivotal piece for Eagle’s Landing.

“We expect a lot out of him,” Golden Eagles rising senior Eric Wortham said. “We expect him to rebound. We expect him to shoot. We expect him to drive. I really expect him to do everything I do.”

That’s a tall order for most. On a team loaded with talent and maturity, Wortham established himself as Eagle’s Landing’s leader last season, being named Region 4-AAA Player of the Year and Clayton News Daily/Henry Daily Herald’s Henry County Player of the Year.

With a new body and a new role on the court, Session went up against Wortham every day in practice.

It didn’t go well at first.

“Eric’s tough,” Crump said. “Eric beat him up.”

Those daily battles sharpened Session, and the results were gradual. He scored double figures for the first time in early January (10 points against Jackson). He did it against in early February (11 points against Locust Grove).

As Eagle’s Landing marched through the state tournament, Session wasn’t much of a factor. In the Golden Eagles’ first round game against Thomson, he had more fouls (2) than points (0). There was progress in the second round against Central-Macon, but not much — two points and one foul.

But progress didn’t matter as Eagle’s Landing went into its quarterfinals game against Crisp County. Wortham suffered a scary seizure episode the night before the game. Session would take his spot in the starting lineup.

“I really didn’t feel any pressure,” Session said. “I just knew I had to play well, because Eric was a good teammate. He’s kind of a big brother. So, I knew I had to play well. I tried not to think about it and play as hard as I could.”

Calm and confident, Session had a breakout performance, scoring a team-high 15 points to go along with seven rebounds, two steals and two assists.

He backed that up with nine points and five rebounds in Eagle’s Landing’s loss to eventual state champion Columbia in the semifinals.

Session had arrived.

“Early in the season I knew I wasn’t playing at the level I could,” Session said. “So at the end of the season, when I got a chance I just wanted to make the most it, just to show that I could. It was just a lot of hard work.”

The work hasn’t stopped since.

Crump calls guard Maurice Green and Session the team’s “gym rats.” Currently, Session is in Orlando, Fla., playing in the AAU National Super Showcase with the Southern Stampede 16-under team. Then it’s off to the Nike Peach Jam next week in Augusta, S.C.

Heads are sure to turn at the sight of a 6-foot-8 forward who can rebound, drive to the basket and shoot beyond the 3-point arc.

“He’s become such a good shooter that he’s going to be really, really hard to guard,” Crump said. “We saw what he could do toward the end of last season. He grew physically and he grew in confidence.”

Eagle’s Landing hopes Session’s new confidence and ability gives them one more piece to get over the hump of back-to-back semifinals appearances.

Surrounded by an all-star cast of seniors, there’s little room for Session’s voice. Wortham, Ringer, point guard Isaiah Dennis and Montverde Academy transfer Chris Davenport provide the senior leadership.

So, Session isn’t ready to take the reins at Eagle’s Landing.

But he’s pretty close.

“I know he’s going to be better than me,” Wortham said. “I want him to be better than me. It’s going to be his team next year, so I’m getting him ready for it.”