Silpe, the second-highest scorer in Cherry Hill East boys’ basketball history and current sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania, received the 2016 Emerging Leadership Award at Monday’s JCC Sports Award Dinner.
Sitting at a table with family and friends less than an hour before the start of the awards program at the Katz JCC Sports Award Dinner on Monday night, Jake Silpe felt right at home.
“This brings back so many memories,” Silpe said in the JCC’s bustling gym. “It’s so good to be back here.”
Silpe, the second-highest scoring player in Cherry Hill High School East boys’ basketball history and current basketball player at the University of Pennsylvania, began playing basketball at the Katz JCC in the same gym where the sports award dinner was held.
On Monday, Silpe was honored for his accomplishments both on and off the court as the recipient of the 2016 Emerging Leadership Award.
The JCC has always been a part of Silpe’s life. He recalls playing basketball at the JCC at a young age and continued to play at the facility throughout his childhood.
“I might have been 4 years old when I was actually in my first JCC league,” Silpe said. “I’ve played here all of my life. I live about two minutes away, right down the road. So it was an easy drive over.”
Silpe continued to play at the JCC even when he began joining other leagues in Philadelphia and Camden as he got older. He played for Team South Jersey in the JCC Maccabi Games and was part of a gold medal-winning boys’ basketball team in the 2011 games at Springfield, Mass.
Silpe went on to Cherry Hill East, where he became one of the best players in the program’s history. Over the four years he played there, the boys’ basketball team won 88 games, won two South Jersey Group IV championships and went to its first state championship game in program history in 2015.
Silpe scored 1,577 points during his high school career, second-most in program history. He was also captain during both of Cherry Hill East’s sectional championship seasons in 2013–14 and 2014–15.
Now nearly two years removed from his last high school game, Silpe said he is still in communication with his old high school coach, Dave Allen.
“We think about all of the success we had together,” Silpe said. “I came in as a freshman, and he came in as a coach when I got there. The state championship game was great, we won South Jersey back-to-back.
“Those were some of the happiest moments as a teenager,” Silpe added.
Silpe said it was exciting when he found out he would be receiving the Emerging Leadership Award. In 2012, one of Silpe’s best friends, Alex Schwarz, was the recipient of the same award.
Silpe understands how much of an honor it is to receive the recognition and said he was most excited to share it with the community where he grew up.
“A lot of these guys are my friends and this is the community,” Silpe said. “We’re all one community and one home. When I’m at the JCC, I don’t have any worries.”
Silpe is in his sophomore year at the University of Pennsylvania, where he is taking classes at the Wharton School of Business, and plays for the school’s men’s basketball team. In his freshman season, Silpe led the team in assists and steals and was the only freshman to play in every game.
Off the court, Silpe is considering majoring in finance and is mulling a number of future career options, including investment banking and sports agent.
For now, Silpe is enjoying his time at Penn. He speaks enthusiastically about his classes, the basketball team’s goal of winning an Ivy League championship in 2017 and what the future may hold. There’s not doubt in Silpe’s mind he made the right decision on a college.
“I love the school, I love the education I’m getting,” he said. “There couldn’t have been any school that I’d rather be at.”
