Michael Thomas-Loving is making the most of his high school career.

“If you had to write a definition of a student-athlete, it should say Michael Thomas-Loving,” said Jones Head Coach Elijah Williams.

The senior is a team captain and defensive starter for Jones. He also plays tennis, and is a part of several organizations, including Fellowship of Christian Athletes and 100 Black Men. To top it off, Michael is an IB student, and the Valedictorian.

“It’s tough but you just got to manage,” said Michael. “Honestly through keeping God first and keeping things in order, it just happens, it just falls together.”

“You only get one chance to do it.”

Since 9th grade, Michael has kept his eyes on the prize. And he has done everything right en route.

“The biggest compliment a coach can give a kid is I would let that kid date my daughter, if I had one,” said Williams. “And if your coach can say that about you, you’ve done everything right.”

The best part? When you have a kid like Thomas-Loving on your team, he leads, he motivates, and he inspires greatness from all.

“When you’ve got the Valedictorian or potential Valedictorian who don’t miss, and he keeps his grades up, and he can do it, and he can do the grind, you have no excuse as to why you can’t,” said Williams.

Thomas-Loving’s story doesn’t end here. Far from it. This summer, he traveled the farthest he has ever been from home, to Harvard. Working diligently on his application now for the Ivy League school, Michael is keeping his goals high.

“If I can get into Harvard, I’m pretty sure I would take that," joked Michael.