On the basketball court, brothers Andy and Alex Jensen are fierce competitors as evidenced recently when their teams, the Weber State Wildcats (Ogden, Utah) and University of Utah Utes (Salt Lake City) faced off in a hard fought game won by the Utes, 87-74.
For parents Kathy and Jerald Jensen of Centerville, Utah, it's sometimes difficult deciding for whom to cheer. But off the court, there is no question of divided loyalty. Both Andy, 25, a center for Weber State, and Alex, 22, a forward for the Utes, are dedicated servants of their Father in Heaven and role models highly favored among family, friends, coaches and others.
"We cheer for whoever has the ball," said the players' proud father, who with his wife enjoyed watching their sons in the Dec. 9 game between the Utes and the Wildcats. Aside from pickup games, the brothers were playing against each other for the first time since they both reached the collegiate level.
Jeff Judkins, an assistant coach for 10 years at the U. of U., said Alex and Andy are "neat" young men. "They've been reared right. They play hard, and you don't have to motivate them. They have been successful — whatever team they've played on."
Andy Jensen and the Wildcats were pitted against North Carolina University Thursday night, March 11, in the NCAA tournament at Seattle. And Alex and the Utes were to play Arkansas State University Friday morning, March 12, in New Orleans.
Coach Judkins knows the current Ute basketball star a little better than his brother. But he also coached Andy Jensen before he transferred to Weber State in June 1996. The coach, who served for a number of years in a student ward bishopric, says he greatly admires the abilities, spirit and sportsmanship of both players.
A junior majoring in business finance at Utah, Alex Jensen was chosen most valuable player during the Western Athletic Conference tournament March 4-6 in Las Vegas. And he was named to the All WAC First Team. He served an England London South Mission between his first and second years at the U.
Andy Jensen has been a starting center for the past two years for Weber State, which won the Big Sky championship and a berth in the NACC Tournament. He was recently chosen as Big Sky player of the week as a result of the team's recent victory over Northern Arizona University. He and his wife, Micah, who reside in West Valley City, Utah, and are members of the Westlake Ward, Granger North Stake, were married in the Salt Lake Temple in June 1996. Just March 7 the couple became parents of their first child, a son — Andrew Brock Jensen.
The child's father played basketball during his freshman year at Southern Utah University, then transferred to Utah after serving in the Portugal Porto Mission. After a year at Utah he transferred to Weber State, where he is majoring in physical education and minoring in math.
The two brothers strive to find time in their busy schedules to serve as home teachers and to participate in other priesthood responsibilities. Associates say the two show a love for the gospel and enjoy sharing it with others. Andy and his wife teach the 12- and 14-year-olds in their ward Sunday School.
"We enjoy doing that together. It has been a great blessing in our lives," Sister Jensen said.
Alex Jensen resides in Centerville, where he is a member of the same ward and stake (Centerville 8th Ward, Centerville Utah Canyon View Stake) as his parents. When not playing basketball, attending classes or attending church in his own ward, he is busy meeting with youth at firesides, at schools and other places. He works to make friends with and strengthen children and youth he meets, Coach Judkins said.
Coach Judkins said the Ute forward is "probably the best rebounder in the country. He can guard anybody on the floor in any position. He is a team player, but that's also how he is in life. He is always thinking of the other person. . . . He is kind, considerate and very honest. He lives the gospel."
Alex Jensen was instrumental, Coach Judkins said, in the conversion and fellowshipping of another Ute player, Drew Hansen. The former guard, now attending law school at Stanford University, took the missionary lessons while Alex was serving his mission in England and was baptized in the spring of 1996.
Utah Coach Rick Majerus has said Alex is the "toughest of the tough" and "unselfish to a fault," referring to the player's tendency to pass instead of shooting the ball.
That toughness appeals to young people, who can also see a gentler, caring and spiritual side of the two brothers and athletes. Pres. Bruce G. Pitt of the Centerville Utah Canyon View Stake said Alex and Andy could have opted to place basketball ahead of everything else in their lives. Instead, they chose to take time out to serve the Lord. They made "serving a mission a top priority," he said.
The stake leader said he was pleased that Andy and a group of other young people who attended Viewmont High School in Bountiful, Utah, were "instrumental in helping other young people find their way through hard times."
