As one of only a handful of Asian Americans playing Division 1 basketball – and easily the most accomplished – Jeremy Lin has heard just about every taunt imaginable and he’s mostly been able to laugh them off. Lin’s parents met after they emigrated from Taiwan to the U.S. and settled in Palo Alto, Calif. When their son, Lin, began playing organized basketball, he encountered preconceptions about his ability based on his ethnicity, reported the Associated Press. But despite this, Lin has consistently excelled in big games, capping his high school career by leading Palo Alto High over a tough competitor in the California Div. 2 state championship game, scoring 17 points and hit a late 3-pointer to secure a 51-47 upset. Lin was named the Northern California Div. 2 player of the year but scholarships were hard to come by. “I think the Asian American stereotype was definitely there,” Lin said. Now 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, Lin has blossomed into a star for the Harvard Crimson team. Last season, Lin was the only player in the country to rank in the top 10 in his conference in every statistical category, averaging 21.5 points and eight assists. Lin is considered talented enough to play professionally, but Lin plans on becoming a pastor and working in an urban community.
