Jordan Heading

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Jordan Heading

| caption =

| league = PBA

| team = TNT Tropang 5G

| number = 15

| position = Shooting guard / point guard

| nationality = Filipino / Australian

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|1|30}}

| birth_place = Adelaide, Australia

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 2

| weight_lbs = 189.6

| high_school = Sunrise Christian School
(Adelaide, Australia)

| college = California Baptist (2015–2019)

| draft_year_pba = 2020

| draft_round_pba = Special

| draft_pick_pba = 1st overall{{efn|The 2021 draft was composed of two drafts: the Gilas special round and the regular draft. Heading was selected as the 1st pick of the special draft.}}

| draft_team_pba = Terrafirma Dyip

| career_start = 2019

| years1 = 2019–2020

| team1 = San Miguel Alab Pilipinas

| years2 = 2021–2022

| team2 = Taichung Wagor Suns

| years3 = 2022–2023

| team3 = Nagasaki Velca

| years4 = 2024

| team4 = West Adelaide Bearcats

| years5 = 2024–2025

| team5 = Converge FiberXers

| years6 = 2025–present

| team6 = TNT Tropang 5G

| highlights =

}}

Jordan Timothy Heading{{cite web |title=Jordan Timothy Heading |url=https://www.fiba.basketball/oqt/serbia/2020/player/Jordan-Timothy-Heading |website=Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2020 |publisher=FIBA |access-date=25 February 2023 |language=en}} (born January 30, 1996) is a Filipino basketball player for the TNT Tropang 5G of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Early life and education

Jordan Heading was born on January 30, 1996{{cite web |title=ヘディングジョーダン |trans-title=Jordan Heading|url=https://www.velca.jp/team/players/detail/id=45841?PlayerID=51000179 |publisher=Nagasaki Velca |access-date=25 February 2023 |language=ja}} in Adelaide to an Australian father and a Filipino mother.{{cite news |last1=Olivares |first1=Rick |title=Jordan and Lauren Heading: A tag team couple for Philippine sports |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2019/11/04/1965915/jordan-and-lauren-heading-tag-team-couple-philippine-sports |access-date=25 February 2023 |work=The Philippine Star |date=4 November 2019}} He attended the Morrison Academy in Taiwan for his high school studies,{{cite news |last1=Dioquino |first1=Delfin |title=Jordan Heading signs with Taichung Suns in Taiwan league |url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/jordan-heading-signs-taichung-suns-taiwan-league/ |access-date=25 February 2023 |work=Rappler |date=20 October 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Li |first1=Matthew |title=Jordan Heading comes back home to Taiwan, signs with T1's Taichung Suns |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/jordan-heading-comes-back-home-to-taiwan-signs-with-t1s-taichung-suns/222498 |access-date=25 February 2023 |work=Tiebreaker Times |date=20 October 2021}} before going to the United States, to enter the California Baptist University in Riverside, California to pursue a degree in kinesiology.

College career

Heading played for the California Baptist University (CBU) Lancers in college as a starting point guard. He was named a member of the Academic All-Pacific West five team.

Professional career

= San Miguel Alab Pilipinas (2019–2020) =

Heading started his professional career with San Miguel Alab Pilipinas of the ASEAN Basketball League joining the team in October 2019.{{cite news |last1=Leongson |first1=Randolph |title=Alab boosts backcourt with addition of Fil-Aussie Jordan Heading |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/abl/alab-boosts-backcourt-with-addition-of-fil-aussie-jordan-heading-a2437-20191027 |access-date=25 February 2023 |work=Sports Interactive Network Philippines |date=27 October 2019 |language=en}} The COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of the 2019–20 season, consequentially also ending his stint with Alab.{{cite news |last1=Pamintuan |first1=Carlo |title=Ten years after first stint, Jordan Heading answers another Gilas call-up |url=https://www.espn.com/basketball/gilas/story/_/id/31415076/ten-years-first-stint-jordan-heading-answers-another-gilas-call-up |access-date=25 February 2023 |work=ESPN.com |date=9 May 2021 |language=en}}

In the season 46 draft of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) in March 2021, Heading was selected by the Terrafirma Dyip as the top pick for the special Gilas Pilipinas draft. He was to be loaned to the Philippine national team before he could suit up for Terrafirma.{{cite news |last1=Dioquino |first1=Delfin |title=Terrafirma picks Jordan Heading at No. 1 in special Gilas Pilipinas draft |url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/pba/results-special-gilas-pilipinas-draft-2021/ |access-date=25 February 2023 |work=Rappler |date=14 March 2021}} He would join the Taichung Wagor Suns of Taiwan in October 2022. This raised some concern with Heading's contract with the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, the Philippine basketball federation, which was supposed to be active until March 2023 arising from his involvement in the special PBA draft.{{cite news |title=SBP says Jordan Heading still under contract amid looming Taiwan stint |url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/gilas-pilipinas/sbp-jordan-heading-still-under-contract-amid-looming-taiwan-stint/ |access-date=25 February 2023 |work=Rappler |date=21 October 2021}}

= Taichung Wagor Suns (2021–2022) =

Heading went on to play for Taichung Wagor Suns. Heading's stint with the Suns covered its 2021–22 season, the Suns' first in the T1 League of Taiwan. The team finished as runners-up for that season.{{cite news |last1=Leongson |first1=Randolph |title=Jordan Heading banking on Taiwan experience ahead of Japan debut |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/japan-b-league/jordan-heading-leans-on-taiwan-experience-ahead-of-nagasaki-debut-a2437-20220908 |access-date=25 February 2023 |work=Sports Interactive Network Philippines |date=8 September 2022 |language=en}}

= Nagasaki Velca (2022–2023) =

On July 1, 2022, he joined the Nagasaki Velca which competes in the 2nd division of Japan's B.League.{{cite news |last1=Leongson |first1=Randolph |title=Jordan Heading moves from Taiwan to Japan to join Nagasaki Velca |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/japan-b-league/jordan-heading-signs-with-japan-b-league-s-nagasaki-velca-a2437-20220701 |access-date=25 February 2023 |work=Sports Interactive Network Philippines |date=1 July 2022 |language=en}} He was released by the team on June 6, 2023.{{cite news |last1=Isaga |first1=JR |title=Nagasaki, Jordan Heading part ways after fruitful Japan B. League season |url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/nagasaki-velca-jordan-heading-part-ways-japan-b-league-division-2023/ |access-date=8 June 2023 |work=Rappler |date=6 June 2023 |language=en}}

= West Adelaide Bearcats (2024) =

On March 2024, Heading signed with the West Adelaide Bearcats of the NBL1.{{cite news |last1=Li |first1=Matthew |title=NBL1: Animam signs with Ringwood, Heading comes back home to West Adelaide |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/nbl1-animam-signs-with-ringwood-heading-comes-back-home-to-west-adelaide/298423 |access-date=8 June 2023 |work=Tiebreaker Times |date=29 March 2024 |language=en}}

=Converge FiberXers (2024–2025)=

On November 12, 2024, Heading's draft rights were acquired by the Converge FiberXers from the Terrafirma Dyip in exchange for Aljun Melecio, Keith Zaldivar and 2025 Converge first-round pick.{{cite news |first=Reuben |last=Terrado |title=Converge gets Jordan Heading rights in trade with Terrafirma |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/jordan-heading-trade-converge-melecio-draft-pick-zaldivar-a795-20241112 |access-date=November 12, 2024 |website=Spin.ph |date=November 12, 2024}}

=TNT Tropang 5G (2025–present)=

On June 2, 2025, Heading was traded to the TNT Tropang 5G in exchange for the rights of Mikey Williams.{{cite web |first=Justine |last=Bacnis |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/pba-approves-mikey-williams-jordan-heading-trade-after-five-day-review/339009 |title=PBA approves Mikey Williams-Jordan Heading trade after five-day review |date=June 2, 2025 |access-date=June 2, 2025 |website=Tiebreaker Times }}

National team career

Heading has played for the Philippine national team. Having obtained his Philippine passport before the age of 16, Heading is eligible to play for the Philippines as a local player under FIBA eligibility rules despite him being born outside the Philippines and having non-Filipino heritage.

He has played in the Philippine national youth system, having taken part in the 2011 FIBA Asia Under-16 Championship in Vietnam.

Heading was part of the Philippine senior team which took part in the Belgrade tournament of the 2020 FIBA Men's Olympic Qualifiers.

Heading would be committed to the senior national team when he got picked by the Terrafirma Dyip in the special Gilas Pilipinas draft of the March 2021 PBA draft. However contractual issues arose when he joined the Taichun Suns in October 2021. The issue would be resolved and Heading would return to play for the Philippines in the February 2023 window of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup Asia qualifier.{{cite news |last1=Terrado |first1=Reuben |title=Jordan Heading glad to move past issue with SBP and focus on Gilas stint |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/fiba/jordan-heading-glad-to-move-past-issue-with-sbp-and-focus-on-gilas-stint-a795-20230221 |access-date=25 February 2023 |work=Sports Interactive Network Philippines |date=21 February 2023 |language=en}}

Heading was included in the 21-man pool for the 2023 FIBA World Cup.{{Cite web|url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/fiba/the-21-man-gilas-pool-for-2023-fiba-world-cup-a795-20230606|title=Clarkson, Brownlee, Kouame head 21-man Gilas pool for World Cup|website=spin.ph|last=Terrado|first=Reuben|date=June 6, 2023|access-date=September 9, 2023}} He was eventually ruled out due to injury.{{Cite news|url=https://sports.inquirer.net/519393/jordan-heading-out-for-gilas-in-fiba-world-cup|title=Jordan Heading out for Gilas in Fiba World Cup|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|last=Dalupang|first=Denison Rey|date=July 18, 2023|access-date=September 9, 2023}}

Personal life

Heading is married to Lauren, an American professional volleyball player since 2019. They first met each other at California Baptist University where they both studied.