La Lumiere alumnus Jaren Jackson Jr. to co-chair Jr. NBA Court of Leaders

Jaren Jackson Jr. ’17, a player for the Memphis Grizzlies, was recently selected as the co-chair of the Jr. NBA Court of Leaders, a youth leadership council of 15- and 16-year-old basketball players from the United States. Jackson Jr. will serve alongside the Minnesota Lynx’s Napheesa Collier.

The council aims to “empower promising young men and women by providing resources to further develop as leaders and a platform to amplify their voices within their communities and across the youth basketball landscape,” according to the Grizzlies’ press release. Members will focus on personal development programming that includes leadership, decision-making, mental wellness, and more. In addition, there will be guest speakers during the monthly webinars and workshops that will broaden participants' understanding of issues related to social justice, gender equality, and career opportunities within the sports industry. 

In the press release, Jackson Jr. explains the importance of this program, “The basketball space needs more young voices advocating for their peers and the future of the sport, and I look forward to supporting the Jr. NBA Court of Leaders as they create positive change on the court and in their communities.”

Read more about the program and Jackson Jr.’s involvement here.