(PHOTO BY BRENNA WHITE / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
SHARED SPOTLIGHT … Basketball Jones practices his dribbling moves with a volunteer from the audience.
By: Brenna White
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
Students were bouncing with excitement during a recent visit with Jim “Basketball” Jones, a nationally acclaimed school assembly speaker who brings more than just basketball tricks to the table.
Located at the West Unity Branch of the Williams County Library, Jim celebrated the kickoff of summer on June 6.
He brought heart, humor, and hard-earned wisdom. With a flurry of giveaways of basketballs, toy yeti stuffed animals, and enough pencils to stock a classroom for a semester, Jim’s visit was as engaging as it was educational.
A performer, author, and motivational speaker, Jim is best known for his dynamic presence and interactive presentations that connect with kids on a deeper level.
During his performance, he got the young children of West Unity up and moving, laughing, listening, and more importantly – believing in themselves.
His message? Work hard. Try your best. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to make mistakes.
Jim doesn’t just talk about perseverance but shows it. His signature basketball spinning skills began in the sixth grade as a way to feel included.
That simple hobby turned into an impressive talent, one that’s taken him from school gyms to NBA courts, to libraries all across Ohio.
He’s performed at more than 8,000 school assemblies over the last 25 years, spreading his upbeat message wherever he goes.
After engaging the kids in a dance battle, Jim goes on to help a number of kids spin basketballs on their own – on pencils, on their fingers, and even on their noses! All while instilling the value of hard work and perseverance into young minds.
Whether encouraging a shy student to speak up or making a whole library laugh with a twirl of a ball, Basketball Jones continues to be a slam dunk for children across the country!
Most importantly, he reminds kids that greatness comes not from being perfect, but from refusing to quit. He will return to the Edon Branch Library on Wednesday, June 11 at 1:00 p.m. for another inspiring program.