MAKING MEMORIES THROUGH BASKETBALL
WINNING SPIRIT IN ACTION: JUNIOR JAZZ - MODEL PROGRAM FOR THE NBA SHAPES GENERATIONS
The Utah Jazz held a “Junior Jazz Generations” event, in conjunction with Junior NBA Week,
to celebrate more than three decades of youth basketball programming.
One of the benefits of being the longestrunning youth program in the league is the
multiple generations of families who have
played Junior Jazz. Instead of holding the
standard youth-only basketball clinic, the
Jazz decided to take a unique approach by
incorporating the parents and children who
have participated as players or coaches
throughout the years.
Parents were invited to attend the event
with their children to take part in some
fun and interactive basketball games on
Former Utah Jazz “rookie” JP Gibson
(center) participated in the event with his
the official Jazz practice court at the Zions
father, Josh, and the Jazz’s Trevor Booker
Bank Basketball Center. The festivities
(left) and Rodney Hood (right).
were led by Jazz assistant coaches
Johnnie Bryant and Alex Jensen and Jazz
broadcaster and 12-year NBA veteran Thurl Bailey and emceed by Richard Smith,
executive director of basketball operations. “Junior Jazz is where it all started for me,”
said Jensen. “It put me on the path that I am on today.”
As the attendees rotated through the basketball stations, they were able to tour the
Jazz locker room, where they met Jazz players Trevor Booker and Rodney Hood.
Jazz player Rodney Hood took part in the festivities
as well as celebrated his 23rd birthday with the
The night ended with Jazz
next generation of Junior Jazz players.
prizes being given out
and a group rendition of
“Happy Birthday” being sung to Rodney Hood, who had just celebrated his
23rd birthday. Memories were made to be shared with the next generation
of Junior Jazz players.
In 2014, the NBA named the Utah Jazz youth basketball program as the
league’s best, recognizing the largest and longest running youth program
in the NBA. The program has been shaping the face of local amateur
sports since 1983. Beginning with only 7,133 participants, this popular
program has grown to impact the lives of 50,000 to 60,000 youth
annually. Kindergartners through 12th-graders are eligible to participate,
and individual programs are managed through recreation centers in Utah,
Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Arizona and Nevada. Jr. Jazz emphasizes the
development of teamwork and fundamental basketball skills, accompanied
by positive adult participation.