Former Miami Heat player James Jones is now with the Cleveland Cavaliers, but that’s just where he works.
For Jones, Miami will always be home.
On Tuesday morning he kicked off his annual Crew 22 Summer Camp, now in its fifth year. The camp is organized through the James Jones Legacy Foundation and it’s a family affair.
Jones’ parents were on hand to help coach students in kickball and basketball skirmishes.
And Jones himself actively participated with the kids teaching them how to hold a basketball and schooling them on the court in impromptu pickup games where he showed no mercy.
The four-day camp draws 75 students from across Miami-Dade and Broward counties from mostly underserved communities.
Jones, who grew up in Carol City, said he wants to be a role model for young people who aspire to dream big. Whether it’s making it into the NBA or becoming a doctor some day.
“It’s a chance to expose the kids because a lot of these kids have never really thought of how far they can go if they focus on their dreams,” Jones said.
Campers play basketball, kickball and tennis, but Jones said that’s just a way to get in, an icebreaker to teach bigger lessons.
Gianna Sotomayor, one of the campers, said having an NBA celebrity like Jones give back to his community showed her that she too can be philanthropic.
Sotomayor, a sixth-grader, said next summer she’s going to miss camp because she wants to go to her father’s native Nicaragua to volunteer working with kids.
“I can give back like he [Jones] did,” she said.
AmariMcDuffy,12, said he’s learning about building character and good sportsman-like conduct from Jones.
“He teaches us morals and respect,” he said. “I think it’s cool to learn from an NBA player.”
Jones said he loves Miami and will always find a way to give back, even when he’s playing in Cleveland.
“I’m Miami through and through,” he said.
And in a nod to Jones' love for the 305, all the teams at Crew 22 Summer Camp are named after Miami sports franchises. Among them are Team Panthers, Team Dolphins and Team Heat.
