Former NBA player brings hoops and hope to kids whose parents are in prison

Baltimore – About 200 kids gathered for a basketball clinic at Johns Hopkins University recently to hear a message of hope from a former NBA G-League player who was once in their shoes.

“My mom was incarcerated, and then I was incarcerated a little bit later,” Brandon Johnson told the kids who attended Prison Fellowship’s Angel Tree basketball camp at the university on Sept. 7. The camp is designed for children ages 7 to 17 whose parents have been or currently are incarcerated.

“I understand that process,” Johnson told the young players as they assembled in a gym at the Ralph S. O'Connor Center on campus. “So I am just trying to give you guys a solid foundation to build on.”

Johnson speaks from a unique vantage point. He was sentenced to six months in prison in 2013 for his role in a sports bribery scheme during his time as a standout at the University of San Diego from 2009 to 2011. Johnson played briefly for the Washington Wizards’ G-League team before pleading guilty to the charges in 2012.

After his release from prison, Johnson played professionally overseas in Europe, South America and China. Today, he works with young people as founder of The AWAKE Program and a nonprofit called No Script, which both teach life skills to young people.

The Sept. 7 basketball camp featured a variety of basketball drills, such as shooting free throws, jump shots and layups. The campers got a free pair of Nike shoes or running shoes, a Wilson basketball and a goodie bag filled with small basketball accessories.

Ambitious peers

For Nazir Anderson, a 16-year-old guard who aspires to play in the NBA, the camp was an opportunity to showcase his skills and compete against other players who share a similar background and aspirations.

“I want to go to the league one day, so I was excited to play against my peers,” Nazir said. “When people have the same ambition or drive that you have, whether it’s basketball or not, it makes things easier for you in life.”

Nazir said the camp taught him leadership skills and to “be unique.” He commended Johnson and the Prison Fellowship for their outreach work. Prison Fellowship is a Virginia-based nonprofit that works to keep incarcerated people and their families connected. Nazir said it was a “wonderful thing” to be surrounded by others who understand what it’s like to have a parent who is serving time.

Johnson said he hopes there is at least one child at each camp who can relate to his story of perseverance, overcoming setbacks and being an inspiration to others.

“I feel like how much you had to accomplish to get over the hurdles is bigger than anything,” Johnson told Sneaker Theory. “That allows these kids to understand hey, listen, ‘finish the story’ because someday some kid is going to need it.”