'Do the right thing': Jim 'Basketball' Jones delivers motivational speech at Herberich

Jim "Basketball" Jones is in his "happy space" conducting motivational speaking assemblies for elementary school students.

Jones, 58, brought his basketballs, fun music, pens, pencils and message to Herberich Primary School in the Copley-Fairlawn City School District on Tuesday.

Jones encouraged around 250 students in kindergarten through fourth grade to "be kind to everyone" and to "do the right thing."

"Kindness starts with hello and then it grows," Jones told the Herberich students. "... We are one family. We are one school. Everyone matters and everyone is important."

Jones spun basketballs on his fingers, autographed them, rotated them on his hands and arms and dribbled them through his legs to music. He called students and teachers up to join him in the fun, played "Simon Says" to encourage listening and comprehension, and talked about his life.

'This is your calling'

"I started playing basketball in the fourth grade," Jones told the Beacon Journal after the hour-long assembly. "I actually even carried a ladder to the elementary school so I could put up a net and start shooting so the ball would go through the net."

He took those basketball skills to the next level when his brother Mike, who he'd always admired, taught him how to spin a ball in sixth grade.

"Being a special ed student, I wanted to fit in, and I liked being in front of people, so I tried out for the talent show, spinning the ball and doing simple tricks. Kids said nice things to me, so I kept practicing, and in eighth grade I spun two balls, in ninth grade I spun three balls, and in 10th grade I spun five balls."

Jones, who was diagnosed with dyslexia as a child, graduated from Avon Lake High School in 1983 and Bowling Green State University in 1987. He played high school basketball at Avon Lake.

"At that time, there was a professional basketball entertainer working for the Cavaliers named 'Crazy' George Schauer," Jones said. "He invited me to do shows with him. During my high school time in 10th, 11th and 12th grade at Avon Lake High School, I was going over and doing Cavs games at the Richfield Coliseum. I got to meet players and stuff like that."

Jones, who received support from his parents, Bernard and Bonnie, said he vividly recalls one show before Christmas in 1983.

"I did one show where the Cavs wrote a check to Jim Jones," he said. "That was really cool to get paid, and I had my own dressing room.

"I ran into George again randomly when I was 30, and he said, 'You should do assemblies,'" Jones said. "I started and shared my story. A lady named Sister Rita Cramer was a principal at a school in Port Clinton, and she said: 'Jim, this is your calling. This is your purpose.'"

'Consistent with who I am and what I'm about'

Jones' basketball show has since grown into a bigger production that includes his son, Parker Jones, 23, and his nephew, Corey Jones, 38. Corey Jones played basketball at Avon Lake, and then at St. Vincent-St. Mary with LeBron James, before continuing his career at Walsh University.

"This year, between me, Corey and Parker, we will do 800-plus school assemblies nationwide," Jones said. "We will probably hit 30 states this year, between the three of us."

Jim Jones, who still lives in Avon Lake, prefers to "get the home games" and is set to conduct around 450 assemblies during the school year in Ohio and nearby states. He has visited schools across Summit County, including Akron Public Schools.

Jim Jones is the author of four books, including a memoir that he wrote with his wife, Brenda Jones. The couple has four children: Parker, Jennifer, Ethan and Jaret.

The Joneses' other three books comprise a children's series about a basketball named Bouncy, which touch on motivational messages for kids.

"The first one is 'Bouncy: The Basketball That Couldn't Bounce.' I was the kid that couldn't read. I am talking to kids about is overcoming challenges. The books are consistent with who I am and what I am about," Jim Jones said.

Spreading a positive message

During his assembly, Jones talked to Herberich's students about doing "patient listening, saying thank you to others and being a problem solver."

"Knowledge isn't power unless you use it," Jones said.

This was Jones' second year in a row visiting Herberich. His playlist included "Happy" by Pharrell Williams, "Everybody Dance Now" by C+C Music Factory, "Uptown Funk" by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars and multiple songs by Taylor Swift.

Herberich Principal William Kerrigan and guidance counselor Audra Bulgrin said it was an easy decision to invite Jones back, with assistance from the PTA.

"It is great having him here," Bulgrin said. "The kids are so engaged and really take the lessons that he shares back into the classroom with their peers. Having him here is exciting and fun, but it is also really meaningful what they gain from the experience.

"... I told him that the kindergarten through fourth grade students were all equally engaged. He is able to get every age group, every different type of kid and bring them all together. It is a fun message and it can resonate with everybody."

Michael Beaven can be reached at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal and is on Twitter at @MBeavenABJ.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Jim 'Basketball' Jones combines sports with motivational speaking