SEI coached him that you need to work hard to be successful...

Freddy Jones was eleven when he moved to Gresham from Arkansas. In no time, he was vying for a spot in SEI’s basketball camp. Fred remembers both the cherished practice jersey and the valuable advice that he received from his SEI coach: “Even though you have natural talent, you still need to work hard to be successful in life.”

“The competition at SEI was the best in the state,” explains Freddy, but SEI gave him more than that. “When you come from a strong family background like I have, you get used to a certain comfort level. At SEI I learned that not everyone is the same. People have all sorts of different struggles, and I realized I was very blessed.”

Strong relationships and hard work have continued to define Freddy’s life. Freddy attended the U of O, playing in the NCAA’s elite eight his senior year. He was drafted by the Indiana Pacers, went on to win the slam dunk contest in 2004, and will start his fifth year in the NBA this season with the Toronto Raptors.

Off the court, Freddy has become a businessman and philanthropist. He recently formed a joint partnership with his college roommates by creating WorldPro, a construction and property management company. This summer, he joined a council of 20 professional athletes working to address youth obesity. And he formed the Freddy Jones Foundation, which will support single parent families, sharing his blessings with those in need.

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