Having unlimited access to document an entire basketball season has always sat at the top of my bucket list. Over the past few months, I was invited into the world of
@jasoncrowejr , aka J2, during his final season at Inglewood High.
There’s a certain rawness to high school basketball that’s hard to replicate at any other level. It’s unfiltered and deeply rooted in community. Being inside a D1 program, especially one centered around a five-star recruit, offered a perspective I hadn’t experienced before. What stood out most was the consistency. Week after week, the team showed a level of attention to detail and motivation that never really wavered. They were in the gym on Christmas morning and on a plane the next day. On weekend mornings, while most students were just waking up, they were already doing sprints up a 33% grade hill.
Watching J2 navigate all of it was something I kept coming back to. He balanced photo shoots, travel, and interviews while leading his team through a playoff run, all while still being a teenager figuring out everyday things like learning how to drive. He moved through it all with a level of focus that never seemed to dip. It became clear pretty quickly that he’s built for what’s ahead.
At the same time, none of this happens on its own. It takes a village. Getting to know his parents and the surrounding community, and witnessing that steady support, ended up being the most meaningful part of the experience for me. I’m so grateful to Coach Crowe, his staff, the parents, and the players for trusting me enough to let me into that experience. A special thank you to J2’s mom,
@irenemadeline , for all of her support.
This project was picked up by
@andscape as an online feature and was written by
@jerrybembry . Big thanks to
@jessidodgephotography for the thoughtful edit and patiently working through hundreds of selects to bring it all together.
