Shoot For The Stars

Over the years, Wali Jones has developed a passion for motivating countless numbers of kids to stay in school and develop a great love of learning. The Community Affairs Liaison for the NBA’s Miami HEAT spends almost every day traveling to different area schools to help students realize their dreams through his “Shoot for the Stars” program, which combines motivational speeches and basketball clinics designed to teach kids problem-solving, goal-setting, communication and team development skills. His messages are simple: “Do the best that you can do,” and “kids don’t fail; plans fail.” They might be concepts that children have heard before, but it’s the way that Jones delivers his messages and instills them in our youth that is so impressive to see. He uses his background in educational psychology to captivate students and at the same time deliver his points. But, as the former basketball star admits, having an NBA ring and the backing of two professional sports teams like the HEAT and SOL doesn’t hurt either. As he explains, the children like to partake in “selective listening” and are more likely to lend their ears thanks to the prospect of attaining HEAT and SOL tickets and memorabilia, as well as the opportunity of meeting a player.