Youth-N-Action leads Montgomery kids to baskets and ACT boosts

Posted: July 14, 2024, 3:09 p.m. CDT

from
Julianna Reichenbach

Youth-N-Action was founded in 2016 and aims to help at-risk children in Montgomery. The children play basketball, golf and track and field. Academically, 70% of participants improve their ACT scores.

But Pierre Mays founded the organization with much more than just a number in mind.

“I was fortunate to have a lot of experiences growing up,” Mays said. “I really wanted the kids here to have the same opportunities when it came to travel, sports and things they wouldn’t normally get.”

Youth-N-Action’s AAU basketball affiliate team, Team Dr1ven, competes across America.

“Playing with good players,” said rising freshman Jay Jay Jackson of Youth-N-Action, “was just a lot of fun. Playing against teams from other countries like Canada.”

The Dr1ven team even won a tournament in Las Vegas. They bring basketball at the highest level to the Yellowhammer State.

“Very important for the city of Montgomery, probably for the whole state of Alabama. Because people think that Montgomery or Alabama don’t really have that great basketball players. So they look for their players somewhere else,” said Jarrett Friendly, a rising sophomore at Youth-N-Action.

Friendly and his teammates take a stand and follow Coach Mays’ advice.

“On the court, I just talk to my teammates,” Jackson said, “and can tell them where we are on the court and what plays we’re making. Off the court, I would say, like in the classroom, when I’m helping a classmate.”

Focusing on studies and sports might be easy, but Youth-N-Action takes education a step further.

“We’ve been doing this for so long and have so many kids going to college,” Mays said, “so we understand how important it is to not only develop athletically and academically. You have to be able to navigate this world.”

Youth-N-Action hosts life skills workshops and features guest speakers.

“It helped me improve my communication skills,” Friendly said. “It helped me grow as a person. Talking to people.”

And brings participants closer to their dreams of college basketball and beyond.

“If basketball doesn’t work out after college,” Jackson said, “I’d like to be a surgeon or a lawyer.”

Keith Mason Ellis, another incoming freshman at Youth-N-Action, would like to go to college to become a corporate lawyer or architect. And one more thing.

“After I graduate,” Ellis said, “I want to start something like that, a nonprofit organization, to give back and help my community.”

He follows his leader, Coach Mays.

“I’m most proud when I see kids achieve their goals, no matter what the goal is,” Mays said. “Whether it’s passing a test, making the basketball team, playing golf, hitting a par 4. Whatever it is.”

It puts a smile on Mays’ face because he is making such a difference. Youth-N-Action has already helped 300 children and the number is growing.