Was LeBron James visiting a primary school in Anjou on Friday afternoon? If we were to judge by the enthusiasm of the students, we would have honestly thought so.
Instead, it was professional basketball player James Jean-Marie returning to his elementary school, St. Joseph, for the first time in 13 years. Thus, he put the old adage “no one is a prophet in his country” in the trash, because whoever returned to the fold was received as a hero.
The excitement was palpable among the school children, a good handful of whom sported basketball jerseys, to meet the member of the Ottawa Blackjacks.
PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, THE PRESS
James Jean-Marie with the Comètes de St-Jo
After impressing the students with a few maneuvers and techniques, he gave a speech on the importance of “protecting your dream”.
A speech during which the children drank in the words of their predecessor and which was followed by a question period which had to be interrupted so much the children wanted to know about Jean-Marie.
“Young people have to think big,” Jean-Marie told The Press. Young people need to be confident in what they are doing, and the key is support. That’s why I like to come back and give back to the community and people in my neighborhood. They are the next generation and they deserve people who want to talk to them and care about them. »
PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, THE PRESS
Basketball game in the Saint-Joseph school gymnasium
However, the afternoon could not end before the traditional autograph session. The students formed a huge line, all around the gymnasium, for the chance to have a card, a t-shirt, a pair of shoes or even, in one case, a crutch autographed.
A victim of his own success, the 25-year-old, 6’8″ athlete had to stay a few tens of extra minutes to succeed in signing everything. In short, according to the principal concerned, it is mission accomplished.
The youngsters just had a big smile on their face and that was my primary goal. Just seeing my former teachers, especially Madame Lucie, touched me. I got emotional.
Ottawa Blackjacks player James Jean-Marie
This Madame Lucie was not arrested without reason.
“If I succeeded, it is thanks to her”
These are the words of Jean-Marie about Lucie Pronovost, his sixth grade teacher. The professor remembers having created an end-of-year show a little like the “Harlem Globetrotters”, and the success that this experience had had.
However, what the former member of the Alliance de Montréal remembers is the involvement of the teacher on a daily basis.
PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, THE PRESS
The Ottawa Blackjacks player was never far from the balls in the Saint-Joseph school gymnasium.
“She always pushed me to be a better version of myself both athletically and academically,” recalled Jean-Marie. That’s why when I succeeded, I immediately thought of her. She had a huge impact on my life and I had to say thank you to her. »
The reunion is precisely due to this text message sent by the basketball player. He wanted to highlight the efforts of his former teacher, the one who “always believed” in him. After a few messages, she pitched him the idea of going back to school. He did not hesitate and it pleased Mme Pronovost.
I had chills when it arrived and I was like, “Wow.” After all this time, he comes back and greets me with a big hug. I can say that I left my mark. It’s mission accomplished.
Lucie Pronovost, former teacher of James Jean-Marie
Mme Pronovost concluded by praising sport in the lives of young people, especially basketball.
“Basketball is a bit of a culture. […] Children like it, it’s a sport that doesn’t cost much. You can play everywhere, in the street, in the park. We see the power of sport in the lives of young people. It keeps them away from nonsense. »
Certainly. But sometimes, that doesn’t keep them that far from the streets. Some will go to the professional world. Until the dream.