March Madness is in full effect—delivering three-point highs that feel larger than life. Jalen Rose feels a familiar energy in this year’s tournament. With its “big personalities, fashion statements, enthusiasm, and camaraderie,” he stated, it echoes his Michigan Fab Five era, where Rose slayed the court as a point guard in the early nineties.
And when it comes to who’s going to take it all? Rose isn’t wavering: “University of Michigan,” he exclaimed to EBONY, giving props to his alma mater. The school will compete in the final four on Saturday, April 4.
There must be something in the name, because “Jalens” are dominating the court this season, from Jalen Montonati to Jalen Davis. “I always say that the name Jalen is a superpower,” Rose declared.
“If you’re seeing this level of Jalens, that’s a small percentage of society. Jalen has become a unisex name, an international name. I started to take pride in the fact that I’m ‘the first Jalen.’”
That sense of confidence and cultural impact carries into Rose’s latest role on South West High, where he plays Principal Nolan Thomas. The series just wrapped its first tumultuous season.
“The ending was very explosive with incredible drama and theater. The hospital scene is controversial,” Rose pointed out. Noting all the chatter online, he stated, “Nolan knows he still has a ton of work to do.”
Unlike a basketball game, not much was wrapped up by the last buzzer of South West High’s school year. “The ending leaves most of its main characters with a lot of soul searching to do, huge decisions to make and many challenges to overcome,” Rose continued.
Does that mean a season two is on the horizon? Rose kept it simple with a “Stay tuned!”
South West High comes from Rose’s production company, Same Page Entertainment. “It’s really important for SPE to attract and create quality content in all genres of multimedia entertainment,” he stated. He’s committed to storytelling that resonates across generations, communities, and cultures.
That mission aligns with the work he’s done through the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy, the charter school he founded in 2011.
“It was important for me to start a school in the Detroit neighborhood I grew up in,” he declared. “I wanted to help bridge the achievement gap between private schools, suburban public schools, and inner-city students to give them an opportunity for success in achieving their goals.”
One look at the school’s success records shows that Rose has got nothing but net here.
“Our students have grown scholastically, emotionally, and are more disciplined and involved in our community. Our core values are Family, Respect, Excellence, and Determination,” he exclaimed.
“After 15 years of operations, we are positioning ourselves to secure a new building so our high school students can have the facility they deserve. We are launching a capital campaign soon to meet our financial challenges and goals.”
His advice for the next generation—on or off the court—still stands: “If you invest your time, energy and passion into things you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.”