Jalen Rose used to be known for his confidence and sharp trash talk back in his ‘Fab Five’ days at Michigan. But now, he’s playing a whole different game—one that goes way beyond basketball. Instead of just breaking down plays on TV or looking back on his NBA career, he’s busy changing the way athletes give back to their communities. Born and raised in Detroit, Rose never forgot where he came from. Instead of chasing clout, he’s channeling his platform into purpose: education, opportunity, and real impact for the next generation in his hometown, through his Jalen Rose Leadership Academy.

After a long run as a staple on ESPN, Rose was let go in 2023 as the network reshaped its NBA coverage. Since then, he’s stayed in the mix—making guest appearances on Inside the NBA, working with NBATV, and even covering college hoops for NBC Sports.Just recently, in 2025, Jalen made his March Madness debut with CBS and Turner Sports, teaming up with Lisa Byington, Robbie Hummel, and Andy Katz for the tournament’s opening weekend. But these days, he’s hitting pause on the media hustle to put all his energy where it counts most—giving back to his community. His heart’s in Detroit, and his energy is going straight into growing the JRLA.

To celebrate the 15th anniversary of JRLA, the school hosted its annual Celebrity Golf Classic fundraiser, followed by the much-anticipated Scholar-Athlete Banquet. Jalen Rose was front and center at the banquet, showing up in true “Rose City” fashion. The academy’s official Instagram story captured the moment with a proud caption: “’Rose City’ president is in the building for the annual scholar-athlete banquet.”

The Jalen Rose Celebrity Golf Classic is JRLA’s biggest fundraiser of the year—and it’s backed by Platinum Equity and Pistons owner Tom Gores, who’ve supported the event for 12 straight years. Held at the Detroit Golf Club, this year’s outing on May 19 features a $5,000 putting challenge, a $1 million Par 3 challenge (with half going to JRLA), and a star-studded crowd. Previously, celebrities like Chris Webber, Jerry Stackhouse, and HaHa Davis have also participated and showed their support.

A new chapter for Jalen Rose Leadership Academy

The Jalen Rose Leadership Academy is more than just a school—it’s a real source of hope and opportunity. Since it opened in 2011 on Detroit’s northwest side, this tuition-free charter high school has been a lifeline for so many kids and their families. It really shows what’s possible when kids get the right support and encouragement. With a 97% graduation rate and every student heading off to college or a program after high school, it’s clear the focus on leadership, college prep, and building up the community is making a real difference—one student at a time.

Now, the academy is stepping into an exciting new chapter. With the gift of the former Henry Ford Health Kingswood Hospital building, JRLA is gearing up to double its enrollment and, for the first time, welcome middle school students into the fold. It’s not just about growing bigger—it’s about giving more kids in Detroit a real shot at something greater. The current high school campus will transition into a middle school for grades 6 through 8, while the newly acquired, 70,000-square-foot facility at 10300 Eight Mile Road will open for high school students in 2027. To bring it all to life, the academy is launching a $20 million capital campaign to fund renovations—setting the stage for even more kids to thrive.

At the center of it all is Jalen Rose—a proud Detroit native who’s never stopped betting on his community. He’s leaned on his sports connections, stayed hands-on, and avoided the usual struggles that sink many charter schools. “Since I founded the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy in 2011, my singular focus has been to prepare our community’s young people to become leaders in whatever their future holds,” he said. And with partners like Henry Ford Health on board, this isn’t just a campus expansion—it’s a bigger promise to the city. As CEO Bob Riney put it, “This is the start of a meaningful partnership.” It’s education meeting purpose, with kids at the center of everything.

Rose has stepped back from the media spotlight to focus on what truly matters to him—helping and building his community—and he’s turning that vision into reality through the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy.