Inspired by his idol, Spurs’ Blake Wesley strives to give back to young athletes

Blake Wesley remembers some of his early role models.

The San Antonio Spurs point guard, just 21 and entering his third NBA season, came from Notre Dame before being drafted by the Silver & Black late in the first round in 2022. In that moment, he realized the dream he had had for years.

That, he said, is because of another Fighting Irish basketball player.

“I was fortunate enough to go to a basketball camp at Notre Dame when I was younger,” Wesley told Spurs On SI. “One of the players that really inspired me was Demetrius Jackson. I wanted to grow up and be like him, and now I hope to inspire the next generation of players in the same way.”

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He did. Not only did Wesley go on to play for Notre Dame during his college years like Jackson, but he also made it to the NBA and has since dedicated time to serving local communities whenever he can — even doing so alongside his idol.

“Thanks to Jaden Ivey and Blake Wesley for stopping by to support the next generation,” Jackson wrote on X, formerly Twitter, after a skills camp hosted by his foundation, “Elevate with Eleven,” at Marian High School in mid-June. “You never know who you might inspire.”

Just over a month after making a trip to Indiana for Jackson’s camp, Wesley is now ready to expand his horizons even further with the same vision. This summer, he joins the Jr. NBA in the Cayman Islands for an annual Camana Bay and Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA basketball camp.

In collaboration with global investment firm Dart, the NBA has decided to expand its Jr. NBA program to the UK in order to serve a new demographic of young athletes who one day aspire to play professionally.

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“We are committed to this shared goal of expanding our grassroots basketball development efforts,” said NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum. “And to providing more opportunities for Cayman Islands youth, fans and families to learn the values ​​of the game and the importance of a healthy, active lifestyle for years to come.”

The addition of Wesley only made the deal more interesting.

For the league and the player.

“I was in their shoes, looking up to NBA players the same way they look up to me today,” Wesley said. “I’m excited to pass on my passion for the game to young athletes. It’s a really special opportunity for me to be a part of this camp and talk to kids about what it takes to be a pro.”

“I want kids to not only look up to me, but…become better players than me.”

According to a statement, the Junior NBA program aims to train young athletes in both physical skills and off-court attitude by hosting camps, clinics and everything in between. Last season, the program reached more than 19 million athletes in six countries across Latin America and the Caribbean.

That number can only increase as the NBA continues its journey toward a more globalized game, and it makes sense. With the influx of foreign talent like Luka Dončić, Giannis Antetokounmpo and even San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama, reaching regions outside of the United States has become paramount.

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That’s why expanding to a place like the Cayman Islands was at the top of the league’s priorities when it officially announced the initiative last summer.

“Dart’s longstanding commitment to creating extraordinary places, experiences and opportunities in the Cayman Islands includes decades of support for youth sports,” said Mark VanDevelde, Dart’s Executive Director and CEO. “We look forward to furthering this impact through our expanded partnership with the NBA.”

As important as this is to the NBA, it is also important to Wesley.

In his two seasons with the Spurs, he’s begun to carve out a career for himself — something his coach, Gregg Popovich, could attest to — and he’s ready to continue that quest in his third season. With San Antonio’s roster being so young, he has plenty of opportunities to really crack the rotation and be an impact player.

But before he was a budding point guard, he was just a college prospect.

Back then, his role models were everything to him. They represented everything he wanted to be, and he remembers that. That’s why he wants to offer the same motivation that Jackson gave him to the young people who are on the rise today.

Wesley also remembers his dreams. He remembers where he was before they became reality. Back at Notre Dame, he had no idea what he was going to become. He didn’t know where he would end up.

And his advice for the children who find themselves where he once was?

He kept things simple.

“You have to keep moving forward every day,” Wesley said. “Nothing is possible without the man above you, that’s the advice I got from my parents and want to pass on. … You never know when something might be taken away from you.”

“Every time I step on the field, I don’t take it for granted. One little thing can change everything, so I pray and put God first.”