6/24/25: Jaylen Wells' Journey, Summer Tournament Travel Guide, and more

👏 The Journey: Jaylen Wells Always Had One Goal – To Play in the NBA

Late Bloomers Still Bloom

[LINK] Jaylen Wells has always believed in himself, even when others haven’t. A late bloomer in high school, Wells wasn’t heavily recruited, so he went to Division II Sonoma State. Undeterred, Wells showed his talent from Day 1 and in three seasons at Sonoma State became a dominant star, leading the Seawolves in nearly every statistical category.

After the 2022-23 season, in which Wells was named the California Collegiate Athletic Association Player of the Year, Wells decided to make a bet on himself and transferred to Washington State. He began the season outside the starting rotation, but that changed after just four games and Wells established himself as one of the best wings in the nation.

Selected in the second round in last year’s Draft with the 39th overall pick by the Memphis Grizzlies, Wells became one of the team’s key young players, averaging 10.4 points in 2.4 points in 26 minutes a game before a broken wrist ended his season.

In a sports world obsessed with early hype and fast exposure, Wells is a reminder that late bloomers still bloom — and often, they’re the most prepared when their number is called. He didn’t transfer for clout. He transferred to grow. He didn’t chase validation. He chased competition. And when the moment came to jump again — to the NBA — he didn’t flinch.

💡The Ultimate Youth Sports Tournament Travel Guide

Get Ready for Summer Tournament Season

[LINK] With summer tournament season now in full swing, Youth Inc.’s Ellie Kriebel put together the ultimate tournament guide for what to pack, tips when you get to your tournament and some cool hotel hacks.

First, we give you tips of what and how to back, along with some recommendations of some coolers to bring with you. If you’re a youth sports parent, a good cooler is an absolute must have.

From food tips to freezing some of your water bottles to give yourself some extra ice, we’ve  got you covered.

And that hotel hack? Let’s just say, it’s a creative way to deal with some of your child’s stinky gear.

🤣 The Best Walk-Up Song Prank in Youth Baseball

A Must Try for Any Baseball Parent

[LINK] There’s a feel-good trend making its way through youth baseball games and it’s a must-try for any baseball parent. Instead of their usual walk-up songs, players are getting a surprise when they head up to bat: songs secretly picked by their parents.

The result is a mix of silly fun, harmless embarrassment and lots of laughter.

From Baby Shark to the Barney theme song, the unexpected songs have kids burying their faces in their hands, dancing, and even singing along. It’s a lighthearted prank that players, parents and coaches can all enjoy together.

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WE'VE GOT YOUR NUMBER

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The uniform number worn by Damian Lillard, Jason Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton, who all suffered Achilles injuries during the NBA playoffs.

“Cooper’s about the right stuff. He makes it really easy not to be jealous.”

College Head Coach to The Athletic about projected No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg