Born and raised in New Jersey, Aliyah Jeune started playing basketball at just the age of ten years old. After watching her older brother play growing up, she was motivated to embark on a journey of her own and immerse herself in the game. As she worked to strengthen her skills on the court, Aliyah solidified her dream of playing basketball at the professional level. But, the road to success wasn’t always easy. Throughout her collegiate career, her passion and commitment to playing at the highest level was tested. Yet, she remained persistent and continued to work hard. She continued to push through. From Rutgers University to Morehead State University to the University of Southern California (USC), Aliyah continued to develop her game on the court and shape her identity beyond the game. Before she knew it, all of her hard work had paid off. After graduating from USC this past spring, Aliyah’s dream of playing professionally became a reality. Not only did she sign a deal to play overseas, but she is also beginning to foster her brand in the industry both on and off the court. From organizing basketball camps for the youth to creating her own basketball facility—that focuses on both the mental and physical aspect of the game—, Aliyah is looking forward to using her platform to give back to the community and pave the way for the next generation. Truly inspiring!
"My parents for sure. My mom and dad have pushed me through anything and everything, and have been a complete motivation for me since I was a child. Their whole motto is: "Keep working hard and never give up on your dreams." They have always been in my corner, and have instilled those types of values in me."
- Aliyah on who inspires her to continue growing in the industry as well as
give back to others.
Throughout your college career, you played at different universities—whether it was at the undergraduate or graduate level. Could you take us through that journey and how you elevated your game at each stage?
I was first at Rutgers University for two years. Then, I actually stayed home a year—that whole transition was different, but it was also something that I feel like I needed. During that time, my mom was in a car accident so I needed to mentally prepare myself to play basketball and go to school. I stayed home a year, took classes at home, and got my associate's degree. After that, I didn’t really want to go to a big school. I wanted to go to a small, Division I school where I could work my hardest and do all I could to accomplish some things. I went to Morehead State in Kentucky and that was a great, great year for me—I scored over 500 points that year. It was definitely different going from Kentucky to California, but it was another great transition as well.
Transitioning to your time playing at the University of California (USC) as a graduate student, how did your lifestyle change as you worked to get ready to play at the next level?
It was definitely all about finding that balance. It wasn’t just an undergraduate degree, I was now in their master’s program—that aspect of USC really matured me. It allowed me to play and grow beyond basketball. I always had an interest in business, and that is what my major was in. Being able to study (that) allowed me to expand beyond basketball and see how I could use my platform to really help other people. That was very different. You know, I was the youngest person in most of my classes for my master’s program. A lot of my classes were at nighttime, and then we had like 6am workouts. So, I had to make sure I managed when I would put up extra shots and how I would complete assignments and projects—all while getting enough sleep for practice the next morning. This was definitely a gritty grind and a hustle year where I had to be able to manage that, while still elevating and growing (on the court).
You mentioned that you had to endure different challenges early on. What were some of the things that kept you motivated throughout those times to continue pushing despite some of the challenges that you faced along the way?