Tyus Jones donated more than 30 laptops to Excell Academy in Brooklyn Park, and helped remodel a classroom there.
“Something I wanted to start doing was helping give back to the school because the kids work so hard and their story is unique,” Jones told ESPN’s Ben Goessling. “I wanted to help give back, give them a new learning center, new computers and new technology. Just give them a room to come and improve their education.”
Here’s some video:
The remodel ties into Jones’ motto of “Write Your Own Story,” which he lives by on and off the court.
This also isn’t the first time he’s visited Excell Academy. Last summer, Jones took part in the Beat The Odds challenge – an idea created by the school’s Academic Dean, Justin Balvin, a former NBA player himself.
Balvin wanted to honor his students’ academic achievements, since many come from low-income households and can face serious obstacles to getting a good education.
Jones took notice and wanted to learn more about the school.
“He wanted to tour the school and learn more about us without the kids knowing that he was here, I was really impressed by that,” Balvin told Timberwolves.com last summer.
Jones played high school basketball at Apple Valley and college basketball at Duke University. He was a first-round pick by the Timberwolves in 2015 and just wrapped his second season in the NBA.
