Even before he became a Mohawk Mountaineer, Jerry studied athletes like Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant, struck by how effortless they made their sport look. Off the court, he found inspiration closer to home, in his mom, a single parent raising three kids.
At Mohawk College, that motivation has turned into action. Currently in the Business Fundamentals – Small Business program, Jerry balances varsity basketball with college life while working toward his goal of opening an insurance brokerage. To do so, he’s leaning on his community, his faith and an enterprising mindset.
“There are countless times when I felt like I was about to give up, and it’s those moments that define who you are,” Jerry says. “I think when it’s all said and done, I’ll look back and be like, ‘Wow, look at where I came from and where I am now,’ and it will all be because I was consistent and super determined, and I persevered.”
Built through the grind
It wasn’t always that way. Jerry says that before coming to Mohawk College, he struggled with consistency and maintaining a routine. Enrolling in college became a turning point. There were long days balancing the court and classroom. Jerry would finish practice, commute back to Scarborough, then wake up before sunrise to catch the GO Bus for 8 a.m. classes. Fatigue was constant, but so was his commitment to showing up.
Jerry still remembers the moment when that mindset fully clicked. Late for an exam and on the verge of missing his bus, he made the split-second decision to run for it anyway.
“The light turned red so the bus couldn’t pass, and as I’m running, I see the crosswalk light turn for me to get to the bus stop,” he remembers. “And I was like, ‘wow, if I had even sat in the thoughts of should I go or not go, I would have missed the bus.’ That was a key moment for me in overcoming things.”
Persistence carried into his game. In 2024, Jerry made history as the first CCAA player selected in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) draft. Shortly after, a significant injury brought that season to an early close and forced him to step back from competition. Today, he contributes to the Mountaineers as one of the team’s leading scorers.
But the injury reshaped Jerry perspective, reinforcing the importance of staying grounded in his academics and long-term goals.
“The injury showed me that nothing is guaranteed. So, the side-by-side vision I have now is to incorporate my love for basketball into insurance,” says Jerry, who was initially enrolled in the Insurance program before switching to Business Fundamentals. “I’m interested in catering to athletes and having a branch that targets insurance coverage for athletes.”
Translating the game into business
What Jerry learned through basketball now shows up clearly in the classroom. He says his academic journey at Mohawk College looks very different from when he first arrived. What once required constant adjustment and effort has shifted into a more intentional approach, supported by professors, peers and a program that emphasizes applied, industry-led learning.
In the Business Fundamentals – Small Business program, Jerry is learning how to build, adapt and manage a business through each stage of growth while developing a full business plan. It’s experience, he says, that connects directly to his entrepreneurial aspirations.
“The professors, the staff and faculty do an amazing job of helping students get organized and succeed in where they want to go,” says Jerry, as he prepares to pursue his Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario (RIBO) licence. “I’ve been super fortunate.”
Outside the classroom, Jerry channels the values he’s gained into how he gives back, including a student-athlete-led bible study group he facilitates on campus. Despite his achievements on the court, he says this is the impact he hopes will define his time as a Mountaineer.
“It’s a platform for people in all sports to come together and connect,” he says. “And I think through all the accomplishments, sports-wise, that I was blessed enough to have at Mohawk College, it’s something I’m really proud of. I hope it becomes a staple for athletes.”
