March Madness is upon us, the time of the year when NCAA Division I men’s basketball teams go head-to-head in a single elimination tournament. Millions of Americans make their best guesses and fill out a tournament bracket, hoping to take the win over their friends or coworkers. But for Lamarr Kimble, a staff member at Esperanza Academy Charter School in North Philadelphia, March Madness is more than a bracket – it’s a first-hand experience.

Lamarr played basketball at St. Joseph’s University from 2015-2019, including when they made it to the second round of the championship in 2016. Lamarr’s basketball journey has taken him from Philadelphia to Louisville and the UK, where he played professional basketball in the British Basketball League. Growing up in Philadelphia, Lamarr saw plenty of opportunities where he could have chosen a dead-end path; instead, he chose to pursue education and his passion for basketball – a decision that has shaped who he is today.

Before he was old enough to play on the court, Lamarr practiced shooting hoops through the monkey bars at his local park. All of that practice time paid off when he made the basketball team at Neumann-Goretti High School. He earned first-team All-Catholic League, Pennsylvania Sportswriters All-State Class AAA, and All-USA Pennsylvania honors, and averaged 14-5 points as a senior in 2014-15, helping the team to a 28-2 record and its second straight PIAA Class AAA state championship.

After graduating in 2015, he started his college journey at St. Joseph’s University. While earning his Bachelor’s degree in communication with a minor in sociology, Lamarr impressed on the basketball court and earned the nickname “Fresh”. At the end of his first season, the Hawks won the Atlantic 10 Conference Men’s Basketball Championship, and Lamarr was named to the 1^st team A10 freshman list. He went on to become the only player in Saint Joseph’s history to serve as captain for three years.

After his coach at St. Joseph’s was replaced, Lamarr made the difficult decision to transfer to another school for his last year. With plenty of offers to choose from, he decided to finish out his college career in Kentucky as a Louisville Cardinal. He was noted as one of the top 10 transfers in the nation by ESPN prior to the season, and he did not disappoint. He ranked 21st in the ACC in assists and completed his college basketball career with a combined career total of 1,114 points (156 at Louisville, 958 at St. Joseph’s).

In the midst of the world being turned upside down by COVID-19, Lamarr took a huge step in signing to play professionally with the Worcester Wolves Basketball Club, a part of the British Basketball League, which at that time was the highest level of professional basketball in the UK. Despite lockdowns and mask requirements, Lamarr had the opportunity to explore as he traveled to places like London, Bristol, and Scotland. Lamarr reflected on his time in the UK: “Playing basketball internationally was definitely a stage of growth. Being miles away from your family on a 5-hour time zone difference can make things challenging. I had to cook for myself, walk a mile and a half to the gym at times, and stay healthy during the coronavirus period. The biggest lesson I learned from playing internationally is that we are such small fish in a big pond. As humans, we get so caught up in the bad and struggling parts of our lives that we forget to acknowledge the good. You forget that where you are currently is what you dreamed about in one form or another your whole life.”

The pandemic was hard no matter where we were, but being thousands of miles away from home during that time proved to be extra difficult. Lamarr decided to return to Philadelphia to be closer to his family and considered his next steps. “I knew that I enjoyed teaching the youth about life and sharing my life experiences through basketball,” he shared. “My sister, Ms. Averette, told me about the opportunity at Esperanza Academy, and I will forever thank her because it changed the direction of my life in the most positive way.” Lamarr reflected on the many people and experiences that deeply impacted his journey along the way. “Looking back on life, I realize God put the right people in my life to help me mentally and spiritually. I had plenty of mentors that helped me throughout my journey. But the biggest impact in my life was seeing friends I grew up with being attracted to a negative mindset and street lifestyle. It was a reminder to me daily, that being different was harder than settling for a street lifestyle. I wanted more for myself and for my family and the people that look up to me. There were plenty of opportunities where I could’ve chosen the wrong path in life and chosen a route of violence and drugs for survival. But I chose education and basketball as my path, and that is something a village of people helped me accomplish.”

Lamarr now strives to be a mentor to young people, both in the classroom and on the basketball court. One of his Esperanza Academy students reflected, “Mr. Kimble helps me by talking to me ‘man to man’.  He is always available to help me when I need him even if it is a quick check-in when we pass in the hallway.” Lamarr shared how his personal experience drives his work with young people: “What motivates me the most about our school community is understanding that the kids are growing up in the same city I was born and raised in. My students go through similar situations and have challenges and temptations they must avoid on a daily basis. These are the challenges I had to face my whole life. I enjoy watching them grow into young adults day by day. Each and every student has their own uniqueness, humor, and personality. I love to be a positive role model and a supportive figure for them.”

In addition to his role at the Academy, Lamarr coaches basketball at Archbishop Wood during the school year and in the summer for “Philly Pride,” a boys’ basketball club sponsored by Under Armour. Reflecting on his future, he shared, “I see myself coaching basketball in the future—hopefully coaching at a Division 1 college or as a full-time trainer to kids, focusing on developing their skills and IQ for the game of basketball.”

When asked what advice he would share with young people who aspire to pursue their passion, he says: “’Go all in and never look back.’ A lot of people I’ve encountered in life told me things they thought I couldn’t do. ‘You’re not getting a D1 scholarship.’ ‘You’ll have a hard chance going pro because you’re small.’ ‘You’re not fast or athletic – you sure you will get playing time?’ These kinds of comments helped motivate me to prove everybody wrong and ultimately prove to myself that I was right.”

“I hope my story positively inspires our community. I grew up in the same city as our children. The violence, peer pressure, and lack of positive adult figures are things that I had to cope with day by day, just as they are. I hope my story gives some light at the end of the tunnel. I hope it pushes you to achieve excellence for yourself as the journey is the greatest teacher. I hope it inspires you to ultimately be better than me. I hope it inspires our youth to trust in the Lord himself. Living a good life and being a good human will ultimately open up every door in their lives, as it did for me.”