Cleveland Cavaliers shooting guard Ty Jerome was born into a basketball family, and his parents fueled his dream of making it into the NBA.
Ty was born to Mark Jerome and Melanie Walker, both of whom played college basketball during their prime.
As former basketball players, Mark and Melanie inspired their son to take the sport at a young age.
With their support and mentorship, Jerome began playing basketball early in life, honing his skills under their guidance.
The NBA star has consistently acknowledged his parent’s unwavering support and guidance throughout his journey.
Ty Jerome Was Born to Parents Mark and Melanie, Who Belonged to the Sports Industry!
Ty Jerome‘s father, Mark, played basketball at Lafayette, a Division I team, and his mother, Melanie, played at Brandeis, a Division III team.
Further, in an episode of Point Forward, the Cleveland shooting guard highlighted how having a mother who understands basketball perfectly complemented his dad’s coaching. He said:
She was the craziest parent, like family dynamic, insane; dad was a crazy coach, like an insane coach and mom used to be in the crowd, like white lady in the crowd. Probably two white ladies in the whole crowd. She’s going crazy, like, yelling at the ref, getting into fights with fans. I’m just looking like, ‘You got to relax because I’m seven and nobody’s ready to fight my mom …
He additionally emphasized how his dad’s strict coaching paired with his mother’s supportive nature created a perfect balance, saying:
But it was just like, dad was a crazy hard coach, and mom knowing the game and being a supportive parent made it a lot easier for me because it wasn’t just mom. A lot of moms are supportive, but a lot of moms aren’t able to talk about basketball with you as well. That dynamic was really helpful.
Despite finding his dad’s coaching tough when he was younger, Jerome is now grateful for it, as it helped him build a strong foundation and mental toughness.
In one of his Instagram posts, Jerome shared a heartwarming video of him hugging his parents, their faces beaming with pride as they celebrated his achievement of reaching the National Championship.
Jerome even once said to The Daily Press that his father was the hardest coach he ever got, saying:
No coach is ever going to be harder on me than my dad was when he coached me, no matter what level. … I have a million stories to prove that.
Additionally, Jerome discussed how he coped with his parents’ divorce and its impact on him.
In an interview with The Athletic, Jerome’s dad, Mark, shared how he trained Jerome intensely during his early years.
Furthermore, he recalled the proud moment when he saw Ty’s name on the back of his jersey during a freshman game.
Ty’s mother, Melanie, once told TIME that she vividly remembers how people underestimated her son during games, which led to a few confrontations on her part.
Mark and Melanie were invited to CBS Sports Network to discuss their son’s incredible journey to the National Championship game in 2019.
Melanie Walker and Mark Jerome, parents of @UVAMensHoops Ty Jerome, join the set to discuss the incredible journey of Jerome's team to the National Championship game. pic.twitter.com/QEoa68TTz1
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) April 8, 2019
However, the strict training and belief from his parents motivated him to become one of the prominent basketball players of his generation.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Ty Jerome played college basketball for the Virginia Cavaliers, where he was the starting point guard on their national championship team.
- The Philadelphia 76ers selected Jerome with the 24th pick in the 2019 NBA draft on June 20, 2019.
- Ty attended Iona Preparatory School in New York, where, after his junior season, his school named him first-team All-Conference, All-Metropolitan, and All-State.
