Jalen shoots for the stars. The star? The NBA.

But between school, assisting his mother with his younger brothers and sisters, and waiting his turn at the neighborhood laundromat, life does not always afford much time to chase hoops.

He’s 14 and lives on Detroit’s East Side and plays basketball whenever he can. He is in the cracked concrete and rusted rim of his court behind his apartment complex, where he finds peace —and possibility.

He was perked up when he heard about the 313 Breakaway Championship.

“This is more than a game,” Jalen says. It’s a way to show people what I got, and what I’m working for.”

For kids like Jalen, basketball is more than a game — it’s a way out, a way forward, and a way to stay on course when the world around them doesn’t always play fair. And this tournament? It’s not just about trophies. It’s about being seen. It’s about being valued.

It’s about community stepping up—enter Whirlpool, who’s giving washers and dryers to families in most need. For Jalen, that means maybe his mom will finally have one at home. No more brutal midnight laundromat runs. No more missed practices. Just more time with family — and for hoops.

“There’s so much bigger than me when winning something like that,” Jalen says. That’s for my whole family.”