CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – It’s not every day, especially in this climate, when an athlete receives two Division I scholarship offers in one week.

But Rossview boys’ basketball and Mid-State Elite standout Ronald Jessamy has reeled them in.

The Hawk sophomore has two offers to play at the next level, each coming from HBCUs in Tennessee and Alabama.

“It’s amazing, considering I’ve worked a lot over the offseason,” Jessamy said. “It’s good to know that my hard work is paying off. I’ve always wondered what attending an HBCU would be like.”

Recently while at the Sweet 16 Session I AAU tournament in Atlanta, Jessamy helped lead his team Mid-State Elite to a 4-0 finish.

The forward averaged a double-double (10 points and 10 rebounds) through four games while playing against a high-level of competition in the 17U division.

“During the tournament, I saw that there were a lot of players looking for a highlight,” Jessamy said. “I just kept it basic. You know look for cutters, pump faked and knew that no one else was pump faking, so I got a lot of easy blocks off of that. We also ran a motion-type offense and once I got the ball, everything was spread out so I was able to take advantage of a lot of one-on-one situations. I just tried to keep it fundamental.”

Mid-State Elite family

Like most members of MSE before him, Jessamy credits the organization’s successes to the family-like atmosphere that is created from the top down.

“It’s amazing because they actually treat us like family,” Jessamy said. “They’re going to hustle for us. Rico (Dontrez Cutno) is non-stop with contacting college coaches about us and trying to make sure that high school isn’t the last time we play basketball. The other coaches just want to see us get better and it’s a great feeling.”

The buzz around Jessamy has picked up over recent weeks for his break-out performances, which landed him an invitation to attend the Elite 60 National Camp on Saturday, May 1, in Chattanooga.

The event will have collegiate coaches and scouts from around the country, as well as members of the national media on hand.

“What I look forward to the most would probably be to play against the best of the best,” Jessamy said. “That way I know where I rank against them.”

Not only is Jessamy an exceptional player on the court, he is also a scholar in the classroom, sporting a 3.8 GPA.

“My parents say that basketball is a very risky thing to rely on purely,” Jessamy said. “If it doesn’t work out, you still have to have good grades so that you can do something with your life. It’s a lot easier when it’s just two things I have to focus on. School and basketball.”

Jessamy led the state in blocked shots last season as a sophomore. Being a true rim protector is something Jessamy takes immense pride in.

“When we’re facing a big team and they’re hugging us, I can get one crazy block and it makes everyone else realize that they’re still human,” Jessamy said. “Then the energy level from our team usually spikes up from there.”

Pushing to always do better

Standing 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot wingspan and wearing a size 18 shoe, Jessamy is not like most kids his age. The 16-year-old is grateful for his physical attributes and possesses rare athleticism for a high school player of his stature.

“It’s a blessing,” Jessamy said. “This is something that you can’t really teach. It definitely is a gift that helps me with my dream. High school is pretty interesting because last year not many people knew me, but now everyone knows who I am. Even outside of school, people are starting to recognize me, and it’s crazy to see how big my name has gotten in such a short period of time.”

When asked who helped him the most to be able to reach this point in his athletic and academic career, Jessamy answered without hesitation.

“My mom definitely,” Jessamy said. “She’s the one person that’s going to push me no matter what. If I have a bad game or I don’t score much, she knows I can do better than that.”

Right now, Jessamy has one goal in mind whether it be on the AAU circuit with MSE or on the high school hardwood with the Hawks.

“Currently, I’m just trying to get better,” Jessamy said. “I just want to be the best person and player that I can be. I’ve been working on my jump shot, so I’m not limited to always driving to the paint. I’ve also been working on my perimeter defense, so I can guard the best player on the court at all times. Even when no one else can.”