Help Jaylen to get a NCAA Basketball Scholarship in the USA

ABOUT ME:

Hey there! Thanks for coming to my page. My name is Jaylen Gerrand. I'm 18 years old, 6ft Maori/Samoan boy who grew up on the Hibiscus Coast, Auckland, New Zealand.

I love anything and everything basketball. I grew up watching my parents play competitively ever since I can remember. This sparked my passion for the sport which I started playing at 8 years old at Orewa Primary, all the way through to my last days at Westlake Boys High School. I knew ever since I watched my first NCAA basketball tournament with my dad when I was 8 that my dream was to play basketball in the USA.

Basketball is a huge part of my life but I understand there is much more to life than playing sport. So I plan to use my basketball talents to gain a full scholarship to a college in America. While there I plan to study Accounting and Business Finance to hopefully become an investment banker. All the while playing the sport I love - in the basketball capital of the world!

Academically I have completed 5 years of secondary school at Westlake Boys High School achieving NCEA Level 2 and Level 3 University Entrance with Merit.

I've been lucky enough to land the opportunity of a life time to achieve my dream to play basketball and study in the USA, but need your help! I have been given a partial scholarship to Bridgton Academy in Maine, USA and need help to raise the remaining US$36,000 (NZ$48,000) and flights NZ$6,000 by December 2015. My family and I don't have the financial means to cover the total cost ourselves.

THE ROAD AHEAD:

Lots of hard work!

I have been accepted to Bridgton Academy and potentially a scholarship to Dartmouth College.

Bridgton is a Prep School in Maine which prepares students academically and athletically at the College level. They are an elite basketball school that plays against the best high schools in America. I would be there from August 2015 to May 2016.

Dartmouth College is an Ivy League school in the NCAA Division 1 basketball system; they are a Mid Major (middle of the pack) and academically viewed as one of the most prestigious and ranked among the best universities worldwide.

But to get there – I need to raise the funds for Bridgton.

TRIBUTE:

I dedicate my journey to my family – they are important to me and I want to make them proud.

I come from a single parent family and live at home with my mum and two younger siblings. I have been supporting my family since our dad left 3½ half years ago. At 15, I was supporting my mum and 1 yr. old twin brothers while still going to school, maintaining my grades & playing basketball for my school and NZ. That first year was incredibly hard for our family and since then many sacrifices have been made and I have had to decline opportunities due to our financial situation.

COSTS:

• Bridgton Academy – NZ$48,000 (US$36, 000) for the year

(Includes tuition, room and board plus school related expenses)

• Flights - NZ$6,000 (Return)

• OR NZ$6,000 (per month for 9 months)

HOW I PLAN TO GIVE BACK?

By helping those that have the same dream as me. The journey for me so far has been incredibly hard – I have had great success and disappointment. I have wanted to give up numerous times when I thought it would never happen. But you push on and stay focused.

JOIN MY JOURNEY:

Any donations (big or small) towards my dream will be greatly appreciated and I will continue to work even harder to show my appreciation for everybody that has helped me. My focus is representing my family, my friends and New Zealand to the best of my ability while also showing NZ kids you can dream BIG!

If you pledge to my cause, congratulations you will be coming along to Bridgton Academy, Maine, USA with me! Giving you front row seats to my journey through my social media sites.

If you pledge over $100 you’re amazing and I will provide you an insight of Bridgton with personalized emails and video clips from me!

If you are just the best and want to pledge over $500 I will offer all of the above plus a free hour basketball training session with you and a friend or even a quick pick up game. You'll also receive a Franklin basketball singlet and shorts (until they run out!) Time, date and Auckland location to be agreed upon.

PLUS everyone who pledges will go in the draw to win one of 10 Molten official outside basketballs worth $30!

Thanks for your support!!

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:

During my 10 years playing I have been privileged to be able to play for my High School, my Region, Breakers Development, New Zealand Age Group Teams and Junior Tall Blacks. I have been a member of six winning national title teams, been selected for five national tournament teams, and named MVP three times. I have represented NZ at the Australian State Nationals, Oceania and World Champs.

But my best achievement - coaching my little brothers on our home court.