SALT LAKE CITY (June 3, 2015) – The Utah Jazz announced today that forward Jeremy Evans and guard Elijah Millsap will take part in this summer’s annual Junior Jazz road trip, which begins on Monday, June 8. The tour’s first two weeks will travel more than 3,000 miles to 32 cities in three states and reach more than 1,500 boys and girls. A third week of clinics will take place in late July/early August.
The 2015 Junior Jazz road trip marks the 31st consecutive year the Jazz have conducted the hour-long basketball clinics for youth in participating Junior Jazz towns across Utah, Wyoming and Idaho. Each event will feature Evans and Millsap running the clinics, as well as signing autographs and taking pictures with the participants.
“For three decades, Junior Jazz has been an important part of bringing the great sport of basketball to youth in our region,” said Randy Rigby, Utah Jazz president. “The support of the local communities and recreation departments has helped this program thrive into the next generation. Our summer road trip gives us the opportunity to thank our Junior Jazz programs with a visit from a Utah Jazz player.”
Evans will conduct the first week (June 8–13) of Junior Jazz clinics in 17 cities in Utah, Wyoming and Idaho. Millsap will lead the second week (June 15-20) of clinics in 15 cities in Utah. A detailed schedule of the Junior Jazz tour is below:
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Evans just completed his fifth season as a forward for the Utah Jazz and is entering his sixth season as a Junior Jazz summer tour participant. Evans is very involved in the Salt Lake City community, participating in many of the team’s community events. He is also an accomplished artist and worked with youth from The Road Home Shelter on an art project displayed in downtown Salt Lake City.
Millsap is entering his first season participating in the Junior Jazz road trip and just finished his first in a Jazz uniform. Millsap has given back to the Salt Lake community in a variety of ways, including participation in Jazz Reading Day, recognizing the Junior Jazz good sportsmanship winners, as well as attending the Jazz annual fundraiser Leapin’ Leaners & Low Tops.
Currently in its 32nd year, Junior Jazz is the largest and longest-running youth basketball league in the NBA and emphasizes teamwork, fundamental basketball skills and fun. Members include kindergarteners through 12th-graders, many of whom return year after year. With ongoing support from Denny’s, Industrial Supply, Larry H. Miller Dealerships, ROOT Sports, Savage Companies, Scheels and Zero Fatalities, the Junior Jazz program includes more than 50,000 players in seven states.
Former Jazz greats Karl Malone and John Stockton and current Jazz forward Derrick Favors are among the numerous Jazz players to have participated in the Junior Jazz trips over the years. The Jazz are the only team in the NBA to conduct a summer tour.
In 2005, the Junior Jazz introduced a good sportsmanship initiative to honor and reward teams that best exemplify sportsmanlike conduct throughout the season. The 2015 winners were recognized by Evans and Millsap during the ninth annual Junior Jazz Sportsmanship Party at EnergySolutions Arena on March 31.