How Jim “Basketball” Jones used a video production company to keep the basketball spinning with virtual school assemblies

The world didn’t end that March — but for a lot of kids, it might as well have. Gyms were dark. Classrooms empty. Laughter replaced by static-filled Zoom calls. The magic of the school assembly — that hour of wonder and energy, that break from the routine — vanished. And in its place: silence.

Jim “Basketball” Jones delivers engaging and impactful school assemblies, often incorporating basketball tricks and his personal story, to inspire students with messages of positive mindset and resilience. He is no stranger to overcoming adversity. so when schools went virtual, he was looking for professional video production services to produce virtual school assemblies. He needed a place to turn into a virtual gymnasium so he could keep spreading his message of personal responsibility, respect, and kindness to kids who might feel like the walls were closing in. My video and photography studio in Columbus Ohio was transformed into his basketball court. Scoreboards and cheering were replaced with video cameras, lights and microphones. They caught every spin, every trick, and every inspirational word so that kids knew, “You matter. You’re not alone.”  Just like Jim’s signature trick is a lesson for kids that focus, discipline and a little fun can lead to something extraordinary, I needed to produce videos that matched that spirit. Using Jim’s established visual identity system, I designed animations that spoke directly to kids — playful, vibrant, and full of energy — while staying true to his core message: encouragement, resilience, and self-worth.

Adversity isn’t a foul to Jim — it’s the tip-off. This chapter was no different.  Jim rewrote the playbook, creating virtual school assemblies and turned isolation into inspiration.