Jejuan Plair

Basketball has been a part of Coach Jejuan Plair’s life since the beginning. His father taught him how to play, persevere, and lead, while his mother modeled love, communication, and compassion qualities that now define his approach to coaching and leadership. Those lessons laid the foundation not only for his career on the court but for the creation of Star Plair’s Academy, where family, growth, and discipline are at the heart of everything. At just six years old, Jejuan encountered his first of many obstacles when a childhood accident left him completely blind in one eye and without any form of depth perception. Doctors told him sports were unlikely, but his father refused to let that limit him. Through persistence and practice, Jejuan discovered his advantages elsewhere: quick decision-making, instincts, and relentless drive. That love for the grind carried him to Division I basketball, the G-League, training camp with the Houston Rockets, and a professional career overseas. Of all those experiences it was his time in Europe that transformed how he viewed player development the most, combining structure, creativity, and a focus on long-term growth. When Jejuan stepped away from the professional game, it wasn’t because his passion faded; it was because he found a new one. His wife, a talented actress and author, inspired him to think beyond himself. As she pursued her dreams, Jejuan began training young athletes and quickly realized the immense need for better development programs, ones that build skill and character. From those first few sessions, Star Plair’s Academy was born: a place where athletes learn discipline, resilience, and self-belief both on and off the court.
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Jejuan’s coaching philosophy can be summed up through his favorite quotes: “Once you understand the importance of small things, you realize there are no small things,” and “If you don’t sacrifice for what you want, what you want becomes the sacrifice.” His program teaches players to master the details, embrace the process, and understand that real growth happens on the other side of hard work. He coaches in phases, first inspiring kids to fall in love with the game, then building their ambition, habits, and mental toughness until they become complete athletes and people. What makes Star Plair’s different, Jejuan says, is its commitment to developing the whole person. The Academy’s culture is built around reflection, journaling, accountability, and emotional intelligence, helping players become leaders in life as well as in basketball. “Coaching people first and basketball second,” he explains, “opened a whole new level of fulfillment. We’re not just creating better players, we’re helping young men and women become self-driven, confident people who change the room they walk into. Through basketball, Jejuan has learned that you can’t give something you don’t have. That’s why his daily focus is on becoming the best version of himself—mentally, emotionally, and spiritually so he can pour into others with authenticity and purpose. The game taught him that success is never just about talent; it’s about consistency, reflection, and a willingness to grow through discomfort. Those lessons shape every moment inside Star Plair’s Academy.

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Looking ahead, Coach Jejuan envisions Star Plair’s growing into a complete development hub with leadership and character classes, nutrition programs, media training, and opportunities for kids to explore every part of the sports world, from playing to commentating. Off the court, he enjoys time with his wife and two sons, trying new restaurants, watching animated movies, and ending the day with a great film. His advice to young athletes is simple but powerful: “If you’re chasing a dream, discipline yourself to do the hard things long enough for your discipline to become habit. That’s how you catch it."