J.R. SMITH & UNINTERRUPTED TEAM UP FOR HBCU’s RISING

Following a 16-year NBA career that includes winning two NBA Championships and the Sixth Man of Year award, retired NBA veteran J.R. Smith embarks on a new venture. Smith transitioned from professional basketball player to student-athlete at HBCU North Carolina A&T University.

On Tuesday night, UNINTERRUPTED and Toyota partnered to showcase Smith’s HBCU journey on the big screen in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The attendance was over 200 people. The event also included performances by Jonesboro High School Majestic Marching Band, the Pi Phi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and the Tau Zeta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

In UNINTERRUPTED’s HBCU’s RISING, presented by Toyota Tundra, J.R. Smith takes you through his collegiate life in the four-part series showcasing his love for community and culture and his “Aggie Pride.”

J. R. Smith is a Liberal Studies major and an avid golfer. Smith finished his first year of college with a 4.0 GPA. He was also named North Carolina A&T’s “Academic Athlete of the Year,” a tremendous accomplishment.

When asked about his decision to attend an HBCU, it was a straightforward choice. “It was the most important thing to me. I figured if I wanted to get an education there was no better place to get one. And if I was going to spend my money to get an education, I wanted to give it back and attend an HBCU.”

FAYETTEVILLE, GEORGIA – JULY 12: J.R. Smith and Dr. Dawn Murphy attend the Toyota Tundra presents “HBCU’s Rising” with J.R. Smith on July 12, 2022 at The Dottie at Triumph Station in Fayetteville, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Toyota North America)

Among the attendees at the event were Monica Boswell, The VP of Client Solutions at The Spring Hill Company, and Tasha Levy, The VP of Brand Partnerships at The Spring Hill Company. In their speeches, the ladies shared similar sentiments on why this docu-series will move the culture forward.

“Through the short docu-series, they were tasked with tapping into the mantra “More Than An Athlete” and the history on why Smith chose an HBCU and specifically North Carolina A&T.” (Fox 5. Atlanta).

UNINTERRUPTED is a Sports Emmy-winning athlete empowerment media, experiences, and consumer product brand created by LeBron James and Maverick’s media conglomerate, The SpringHill Company.

About The Author

Tatyana Arrington

Tatyana Arrington is an actress, entertainment reporter, social media influencer, entrepreneur, and co- author. Originally from Queens, New York, Tatyana’s career began as an infant model at Wilhelmina Agency and was featured in campaigns for Spiegel and Toys R Us. Her first professional acting job was in Mirandy and Brother Wind with Acting Up! Since graduating from Georgia Southern University with a Bachelor’s in Communications, she completed an internship with The Atlanta Shakespeare Tavern. Post apprenticeship, she starred in Tavern shows A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth, As You Like It, and Love’s Labour’s Lost. Tatyana has made television appearances on Homicide Hunter Lt. Joe Kenda and Fatal Attraction. Tatyana’s influencer work began in 2018 and since then she has worked global brands including Reebok, GoDaddy, Fab Fit Fun, Amazon, Tampax, Holiday Inn, Zaful, and Atlantis Bahamas on campaigns in front of the camera. In 2019 she began her journey as a digital host professional and has got to cover press events for Disney, Netflix, BET, Amazon, and Starz. In April 2020, Tatyana re-launched Stix Unlimited, a unisex streetwear clothing line founded by her late brother. Tatyana was named one of the “Resilience Rising” by People Magazine and U.S. Bank in honor of her efforts with STIX. In February 2021, Tatyana teamed up with with her mother, Vanessa and sister, Summer to write “The Adventures of Summer and Winter” inspired by her younger sister and puppy of the same name. The Adventures of Summer and Winter is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Walmart.

See author's posts