The graduation of 94-FEET highlighted a program that has a dream to go national to every high school in the nation, throughout all colleges, and even to the National Basketball Association. It all started with a basketball and the need to grow.
Jeremiah “JB” Brown, 58, head coach of the San Quentin Warriors, created a 94 FEET workshop, an intensive self-help group that teaches anger management and conflict resolution to cultivate a positive environment.
94 FEET became a reality through the support of volunteer Bill Epling, who never wavered in his commitment to start 94 FEET.
Brown and Coach Ray Abasta, 51, fostered the idea of the program over the years as they witnessed how their younger players appeared more mature than the general population.
The coaches noticed that the players developed and used life skills in their game, but that many of them did not have the opportunity to continue using their skills in their daily lives in San Quentin.
Brown, who said sports required discipline, teamwork, patience, determination, and accountability, discovered that his players did not attend rehabilitation groups because they felt they did not fit in with the participants.
“This challenge created an opportunity for the coaches to form a group for guys like us that addressed conflict-resolution and self-help in ways they can relate to in the sport they love,” said Brown.
Brown partnered with resident Jarrod “Deuce” Williams, 41, and Abasta to create materials that allowed the incarcerated players an opportunity to learn more about life.
“I hope 94 FEET will allow residents the opportunity to grow, mature, and learn at their own pace within the confines of the program, all while building and maintaining healthy relationships,” said Abasta. “We want to create leaders and mentors who illustrate exemplary conduct inside of 94 FEET. We also want everyone to come together to complete a common goal to work together, learn together, and, more importantly, rehabilitate on and off the court so we can all change the our narratives and win in life.”
“It’s been a long journey, but we finally have received recognition for our basketball team, which spends up to 40 hours a week participating in basketball and other sports,” said Epling. “The participants grow through the enrichment of volunteers who model good citizenship, and they honor the legacy of San Quentin sports and what it means to CDCR. To leave the court and remain dedicated to recovery has always been our goal and 94 FEET accomplishes that.”
94 FEET is not just a program for all the athletes but it also sponsors an intramural team that is loaded with SQ Warriors.
Although designed for ballers of every sport, Coach Brown said the interest in the 94 FEET curriculum would make the program available to all residents, even non-athletes.
At the graduation of the first cycle, San Quentin’s ForwardThis filmed a meeting of the group that included the passing — or bounce passing — of a basketball to the next person contributing in the circle of recovery.
“What did the Super Bowl represent?” asked Coach Ray Abasta, who said the event reminded him “that on Super Bowl Sunday, there are more domestic violence arrests than any other day in America.”
Abasta said the group proved insight as each member discussed anger and the triggers that led to anger. They also spoke about confidential topics that people do not address in all aspects of society.
“94 FEET will work on the outside, especially in the inner cities, where men do not possess support groups for one another,” said Abasta.
Team 94 FEET:
Elmer David Rodriguez, Keyshawn “Steez” Strickland, Velteese “Teese” Matthis, Donnell “JD” Pimpton, Navian “Smoove” Starks, Delvon “Relly” Adams, and Jorge Lopez contribute to 94 FEET’s intramural team and program.
