Bobby Ray Jones trades basketball shoes for bare feet, a yoga mat, and a mission

He helped lead Husky Men’s Basketball to the NCAA Tournament in the mid-2000s, played for six NBA teams, enjoyed a 12-year basketball career in Italy, and then returned to his hometown of Compton, California, to take up … yoga?

Bobby Ray Jones laughs at that improbability. But he’s always taken his own unique path.

While at Washington, he designed his own custom degree, taking classes in English, African American Studies, and Music and labeling his diploma Written Expression of Multicultural Literature.

“I’ve always followed my passion,” says the Big W Club member and ’06 alum, “first as a kid from Compton who made up my own major and now today as a yoga teacher and storyteller.”

He credits the UW with preparing him not just for a basketball career but for life. In his senior year, he balanced a daunting 18 credits to graduate, preparation for the NBA draft, and fatherhood.

“Whenever I have a difficult moment, I look back and think, ‘You did that at 22, you can do anything.’ I use that perspective to battle fearfulness and doubts about moving forward,” Bobby explains. “My time at UW gave me a foundation for everything that came after. It helped shape my passions and allowed me to pursue my dreams beyond basketball.”

During his years in Italy, Bobby reveled in leaving the American rat race behind, exploring his passions for wellness, writing and video production. When he returned to Compton, he took up yoga to preserve that sense of balance and to stay in shape.

Now, through his community-outreach organization Growing Up Compton and his wellness initiative “Grow. Unwind. Connect.”, he teaches yoga and mentors schoolkids in his hometown of Compton, Seattle and beyond.

“I’ve come full circle,” he muses. “Being able to share my journey and promote wellness to this next generation gives me purpose and peace.”

“Representation matters. Everyone, no matter their background, should have access to the transformative power of yoga,” he continues. “It’s an honor to take this ancient practice back into the communities that supported me during my time at UW and beyond.”

One day Bobby hopes to partner with the UW to enhance wellness for student-athletes and families in Seattle. Until then, his passion continues to drive the way.

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