Until this year, LaFonzo Nelson Jr. had never played on a school basketball team. He had watched the game. He had heard stories from family members who played before him. He had spent time learning from his uncle and a cousin. But stepping onto the court as part of Meridian Junior High’s team was something entirely new.

Now an eighth grader, LaFonzo has spent his entire school life at Meridian. From his earliest days in elementary school to his final year of junior high, Meridian has been the place where he has learned, grown, and begun shaping his future. It is his school, his community, and the place where he decided to take a chance on something new.

Behind his decision to try basketball was a strong family influence. Several of his relatives had played before him, including his uncle, Tyrone Nesby, who reached the highest level of the game. His cousin Demarion also played, giving LaFonzo someone close to look up to. “They taught me a lot about basketball stuff,” he said.

“This was my first year,” he said. He played on the varsity junior high team, taking on a role that required toughness and determination. His position kept him close to the action, where effort and persistence mattered every moment he was on the floor.

“I do all the layups and stuff like that,” he said. “If I’m open in the paint, I just throw it up and lay it up nice.”

That encouragement helped give him the confidence to step forward and try the sport himself. And now that he has completed his first season, he already knows he wants to continue.

Basketball is only one part of his life at Meridian. LaFonzo is also a member of FCCLA (Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America), a student organization that has introduced him to new experiences and opportunities. Through FCCLA, he has taken part in field trips that opened his eyes to possible careers and skills he could pursue in the future.

“We go on field trips,” he said. “We went to the technology center up in Cape, and they teach you about airplanes and stuff. They have an airplane simulator.”

He has also participated in service projects that help others. “We go to the food bank and help pack food,” he said.

He has been part of FCCLA for three years and plans to continue, building on those experiences as he moves forward.

Outside of school, LaFonzo enjoys staying busy. He helps around the house with yard work, mowing grass, and taking pride in the responsibility. “I like to do yard work,” he said. “I like cutting grass and stuff. I just like to stay busy.”

Family plays an important role in his life as well. He lives with his parents and his younger sister, Evelyn Nelson, a second grader who is beginning her own journey at Meridian. Surrounded by parents, grandparents, and extended family, LaFonzo is part of a strong support system that has shaped who he is.

Looking ahead, he already has clear goals. “I want to work for the fire department down there in Mounds,” he said. Several members of his family serve in that role, and their example has inspired him to follow a similar path. He is also considering attending college and earning his CDL, opening additional opportunities for his future.

When he thinks about his time at Meridian, LaFonzo speaks with appreciation for the people who have helped him along the way. “Teachers not giving up,” he said. “If they see a student not getting it, they take time and work with the student.” That support has made a lasting difference.

This year, by stepping onto the basketball court for the first time, LaFonzo Nelson Jr. showed a willingness to try something new, to challenge himself, and to grow. It was a first step—one that reflects the determination and steady confidence he brings to everything he does.