High school founder Jalen Rose has ‘Mama, I made it’ moment as U. of Michigan commencement speaker

(11 May 2026) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ++CLEARED FOR USE BY AP AND SNTV CLIENTS++ ASSOCIATED PRESS Detroit – 20 April 2026 1. Various of Jalen Rose Leadership Academy students in the school’s hallways 2. JRLA founder Jalen Rose greeting students at the gym/cafeteria, UPSOUND of students yelling out “Jalen Rose” upon seeing him 3. SOUNDBITE (English) Jazmine Allen, Jalen Rose Leadership Academy principal: “Jalen is a normal fixture here. He is not just the board president and founder of the school. He works here and doesn’t receive a paycheck.” 4. Rose greeting JRLA student Cierra Gee 5. SOUNDBITE (English) Cierra Gee, Jalen Rose Leadership Academy student: “So, for the first few months, I was like, ‘Who is this tall guy everybody keeps high-fiving?’ I did not know who he was until my dad came to pick me up one day, and he was like, ‘Oh yeah, that's Jalen Rose. Go get a picture.’ I was like, ‘Cool peeps.’ He doesn't walk around with a sense of entitlement.” 6. Rose clapping and smiling while interacting with students and others ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVE: Ann Arbor, Michigan – November 1991 7. STILL of Rose and other members of the Fab Five Michigan men’s basketball team (AP Photo: ID 9110311389) ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVE: Washington – 8 January 2003 8. STILL of Rose defending Michael Jordan of the Washington Wizards during an NBA game (AP Photo: Rick Bowmer; ID 03010801935) ASSOCIATED PRESS Detroit – 20 April 2026 9. Rose greeting JRLA students 10. SOUNDBITE (English) Jalen Rose, JRLA founder: “So, for me to be able to live in this community, grow up in this community, but yet still be able to pour back into the community, it just means everything to me, so.” 11. Various of a hallway street sign that reads (English) “Fab Five Way” 12. Rose entering school and hugging principal Jazmine Allen 13. SOUNDBITE (English) Jalen Rose, JRLA founder: “Did you think bumpy face, bad skin, rock teeth Jalen Rose would be the commencement speaker at Michigan?” ASSOCIATED PRESS Ann Arbor, Michigan – 2 May 2026 14. Rose greeting some unsuspecting pedestrians, UPSOUND (English) “Hail to the Victors” as the SUV driving him to Michigan Stadium rolls past 15. Rose yelling, UPSOUND (English) “Let’s go” and clapping as he approaches the stadium 16. Rose is hooded at the commencement, and the speaker, university regent Mark Bernstein, calls him “Dr. J” 17. An enthusiastic Rose walking into the stadium to applause 18. SOUNDBITE (English) Jalen Rose, JRLA founder: “I’m gonna say that again: Sometimes, your critics are right.” 19. A smiling graduate standing and clapping 20. SOUNDBITE (English) Jalen Rose, JRLA founder: “And I was riding here with two Michigan graduates, and I asked both of them: ‘Who spoke at your graduation?’ They didn’t know. Y’all gonna remember this. I guarantee you.” 21. Wide of stadium, including Rose delivering his address on an oversized video board 22. SOUNDBITE (English) Jalen Rose, JRLA founder: “And for me, this honorary doctorate is a crowning achievement in my life. This is bigger than any score of the game. It’s bigger than any championship. And this is also my late, great mom who I lost a handful of years ago -- this is actually my ‘Mama, I made it’ moment.” 23. Cutaway of the crowd 24. SOUNDBITE (English) Jalen Rose, JRLA founder: “There are two words that always connect us: Go Blue.” 25. Some grads standing and cheering 26. Maize and blue streamers falling from the sky at the conclusion of the commencement ceremony STORYLINE: It was just another day at the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy. And to him, it was priceless. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...