You know, people often ask me how I got into cricket—and I tell them, it wasn’t something I planned. I didn’t grow up playing the sport, and honestly, I didn’t even know what cricket was. But the way it entered my life… it saved me. 

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Back in the early 1990s, my life had completely fallen apart. I was dealing with some devastating personal and family tragedies. I lost my direction, gave up on sports, gave up on life—and even lost my faith for a while. By 1995, I was homeless and living in Dome Village in downtown L.A. That’s where I first encountered cricket. I didn’t want anything to do with it at first, but I gave it a shot. A few months later, I found myself on a plane to England with a group called the Homeless 11 Cricket Team. 

That trip changed everything for me. I’ll never forget the moment—after our first game, both teams came together in one room to break bread. We shared stories, food, laughter. It was nothing like the sports I grew up playing. This was about community, respect, cultural exchange. It felt spiritual. It woke something up in me that I thought was gone. 

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That experience made me wonder: if cricket could change my life at age 45, what could it do for kids in Compton? Kids growing up with violence and gangs all around them. Kids who needed something more. 

So in 1996, I helped start the Compton Cricket Club. I started coaching at Centennial High School, including my own foster son. Some of those boys had never been on a plane—never even dreamed of leaving the country. But through cricket, they traveled to England, Ireland, Australia. They left the streets behind and became fathers, homeowners, business owners. 

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Later on, I taught at Sheenway School & Culture Center and launched the Sheenway Serendipity Cricket Club. Over the years, I’ve introduced cricket to young people all over Compton, Watts, and L.A. I’ve watched this game turn lives around—just like it did mine. 

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That’s why I founded the Southern California Junior Cricket Academy (SCJCA). Our mission is simple: use cricket to build character, create opportunity, and change lives. We work with youth ages 10 to 17, combining competitive cricket with mentorship, life skills, and academic support. We’ve built partnerships to provide scholarships, and our players compete in tournaments from Van Nuys to San Diego—and we plan to go international. 

This summer, we’re launching our first-ever SCJCA League right here in Compton. It’ll be the first of its kind—featuring co-ed teams and an all-girls team. We’re hosting matches at home and away, and in the future, we’ll be taking our young athletes overseas to experience the world through cricket. 

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And this June 7th (2025), something incredible is happening: we’re cutting the ribbon on Compton’s first official cricket pitch at Kelly Park. That’s been a dream of mine for decades, and it’s finally becoming a reality. 

SCJCA isn’t just about cricket. It’s about healing. It’s about growth. It’s about giving our youth the same second chance I was given. 

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From being homeless in L.A. to coaching youth on international fields—this is the mission I live every day. And I truly believe we’re just getting started. 

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Your In-Kind donations will help further this mission.