SAN JOSE, Calif. - San José State men's basketball guard Myron (MJ) Amey Jr. has been named the April recipient of the CalHope Courage Award.
The award, presented monthly since February 2022, honors student-athletes at California colleges and universities who have overcome the stress, anxiety, and mental trauma associated with personal hardships and adversity. It is presented by the College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA), in association with The Associated Press; CalHOPE, DHCS’ crisis counseling and support resource; and the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Mental Well-Being.
Amey Jr.'s journey is not just a story of athletic triumph, but also a testament to resilience in
the face of profound mental health challenges. Despite averaging 27 points per game as a senior at
Vacaville High School, Amey Jr. did not receive a Division I scholarship offer. His disappointment was exacerbated with the passing of his beloved Uncle Bobby, which left Amey Jr. adrift in grief and unresolved emotions as COVID-19 restrictions prevented a proper funeral.
To continue his basketball dream, Amey Jr. traveled 2600 miles to Scotland Preparatory School in
Pennsylvania where he led the league in scoring. He also worked as a DoorDash driver to earn money to travel to a college showcase in Phoenix with his former AAU team. His performance earned him a scholarship offer from San José State.
As a freshman, Amey Jr. averaged 9.5 points before his season was derailed after 25 games due to a foot injury that would require surgery. It was then that the loss of basketball in his life and the emotions from the loss of his uncle surface and Amey Jr. began self-harm and first attempted to take his life. Despite being treated and released from a behavioral health center, he continued to harm himself. He eventually agreed to see a therapist and with her guidance began journaling and found comfort and acceptance.
When his 2022-’23 season was cut short after just nine games, this time with an ankle injury, he worried that he would once again be unable to accept life without basketball. Instead, he leaned in on his love of music and expressed his feelings in a rap song. Then he attended the Black Student-Athlete Summit and for the first time in his life, built connections with people outside of basketball. These experiences inspired him to create his TikTok account @win_a_day_wit_MJ with which he shares and offers mental wellness tips.
“I felt like everything I had was because of basketball, so when I got injured, I didn’t know what to do
and felt alone,” said Amey. “I would hate it if somebody that I love had to go through what I went through. I hope that by speaking out about mental health I can help others to seek help.”
Amey Jr. entered the 2023-24 season both physically and mentally fit and results showed on the court as he played in all 32 games and led Spartans in scoring at 15.7 ppg, including a season-high 30 against Boise State in January. He was named an honorable mention for the Mountain West All-Conference Team.
Amey Jr. is the third San José State student-athlete to receive the CalHOPE Courage Award, joining Jennah Loggins and Nik Trapani.
Stories about all CalHOPE Courage Award honorees are available at CalHOPECourageAward.com and via social media at @CalHOPE_Courage.
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