Jerrod Mustaf has dedicated much of his free time away from basketball to helping young people, as well as building multiple businesses such as a bookstore.
He speaks in a low, rolling voice and easily shifts topics of conversation. However, he remains an individual of many contradictions.
Table of Contents
Early Life and Education
Jerrod Mustaf has become known not only as an outstanding basketball player at DeMatha High School in Hyattsville but also for his two seasons with the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Beyond sports, however, Jerrod stands out as more than just an athlete. He’s become known as an upstanding businessperson, family man and advocate for social responsibility issues.
Mustaf, who is black, initially agreed to an interview but later declined. Additionally, his attorney Michael Statham declined to provide further comment.
Mustaf was raised in Whiteville, North Carolina by both his mother and father and is the founder of Overtime Elite Academy – an international basketball academy for youth from various parts of the world – as well as head coach of Team Bias – an honoring former University of Maryland star Len Bias who passed away.
Professional Career
Mustaf has maintained an ethical character despite his past with women. He coaches basketball at an AAU organization in Mitchellville and serves as president of the Street Basketball Association based out of Washington.
As executive director of Take Charge Juvenile Diversion Program and founder/head basketball coach for Take Charge Pride AAU organization. Furthermore, he serves as sports ambassador for Gambia while being professional NBA blogger for Supersport/Multivision.
Mustaf played for both the New York Knicks and Phoenix Suns during his NBA career from 1990-1994. Born in Whiteville, North Carolina and selected as an early first round draftee (17th overall pick in 1990 NBA Draft), Mustaf earned 17th pick out of 173rd overall drafted in first round draft of 1990.
Achievement and Honors
Jerrod Mustaf has an easygoing voice that smoothly glides between subjects. His opinions range from the inherent unfairness of mandatory minimum sentences to sanctuary cities; his tone is friendly and engaging – any nonprofit would benefit greatly from having him on its side as its front-facing figure.
He learned his activism from his father, Shaar. Taking advantage of leverage himself, Shaar taught Jerrod how to become an activist and Black Panther himself; since then he has used this skill set in helping children and young black men through founding organizations such as Maryland Street Basketball Association and Take Charge Juvenile Diversion Program.
He is also the coach of Team Bias, a group of high school players named after Len Bias who died in an accident that was believed to be drug related. Team Bias competes in tournaments to attract college scouts.
Personal Life
Mustaf’s life story could be told with one sentence: after leading an unpredictable life with women, he found solace and decided to lead a life dedicated to community service and youth from inner cities.
Prosecutors led by K.C. Scull – who oversaw numerous high-profile cases like the Buddhist temple murders – were not buying it and were planning to call Hayes’ cousin Levonnie Wooten as a witness in court proceedings.
Mustaf is known for his easygoing manner and flowing dialogue on issues from mandatory minimum sentences’ inherent injustice to sanctuary cities’ benefits. A versatile conversationalist, Mustaf serves as CEO of US Elite Basketball and executive director of Take Charge Program – two nonprofits established by his father in 1990 to aid disenfranchised youth outside Washington, DC.
Net Worth
Jerrod Mustaf was short on NBA experience but made quite an impression during that short tenure. His foundation Take Charge now serves tens of thousands of children each year and the death of his father only reinforced his determination to lead within the black community.
Team Bias, named in honor of Len Bias, travels to tournaments and exposes players to college scouts.
In 1998, Mustaf reached an agreement to settle a civil suit filed by Althea Hayes’ family against him for her death. Additionally, Mustaf has fallen into financial difficulty; being arrested for marijuana possession, filing bankruptcy and losing court cases were just some of his travails; as was fighting with girlfriend over money issues. It’s rare for both prosecutor and defense teams to agree on how a murder occurred – as this often creates tension within both teams.