Ja Morant is the face of the Seton Hall Pirates. Sorry, the Memphis Grizzlies. You might think how one could confuse a college team with an NBA franchise. Ja Morant, whose high-flying style of play is loved by fans, might have a secret brother. A highly marketable athlete but his off-court antics are something brands might want to stay away from. While it is hard for anyone to replicate Ja’s exhilarating dunks, this player has similarities with Ja in one area: looks. 

Chaunce Jenkins is a 22-year-old guard who joined Seton Hall Pirates from the Old Dominion Monarchs this May. During his time with the Monarchs, he was averaging an impressive 15.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. Standing at a similar height to Morant and exhibiting comparable basketball instincts, Jenkins has drawn comparisons to the Grizzlies star, making people do a double take. Could there be more to this connection than just talent? There is no connection between them. Ja only has one sibling, a sister, Teniya Morant.

Jenkins was always seen as an underdog. Because of his small size, no one believed that he could play basketball at the collegiate level. He attended Menchville High School, averaging 16 points per game. As a senior, he led his school to a 20-4 record and also a district title in 2020. Jenkins went viral for a dunk, which landed him on ESPN’s SportsCenter top 10! He even bagged the Peninsula District Player of the Year and made it to the second-team all-state. But this resume wasn’t enough for college coaches.

Wichita State finally recruited Jenkins, but he received very little game time during his freshman and sophomore years. Only scoring 48 points in his two seasons there. A realization set upon him that he was not in Wichita’s plans and entered the transfer portal. 

He chose Old Dominion University as his next destination. Finally gaining game time with the Monarchs, he played 31 games, starting in 17 of them. With five games scoring 20+ points, including 23 in the final regular-season game against conference leader Marshall. He scored in double digits in 23 games, including a streak of six straight and 11 out of 12. Coming off the bench, he dropped 25 points against Virginia Tech (11/17) and showcased his athleticism as an explosive leaper who frequently attacked the rim. He earned Third-Team All-Sun Belt Conference honors after finishing the 2022-23 season with averages of 13.5 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.

After two seasons with the Monarchs and leading the team in scoring, Jenkins has selected Seton Hall to play his final season of college basketball. So he clearly is not related to Ja Morant at all. Who is in the Grizzlies star’s family then?

Ja Morant’s Family

It is no surprise that basketball runs in the Morant family’s blood. Ja’s sister Teniya is also a basketball player, an emerging athlete in her own right. In early 2023, she announced that she had received a scholarship from Mississippi Valley State. However, there is less clarity on whether she has continued her basketball career with Mississippi Valley State. But one thing is clear: she is trying to build a name for herself.

Ja’s mother, Jamie Shanks Morant, hails from Georgia and is a former collegiate athlete. She was a talented multi-sport athlete, excelling in softball and serving as a point guard on her high school basketball team. At first, Ja wouldn’t believe her mother that she could ball too. But after visiting Georgia with her, she revealed, “Then it was, ‘OK’. He seen my point guard awards in shooting and all that. Then it was, OK. Now I can listen to her. Now she got it.”

“I don’t want to get too emotional up here but I just want to thank him for everything he’s done for me. He made me who I am today and I’m just thankful for it all.” These were the words of Ja Morant when Commissioner Adam Silver announced him as the No. 2 overall pick in 2019. Tee Morant, Ja’s father, was himself a basketball player, having played alongside Hall of Famer Ray Allen in High School.

However, Tee could not make it to the NBA but is living his dream through his son. Ja Morant underwent extensive training with his father, who concentrated on improving his dribbling, passing, and shooting skills to help him develop as a basketball player.

Morant shared that his father’s journey had a profound impact on him, telling reporters at the 2019 NBA Combine that his father inspired him more than any basketball player. “I really didn’t have any players who inspire me,” Morant said. “It’s the situation with my dad. He had the opportunity to play professional basketball and he gave it up when my mom called and said she was pregnant with me.“