Lamont “Momo” Jones hasn’t lived in Harlem for close to a decade, but the neighborhood is still his lifeblood. That’s why he wants to give back and help young people like himself who need guidance.

Later on this month, Jones will host the first ever Momo Jones Skills Academy. The first session will be held at a YMCA in downtown Tuscon, Ariz., from June 20-24, and the second session will be held at Riverbank State Park here in Manhattan from June 25-29. Both events are $100 per kid. The program accepts boys and girls between the ages of 10 and 18, with money going to put together backpacks for children going to school.

Jones, a Harlem native, played college basketball at Iona College and the University of Arizona (where he contributed to an upset of Duke in the Sweet 16 of the 2011 NCAA Tournament). The former Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Player of the Year’s post-college career has involved a short stint with the Boston Celtics, and he’s currently playing professional basketball in Japan.

While speaking with the AmNews, Jones directed our attention to the foundation’s website, where he further pontificated on the goals of the organization.

“The Momo Jones Foundation is about helping children maintain and build goals,” states Jones on the foundation’s website. “This foundation is made up to allow children from the ages of 10-18 understand the importance of believing in one’s self—helping kids to understand that anything is possible and that they don’t have to become what society tells them they should be. They can become what they want to become. Most importantly, we strive to show kids that you aren’t what happens to you, you are what you choose to be!’”

Jones wants to emphasize the message of doing what you can to achieve your dreams, and uses basketball to lure kids in who otherwise might not be as receptive to the message.

“We had about maybe one or two people that would help with the kids growing up,” Jones said to the AmNews. “I lived in Philly. I lived in Virginia. I lived in Arizona. So I haven’t lived here in about six to seven years. I have a son that lives here, so coming back to visit … it changes.

“When I was growing up, people still stood on the corner and did the little crazy things, but now, even more so, you have little kids [who are] running the block or the older guys influencing the kids to do the bad things instead of encouraging them to go to follow their dreams, allowing them to be what society already portrays us as,” continued Jones. “I kind of wanted to come back and help. I wanted to put it in New York. I grew up playing in Riverbank State Park, and I wanted to have it at a place that was kind of dear to my heart. A couple of my coaches that I grew up playing with work at Riverbank State Park.”

So what will the camp entail?

“From 9 [a.m.] to 5 [p.m.], these kids learn basic fundamentals of the game … divided by ages,” said Jones. “If a kid gets better during the week, he might be able to move up to another age group. Every day of the camp, they’ll learn a different fundamental of the game. After lunch, it will be motivational speaking and presentations from the organization Rise Up.”

Rise Up is a nonprofit organization devoted to the personal and professional development of high school students in inner-city areas, with the hope of turning them into young professionals. Part of that includes being able to speak in front of people—something that Jones had to fight through when he was growing up.

“Me growing up, I wasn’t able to talk in front of a classroom without shaking or being nervous,” said Jones. “Media wasn’t a problem, but standing in front of my peers scared me to death. So they’ll be a part of this camp, where kids will learn how to speak in large rooms of people.”

In Jones’ young life, he’s had to deal with the death of his father from a senseless murder at a young age and becoming a father himself while he was in college. Now married with two kids, Jones, who plays professionally in several countries, wants to leave the kids in his neighborhood with one message.

“Anything is possible,” Jones said.

You can find more information on the camp at its aforementioned website or by email at foundationmomo@yahoo.com.