How Family, Fire, and Faith Are Fueling Jake Stephens’ NBA Journey

By Andrew M. Pitzer

Columnist/Broadcaster/Analyst

HomeTeamSports TV

Bunker Hill, WV–

When Jake Stephens walks into a gym, you notice. At 6-foot-11, the Bunker Hill, West Virginia native naturally draws attention. But it’s not just his size—it’s his polish, his poise, and the fire that lives behind his game. A stretch big with a sweet shooting stroke, a feel for the game, and the heart of a hometown kid, Jake is still chasing the dream. Still fighting for a spot in the NBA. Still working.

But if you ask him, the story isn’t about him. Not really. It’s about his circle. It’s about the ones who laid the bricks before him—the foundation—who helped him believe, and more importantly, made sure he never stopped growing.

The Coach at Home: Ron Stephens

Jake didn’t just grow up in a basketball family. He grew up in his basketball family. His dad, Ron Stephens, has been a longtime coach, mentor, and motivator—not just on the hardwood, but in the day-to-day grind of life.

“Growing up with Dad as my coach meant I never got to take a rep off,” Jake once said. “He held me to a standard, but he never made it about pressure. It was always about love.”

Ron wasn’t the screaming-on-the-bench type. He was detailed. Intentional. He saw early what many others overlooked—Jake’s ability to see the game two steps ahead. From driveway post-ups to midnight shooting sessions, Ron was always there. Not just correcting Jake’s footwork, but shaping his mentality.

The discipline, the IQ, the emotional control—it started at home. The reason Jake can play with confidence and composure at the pro level today is because he grew up being coached by someone who cared less about the result and more about the man Jake was becoming.

Brotherhood Built Different: Cam and RJ

Jake isn’t just a coach’s son—he’s also the younger brother. His older brothers Cam and RJ Stephens weren’t just role models. They were rivals. They were teachers. They were best friends.

“People think sibling rivalries are about who’s better,” Jake said with a grin. “But for us, it was about who was going to push the other harder.”

Cam, Mr. Fundamental, and RJ, the Flamethrower. Whether it was backyard 1-on-1 battles that ended in scratched arms and scraped knees, or in-house debates about footwork and form, the competitiveness was constant. And through it all, a bond was built—one not rooted in basketball alone, but in blood, loyalty, and an unwavering belief in one another.

The Stephens boys didn’t just compete. They built a standard—a culture in their house that valued resilience over reputation, and preparation over praise. Cam and RJ never let Jake believe he’d “made it.” Every level he reached—from Musselman to VMI, from Chattanooga to the G League—they reminded him there was another level left to climb.

Never Satisfied, Never Done

Now, with years of college dominance, two professional seasons overseas, and G League stints with the Stockton Kings and Capital City Go-Go under his belt—not to mention Summer League appearances with both the Atlanta Hawks and Charlotte Hornets—Jake is knocking on the NBA door.

He knows how close he is. He also knows how far he’s come.

But Jake Stephens isn’t the type to measure success in accolades. His game is still expanding. He’s working on mobility. On pick-and-roll switches. On reacting quicker, defending more space, reading angles like a guard.

“I’m motivated by how much I don’t know yet,” he says. “There are still so many ways I want to grow. My shot can always get quicker. My reads can always get sharper. My footwork, my balance, my mindset—it can all improve.”

This hunger—to evolve in ways he can’t even articulate yet—is what separates Jake. He’s not just playing to make a roster. He’s training like a guy who plans to stay once he gets there.

More Than A Dream — It’s a Mission

When Jake puts on a jersey now, he’s not just representing himself. He’s representing Musselman High School. He’s representing every small-town kid who’s been overlooked. He’s representing the driveway lessons with Ron, the backyard wars with Cam and RJ, the quiet nights in Spain where the game was all he had.

But make no mistake—Jake Stephens doesn’t want a handout. He wants a challenge.

He wants to prove that a big man who shoots like a wing, passes like a guard, and defends with discipline can make a real impact in the modern NBA. And he knows it’ll take more work than most could imagine.

“My family gave me a platform, but they also gave me a promise,” he says. “They told me to dream big, but stay grounded. I’ve got both feet under me. Now it’s just about walking through the next door.”

A Final Note

Jake Stephens is proof that greatness doesn’t need a spotlight to grow—it just needs soil, support, and sweat. From Bunker Hill to basketball’s biggest stages, he carries his family with him every step.

Ron, Cam, RJ—they’re not just part of his story. They are his story.

And Jake? He’s still writing it. Page by page. Rep by rep. Dream by dream.