With nary a hint of hesitation, Kendreyas White will gladly accept any invitation to display his prowess on a basketball court.
Naturally, the recent Carman-Ainsworth graduate jumped at the chance to participate in this year’s editions of theMid-Michigan I-75 Hardwood Classic and the Dreamz Two Reality All-American Game.
“When they reached out to me, it was an easy decision to play in both games,” said White, a first-team Saginaw Valley League performer who will continue his career at Mott Community College. “I mean, I’m a hooper. That’s what I do.”
The events represent just a portion of all that the Dreamz Two Reality basketball organization does. Founded in 2019 by former Flint Hamady standout, college and professional player Roy Jackson Jr., Dreamz Two Reality’s mission is preparing young basketball players for college and future success on and off the court.
The 34-year-old Jackson and his dedicated team also run a free Back Two School Basketball Camp and Backpack Giveaway each August and began a Community Turkey Drive last year.
In between events, Jackson is busy matching budding basketball talent with college scholarship offers by building online player profiles, breaking down video, placing players in showcase events and reaching out to college coaches. In fact, his phone is loaded with more than 150 college coaching contacts, and he has helped more than 100 high school players (and counting) secure college offers.
Roy Jackson Jr. said he started Dreamz Two Reality to give back to the hometown that means so much to him and to help kids get the same basketball opportunities beyond high school that he did.
“I started Dreamz Two Reality to give back to the hometown that means so much to me and to help kids get the same basketball opportunities beyond high school that I did,” Jackson said. “We have a good number of college coaches at our games scouting the talent. It means so much when a player we’ve been working with signs and expresses how thankful they are.”
Kendreyas White, wearing the white DTRB South 24 jersey, accepted the invitation to display his prowess on the basketball court. The recent Carman-Ainsworth graduate participated in this year’s editions of the Mid-Michigan I-75 Hardwood Classic and the Dreamz Two Reality All-American Game.
White was on the winning side in the latest Dreamz Two Reality All-American Game, helping the South team to a 133-114 victory over the North squad on May 9 at Hamady High School.
Flint Beecher head coach Charlie Harris guided the South, while Flint Southwestern’s DeMarcus Jackson, Roy’s cousin, led the North. Michigan’s 2026 Mr. Basketball winner Kelvin Torbert Jr., the son of 2001 Mr. Basketball honoree and Flint Northwestern and Michigan State legend Kelvin Torbert, was named the game’s Most Valuable Player after pouring in 47 points for the South and taking home a 50-inch smart TV.
Torbert Jr., who is headed to Bowling Green State University, also won the slam dunk contest. He was one of five future NCAA Division I players taking part, including Jah Hatchett (Fairfield University), Jordan Sigmon (Western Michigan), Chance Houser (Detroit Mercy) and Isaiah Theodile (Oakland).
Roy Jackson Jr. poses with Kelvin Torbert Jr., 2026 Michigan Mr. Basketball. He had a game high 47 points. He was born in Flint and now lives in East Lansing.
Amariyunn Blythe, a former Hamady and Davison star who spent last season at Andrews Osborne Academy in Ohio, finished with 36 points for the South.
Jaylin Cooper of Saginaw Heritage, who has signed with Ferris State, topped the North with 40 points. The South’s Rudy Chapman of East Kentwood, a Saginaw Valley State signee, won the three-point contest.
Music by DJ Chef Nate of Z92.7 FM, raffles and prize giveaways also highlighted the event.
Jackson has been elated to see his vision become reality.
“Part of my inspiration for starting our All-American game in 2024 was growing up watching the McDonald’s All-American Game and everything surrounding it — the uniforms they wear, the backpacks they get,” he said. “I wanted to create that same atmosphere with our event. Most of the players in the game are already signed, and it gives them one more chance to compete at the high school level against other top players.”
White also was part of the South squad, coached by Lake Fenton’s Jalen Miller, for the I-75 Hardwood Classic on April 18 at Mount Morris High School. The contest differs from the All-American Game in that it featured 20 of the best senior players from Genesee, Saginaw and Shiawassee counties.
White’s teammates included Flushing’s Ray Neither, an honorable mention All-Stater, along with Georyeon Cannon (Grand Blanc), Jeffery Turner (Flint Elite), Kevin Blair (Lake Fenton) and Jordan McClain (Hamady).
However, the North team, guided by Mount Morris’ Antonioe McMillion, topped the South, 79-73, as Blythe scored a game-high 27 points to earn MVP honors with roughly a dozen college coaches in attendance.
“My purpose for the I-75 Classic is giving talented players from Mid-Michigan a chance to compete against each other in front of college coaches for a chance to be signed if they are not already,” Jackson said. “It’s a joy for me to watch that, and I always love how huge landing a scholarship is for a player’s entire family and how they get the opportunity to watch them play college basketball.”
White was the only player who spent last season at a Genesee County high school to play in both games.
“In a lot of ways, it was like a normal game of hoop with a little different level of competition,” he said. “Getting all the different players, who all like to do certain things their own way, to play together was a little challenging, but I loved the chance to show my talent and play with different teammates.”
White also displayed his talent just two days prior to the I-75 Classic when he totaled a game-high 29 points, leading the Gold team to a 109-108 win over the Black team in the annual Bruin Club All-Star Classic at Mott Community College.
“The work Roy Jackson and his organization are doing is important for basketball in the area,” White said. “They’re helping keep dreams alive for a lot of kids.”
For some of those kids, that starts with the Back Two School Basketball Camp at Hamady, which last year drew more than 60 boys and girls ages 9-12 eager to hone their skills, participate in drills and learn life lessons. Campers also were provided medals, certificates and backpacks full of school supplies.
Assisting Jackson were fellow former Hamady standouts Chuck Taylor, Aaron Neeley, Thad Williams and Lamont Torbert Jr., along with former Flint Southwestern star Rick Dent.
This year’s camp is slated for Aug. 15.
“The camp is something we started for the younger kids because they are the future of Flint-area basketball and could very well be playing in the All-American Game one day,” Jackson said. “I love seeing those kids come out and want to learn — not just about how important things like teamwork and communication are in basketball, but outside of basketball as well.”
Jackson also stressed the importance of contributions and donations from businesses in making everything possible. That’s especially true when it comes to the Turkey Drive, which resulted in 200 turkeys being distributed at his father Teddy Jackson’s business, DeloRoys Complete Autobody and Paint, on North Saginaw Street.
“So many local businesses came together for us to do another important thing for the community,” he said. “It was incredible.”
Jackson’s own love of basketball began around age 4 when his father, a former Flint Northwestern standout, began teaching him the game. Jackson’s talent blossomed from that point, and in eighth grade he caught the eye of legendary Hamady varsity coach Archy Robinson, who invited him to become a rare four-year varsity player for the Hawks and start at point guard.
“Coach Archy taught me things that stuck with me and that I have always passed along to players I mentor, like pounding the ball on the court to control it better, using elbows to create room for shots and the importance of leading a team from the point guard spot,” Jackson said of Robinson, who went 332-59 in 20 seasons at Hamady from 1992-2013.
Jackson then took his talents to Grand Rapids Community College, helping the Raiders reach the National Junior College Athletic Association national tournament as a sophomore. The next year, Jackson realized his dream of playing Division I college basketball at Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
He was only there briefly, however, before his career took a significant turn.
“My next goal was to play professional basketball, and I left Pine Bluff when I was able to sign with a team in Italy,” Jackson said. “This allowed me to earn some money, gain knowledge and start building relationships in the sport.”
During a globetrotting seven-year professional career, Jackson also played for teams in Spain, Croatia, Mexico and Qatar, along with minor league teams in the United States. He found his greatest success with the Bardos team in Jerez, Mexico, averaging nearly 35 points per game along with 8.3 assists and eight rebounds during the 2016-17 season. Jackson also scored 55 points in a single game.
“They even put up a 12-foot banner of me in the town, which is still there,” he said. “I try to get back and visit Jerez about every two years.”
Jackson returned to the United States for good in late 2018 and gradually began building Dreamz Two Reality into what the organization is today. The logo depicts his son, Legend, holding a basketball at age 2.
Just prior to last year’s Dreamz Two Reality All-American Game, Jackson received a letter of commendation for his work from Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
“Your impact on the Flint community and beyond with this event is a testament to what leadership, passion and service can achieve,” the letter read in part. “Thank you for being a role model and helping shape a brighter future for Michigan’s youth.”
Beyond the organization, Jackson regularly plays in celebrity and charity games across the country and scouts talent for elite prep schools in Bradenton, Florida (Victory Rock Prep) and Las Vegas (Trinity Prep).
A future goal Jackson hopes to turn into reality is becoming a sports agent.
“That way, I can take the knowledge I’ve gained from building this platform from the ground up and help players earn more than scholarships,” he said.
