Where I'm from and growing up, Longview, Texas, it was impossible to find a role model in person. Our average role model was either on a rap song or was good with a basketball or football. Basically it was rap or go the league. But it wasn't like that for these 8 young founders of ELITE.
Elite is an organization formed to give back to the children in Longview that includes college and professional football players such as JaMycal Hasty from Baylor, Travin Howard from TCU, and The Los Angeles Rams. From giving out scholarships to students at Longview High School, to throwing the charity basketball funded by Trent Williams, a Longview native. Last Thursday, I interviewed Shaun Lloyd who is one of the founding fathers of ELITE. He gave me details about what the meaning of the ELITE is and what it represents.
How did you come up with the idea and found the right people for the group?
"The idea was born our freshman year. It was originally 8 of us and we just sort of coined it after the "Elite 8" in college basketball and made it our own. The meaning of Elite to us is Every Little Inch Takes Effort. We've expanded from 8 members to 20 now; majority of us being members for at least the past 5 years. The selection process at the beginning was organic. We were all brothers that loved playing sports, but as we moved forward throughout high school the criteria, so to say, became that you not only had to excel athletically but academically as well. The original nucleus of members was primarily based in us being great friends and sharing great bonds."
Who was included in the original 8 before it expanded to 20? Also, what was the motivation of giving back to the community and making y’all a positive platform for the kids in Longview?
"That's a tough one. I believe it was Jamycal, Kendal, Trez, Kori, Jaylon, Dez, Gage and myself. I think the motivation behind us investing efforts and energy back is that we were those kids growing up searching for role models and inspiration beyond what we may have witnessed during the day to day. We all remember, as a collective, how impactful it was for us to interact with different role models and mentors growing up even if it occurred on a small scale. So the goal is to amplify that and stay in tune with the community, while also showing them the limitless opportunities beyond it. Obviously we're early on in that process and there's still a lot of work that can be done throughout the community but the short and long term goal of Elite is to impact and be involved within it."
With the Elite Scholarship you gave out to the students at Longview High School and the celebrity basketball game with Trent Williams, how was the process of each of them and how did it caught the attention of Trent to fund the event?
Provided by Shaun Lloyd, Personal Photo
"To be completely honest, the Elite scholarship was just the first thing we all came into agreement upon moving on as a collective. It obviously was a great opportunity for not only us as LHS graduates, but for students as well, to be able to get rewarded for being exemplary in school and having some of that roll over into college funding can be exciting and fulfilling. And the event with Trent, he obviously a role model and has invested heavily back into the community over the years in a variety of ways, and the one we've been involved in is his annual football camp. I know last year he and his team wanted to organize a celebrity basketball game to coincide with the game like the one that took place this year but they couldn't organize it in time enough to get it accomplished. I believe it ended up being the perfect storm with everything that's been going on within the community over the last year. Our Lobos got that ever escaping state title and we've been celebrating that success every since. Hopefully this energy carries over and they go get another. That's what it's all about pushing everything that we've accomplished and overcome forward and pouring it into the youth and community."
With the passing of Nipsey Hussle, how did his influence impact for y’all to continue to provide for the community and what is one thing you could tell the youth?
"Nipsey's impact is still immense. His passing on was untimely and extremely traumatic but it really focused us about the opportunity that we have and how we can't take it for granted or leave nothing to chance. I would tell the youth to stay dangerous mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Equip yourself with the tools to further not only yourself but those around you as well and try to leave everything you come in contact with better then when you found it. The marathon continues!"
Last two questions, what does the future has in store for Elite and what can the people who didn’t know about Elite can do to help out?
Elite official Instagram page.
Personal Photo
"The community and beyond can expect a lot; we expect a lot. I don't wanna disclose too much but we have a few more surprises that are coming no later then this fall. We're working. We may not always make a ton of noise or be at the forefront of everything but we're always working in some fashion.The can collaborate with and even start their own journey of building a foundation brick by brick that helps themselves and others as well. That's what it's all about, empowerment."
With Representation matters playing a part in the Longview community, Elite has exactly been showing the positive platform for what it stands for. So please, if you ever see one of them in the town please give them their flowers because some people will never get their flowers while they can still smell them!
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