Brent Wright made the decision to retire from professional basketball In June 2014, after a hugely successful 15-year career overseas, and left his role with the Belgian BC Oostende.
Wright departed Europe, flew home to Miami, and when he arrived he got in his car and drove straight to the next chapter of his life, the B. Wright Leadership Academy, a school he established in his home neighborhood, Miami’s Liberty City.
The school started as a conversation with his uncle as an idea for life after professional sports, and by August 2013, 60 inner-city Miami youth were about to become the first students at Brent Wright’s school, a private school funded single-handedly by Wright.
Born and raised in Miami, Wright was a two-time state champ and Top 35 recruit in the country coming out of Miami Senior High School. He went on to have collegiate success at the University of Florida, playing in three consecutive NCAA Tournaments, including the Final Four.
After going undrafted in the 2001 NBA draft, the 6-foot-9 power forward took his skillset overseas and never looked back. Wright went on to win nine championships over the next 14 years. Six Belgian championships, and one championship respectively in each of the professional Croatian, Latvian and Swedish basketball leagues.
This August, the B. Wright Leadership Academy celebrated its fifth school year welcoming some 230 students.
“The majority of our students come from low-income and single-parent homes,” said Wright, whose mission it is to find these students the necessary scholarships to offset the operating expenses of owning a private school. The rest of the school’s funding continues to come from the pocket of Brent Wright.
“It is a testament to what we have been able to accomplish up to this point, and without having to depend on grants or sponsors,” Wright said. “We are now looking to secure additional sources of funding from grants and donations so we can provide resources for our students which we are in desperate need of. Refreshing our computer lab and obtaining additional technological resources are top on our list.”
The leadership academy offers the Web-based program, Trivie, to all students to enhance continuous learning and is the only school in Miami-Dade County to do so. In addition, the school offers an impressive portfolio of programs that includes a focus on robotics, Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship and Rhymes With Reason. Free meals are offered and student and family services are provided.
College preparation assistance also is available through an established relationship with Miami-Dade Community College, where the majority of the graduating students will continue their education.
Most importantly, the school boasts an unprecedented environment for students.
“We create an atmosphere of compassion and patience,” Wright explained. “We give opportunities and second chances, tolerating students more than other schools have in an effort to understand that their attitude or actions are a result of frustration.
Frustrations that may stem from their surrounding environment, life at home, or not being on the level of education that they need to be.
“Ultimately, our responsibility is to serve and because of our approach, I have personally seen students do a complete turn around in just one school year.”
When asked about Lebron James opening his own school, Wright applauded James on giving back to his community and hopes that it will inspire more athletes to follow suit.
“Obviously he has a much larger platform than I do, but the premise is the same,” Wright said. “We both have be given the ability to impact the lives of youth that are growing up in our hometown and the opportunity to remind them that there are people out there that care.”
Wright’s goals for the future of his school are to coontinue to find resources and establish connections that will benefit his students, their families and his staff of 32 selfless individuals.
For more information regarding the B. Wright Leadership Academy and how to donate, visit www.bwrightla.com or contact Brent Wright at brent@bwrightla.com.
