If you didn’t know Jesser before he was announced as the latest addition to La Familia for The Basketball Tournament, you’re not alone. The YouTube sensation with 31 million subscribers is a hit with the TikTok generation — my eight-year-old nephew informed me he was a massive deal in his world — but older folks not chronically online may not have a reason to come across the basketball content that helped make him famous.
For those unfamiliar, now is the time to learn more about him before he makes his way to Lexington and joins the Kentucky alumni team in TBT. He’s gonna be around, so why not embrace him as one of our own — plus the ridiculously large platform and exposure that comes with him?
If it helps, he’s got some prior Kentucky connections that explain his addition. For starters, Willie Cauley-Stein is a friend and joined Jesser for one of his YouTube challenges, 64 College Hoopers Compete for $10,000!
The former Wildcat got knocked out in the first round on a banked-in prayer from someone half his height, one of the top highlights of the video (9:49). Then he returns as a clutch defender to help kick a Kansas alum out of the competition (40:00).
That connection is the one La Familia used to help promote his commitment to join the roster — “Jesser & Willie Cauley-Stein are now friends & TEAMMATES!” they wrote.
But did you know he also has a prior connection with Kentucky assistant coach Jason Hart?
Hart, as you know, used to be the head coach of the NBA’s G-League Ignite, working with the likes of Jaden Hardy, Scoot Henderson, Matas Buzelis and Ron Holland from 2021-2024 until the program shut down due to the changing landscape of college basketball that allowed players to make money with NIL and minimized the need for an alternative path to the NBA. Likely overqualified — “If he hadn’t taken the job with Ignite, he would be a head coach somewhere else right now,” Mark Pope said in November — there was an obvious fit at Kentucky until his next move to take the keys of a program.
During his time with Ignite, he actually hosted Jesser for a week-long tryout, every step documented on the newest La Familia hooper’s YouTube channel. That video now has 9.6 million views, posted a year ago.
In the video, Hart works out Jesser in a shooting drill — “He’s working hard and we’re gonna keep working,” the former Ignite coach said afterward — before giving him some advice in the locker room before his first game.
“You ready to play?” Hart asked Jesser. “I need you to hustle, I need you to be a good team guy. If you’re open, shoot it. If you’re not open, pass it and play defense. Have fun, that’s more important.”
J-Hart then showed Jesser his uniform waiting for him at his locker.
“Big number 1-7 in the house!”
Things did not go well for Jesser the rest of the way, unfortunately — he didn’t suit up in two games and eventually got cut to close out the week. Hart shared some words of wisdom on his way out, letting him know it was a positive experience for everyone, even if he wasn’t ready to become a pro quite yet.
“You showed great effort and the guys appreciated having you around,” Hart told Jesser. “I thought it was a great experience for our guys to get to know you as well. Our doors are always open, you’re always free to come hang and work out with our guys. We appreciate you. Anytime you want to come to a game, give me a call.”
For the full video, take a look below:
Time to see if he gets closer to the court in Lexington with La Familia at TBT.


The post Did you know new La Familia member Jesser once tried out for the G-League Ignite with Jason Hart? appeared first on On3.