Ketchikan native, basketball celebrity Jesse LeBeau at Colony High for block party Saturday

PALMER — Jesse LeBeau grew up an underdog. Now his successful career in acting and professional basketball has brought him to MSBSD to share his message with students to never give up.

LeBeau will appear at the MSBSD Spring into activity ‘Block Party’ hosted from 1-5 p.m. at Colony High School on Saturday, Mar 31. The Block Party will offer food tricks, a basketball skills clinic with LeBeau and 1-on-1 games.

LeBeau delivered a message to students at an assembly at PHS after rousing the crowd with his nifty dribbling and basketball tricks, LeBeau showed a video of Shia LeBeouf before interacting with PHS students and sharing his personal story.

“Taking action is the biggest thing that separates winning and losing in our lives,” said LeBeau.

LeBeau grew up near Ketchikan on an island with no roads or stores and was always told he was too short to be a professional basketball player. Through tireless early mornings in the gym, LeBeau worked his way into the spotlight as a player in high school and later college. He would play streetball under the name ‘Spin Cycle’ for his distinctive spin move.

LeBeau called up PHS football player Kalen Huddleston to play a bear during a reenactment of an encounter he’d had while on Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory. LeBeau later called another player to give his most inspiring words to the crowd after he waved a custom Shia LeBeouf shirt in front of the crowd and charged them to come get it. Dustin corbin did just that.

“Never quit,” said Corbin.

LeBeau argued that the fear of failure keeps kids from achieving their dreams. He told the story of how, after college, he was commercial fishing and told the boat captain his dream of appearing on a commercial, movie, and television one day.

“I’m so excited to share my story which I think is going to be relatable to a lot of the kids here, being an underdog and having a dream you’re told you can’t do and still going for it,” said LeBeau.

LeBeau speaks around the country to youth to try to relay his underdog story and the message that attitude is everything.

“Especially now with today’s culture and the things that are happening in our country, it’s a tough time and there’s a lot of different feelings and emotions and a lot of people disagree on everything but I think it’s really all driven by love and building each other up with kindness and getting some toughness and believing in yourself,” said LeBeau.

The boat captain mocked him, but LeBeau’s dreams eventually came true. He also met some of basketball’s most influential players of the 21st century, appearing in a Kobe Bryant shoe commercial and a movie with then Oklahoma City Thunder guard Kevin Durant. LeBeau stood next to Palmer Basketball standout Clayton Southwick to show just how much of an underdog he is.

“I could’ve chosen any other sport and been better off. Golf. Tennis. Fortnite,” said LeBeau.

LeBeau was discussing his struggles with legendary Philadelphia 76ers guard Allen Iverson, who put a stop to his negativity. Attitude is everything, according to LeBeau.

“The biggest obstacle you will have to overcome in life is yourself.”