Former 5-Star Basketball Recruit Announces Retirement to “Love Himself Again”

Former 5-star college basketball standout Jahvon Quinerly recently announced his shocking retirement from college basketball via his Instagram account (@jquinely). The 6’1” guard was poised for a breakout season at Memphis, but his decision took many by surprise. In his heartfelt retirement post, Quinerly opened up about his struggles with mental health, stating, “I’ve experienced some of my lowest moments.”

You can read his full retirement announcement below:

I have contemplated sharing this message for a while but today I found enough courage within myself to share it with the world.

I made the decision to let go of the game of basketball, which has greatly shaped who I am since I could remember. The game has opened a plethora of doors for me and for that I will forever be grateful, but God has chosen a different path for me.

Even while I’ve accomplished some incredible things, had priceless experiences, and formed friendships for life, on the other side of that I’ve experienced some of my lowest moments. And as much as it pains me to type this, I can’t continue this fight with something I am no longer in love with.

To the majority, I will always be remembered as a failure. But while that may be the case in basketball, they say greatest successes in life often emerge from the most difficult setbacks. I am fortunate to have earned over 7 figures in NIL while playing college ball and am quite eager to take advantage of the head start that has given me. And to have the opportunity to discover more about this incredible world and all it has to offer. And to be able to identify myself as someone other than a basketball player for the first time.

I apologize to those I have let down and will always be grateful to those who have had faith in me. However, I’m taking a different route now, one that should provide me happiness and the ability to love myself again.

Sincerely,

JQ

A player earning over a million dollars from his sport chose to give it all up in pursuit of happiness and to “love himself again.” To the general public, athletes across all sports appear to be living perfect lives—playing a game they love while earning substantial incomes. However, the reality is much different for many of them. In fact, around 35% of athletes experience mental health concerns according to the NCAA.

Jahvon Quinerly is far from alone in this struggle. He’s just one of the few who have chosen to speak up about it. In my recent book, So You Want to Play College Sports, I interviewed nearly 10 current athletes who courageously shared their stories and mental health battles. Ranging from Division I athletes all the way to Division III.

It’s time to pull back the curtain and understand the real challenges behind the scenes of college sports. So You Want to Play College Sports is available now—check out the link below to learn more!