TEAMMATE A SELFLESS

FORMER UK BASKETBALL PLAYER JP BLEVINS IS INVESTING IN UK’S FUTURE

By Gavin Colton

JP Blevins had dreamed of playing basketball at the University of Kentucky since the fourth grade. His dad, John Paul, had constructed a basketball court in the backyard for JP and his brothers to play on. JP’s dad had played basketball at Western Kentucky and so had his oldest brother, David. It became the theater of JP’s dreams — a place to do the work that would turn his dream into a reality.

JP’s dad had recognized his son’s talent early on and drove him from Edmonton, Kentucky, to Lexington to attend UK Men’s Basketball camps with Coach Rick Pitino. He was wise in exposing his son to basketball camps outside of his hometown and was always willing to put JP into a position to succeed.

Like many athletes, the path to that success required perseverance and there were times when JP doubted himself. He remembers one evening when those feelings of hesitation weighed heavily — was he good enough? He walked out to the court in his backyard. His mom, Martha, a lifelong schoolteacher who worked long summers in the yard, was out cutting tree limbs.

“You think I could ever play at UK one day?” JP asked her in a straightforward way. He wanted an honest answer.

She set her clippers down and wiped a band of hair off her forehead.

“You can do whatever you want to do if you’re willing to work for it and you believe you can do it,” she said.

The way she said it and the way she looked at him as she said it pierced JP’s soul. It wasn’t the blind assurance that he would play at Kentucky one day, it was the assurance that he could, if he put in the work and believed in himself. It is a feeling JP has held onto ever since — a belief in himself, in what’s possible. This spirit of hard work and belief has guided his decisions on and off the court.

A Dream Come True

In 1998, JP joined the UK Men’s Basketball team. He had achieved his dream of putting on a Kentucky jersey and playing in Rupp Arena in front of his parents. Despite this achievement, he realized that the true value in his dream becoming a reality was the lessons he learned in pursuit of something bigger.

“Sports taught me what true commitment is,” says JP. “I learned about work ethic and how to outwork other people. I learned how to be selfless and a good teammate.”

JP was a stalwart teammate during his time at UK — a crafty and hardworking guard. Then upon graduation, JP faced uncertainty again: “Now what?” He worked a variety of jobs — pharmaceutical sales, a stint in the Commerce Cabinet, public speaking and basketball camps.

Throughout college, JP had developed a thirst for knowledge around investing. He had big financial goals.

“The way I saw it, there were only a few ways to get to the financial place I wanted to get to,” says JP. “1. Start or own a business. 2. Get to the top of your profession. Or 3. Invest.” JP knew investing would be his ticket.

JP’s dad had whetted his appetite in the investment game from a young age. They would discuss options and go together to their local broker and purchase small amounts of stock in John Deere, Coca-Cola — companies they had confidence in and knew weren’t going away anytime soon. Low risk. They both saw small successes that way. Seeing the value of his investments increase thrilled JP. Still, he hungered for something more, something bigger.

“I got passionate about trading and the power of putting your money alongside someone you believe in,” says JP. “I was the guy driving around in my car at 22 listening to Tony Robbins because I wanted to be better and to know more.”

JP attended seminars at Rupp Arena that featured speakers who discussed how they had been successful in their fields.

“I wanted to hear from people who had done it,” says JP. “I made a commitment to being a constant and never-ending seeker of knowledge.”

Acquiring new knowledge became a practice for JP.

“You are what you habitually do,” says JP. “I adopted the mindset that there is no arrival, you are always growing and expanding.”

JP was growing a modest investment portfolio, educating himself in every way he could. When he came home at night, he spent hours combing through charts and studying setups that would yield the best returns on his investments. He was making strides.

Then, in July 2007, JP’s dad, John Paul, passed away at his home in Edmonton. He was known for his great humor, quick wit and entertaining storytelling. A 1967 graduate of UK’s College of Law, John Paul was a steadfast and much-adored attorney.

“He was who I went to for advice on big decisions,” says JP. “I always knew he was leading me the right way. That was gone and I didn’t know where I was going.”