Tuesday, March 18, 2025

Slain Altadena Teen’s Legacy Lives On Through Basketball Tournament and Scholarship Program

Annual event in Pasadena will award funds to high-achieving students and families affected by wildfire

The 11th Annual Brandon Jackson Memorial Scholarship and Basketball Classic will take place on May 3 at John Muir High School in Pasadena. The event honors the memory of a young basketball player who was tragically killed in a shooting in Altadena on Feb. 12, 2011.

David Williams, Jackson’s coach in the Amateur Athletic Union and former college athlete, established the scholarship in 2011. He has since formed Empower U, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, to expand the program’s reach and impact.

“To date he has awarded $156,000 in scholarships to 79 students in Brandon’s honor,” Empower U said in a press statement.

The basketball tournament will run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with a special ceremony at 2 p.m. During this break, Williams and special guests will present checks to scholarship recipients and two families affected by the Eaton Canyon Fire.

Empower U focuses on supporting “high-achieving, low-income college hopefuls, primarily students of color with barriers to higher education,” according to the statement. In 2024, Williams organized a board and operations committee to oversee the scholarship program’s expansion.

Attendance for the event costs $15 at the door, with proceeds going toward future scholarships.

The tournament is currently accepting team sign-ups, and those interested can find more information through the organization’s Instagram account, @b.jacksonscholly, or website, bjscholarship.org.