From Sleeping in Cars to Making History: Jeremiah Armstead’s Unbelievable College Hoops Journey

In a sports world obsessed with highlight reels and star rankings, sometimes the most powerful stories don’t appear on ESPN’s Top 10—they unfold in quiet perseverance and unimaginable adversity.

Meet Jeremiah Armstead—a name you may not know yet, but one we should all celebrate.

Jeremiah wasn’t your typical college basketball recruit. He didn’t come from a private training academy. He didn’t have a national ranking. What he had was something far more valuable: resilience.

Armstead grew up in Philadelphia but spent much of his youth in California. And he didn’t have a home for most of his teenage years. His family—his mother and siblings—were homeless, often sleeping in shelters or the backseat of their car. While most high school athletes worry about stats or scholarships, Jeremiah was worried about where he’d sleep at night and if he’d have clean clothes for school the next day.

Yet somehow, through all that, he kept chasing basketball.

He only got the chance to play organized basketball during his senior year of high school, but he didn’t waste it. Coaches and teammates quickly saw something different in him. Not just raw talent—but heart. Work ethic. Leadership. He is the type of teammate who lifts everyone around him.

That spirit caught the attention of Fisk University, a historically Black college in Tennessee with a proud tradition—and a head coach who knows a thing or two about beating the odds: former NBA All-Star Kenny Anderson.

Under Coach Anderson’s guidance, Jeremiah found more than just a roster spot—he found a home. A team. A purpose.

During the 2023–24 season, Armstead contributed to the Bulldogs’ 14-16 campaign and, more importantly, became a respected presence in the locker room. But his impact stretched far beyond the court.

In 2024, Jeremiah Armstead made history by becoming the first player from an HBCU or NAIA program to win the prestigious Perry Wallace Most Courageous Award—an honor named after the man who integrated SEC basketball. The award recognizes extraordinary courage in the face of adversity. And Jeremiah’s story couldn’t be more fitting.

Now a kinesiology major, Jeremiah is still grinding—still supporting his family while balancing school and basketball. He’s not chasing fame or a spot in the draft. He’s chasing a dream bigger than himself: to become a coach, a mentor, and a source of hope for kids who feel forgotten.

And that’s what makes this story so special.

In an era of transfer portals and NIL chaos, Jeremiah Armstead reminds us what college sports should be about: grit, growth, and using your platform to lift others up.

From sleeping in cars to making history, Jeremiah isn’t just a feel-good story.