For Nejari Crooks, volleyball has always been more than a sport—it’s been part of family life. Long before she was tallying up kills and assists, she was the kid on the sidelines, watching her parents battle it out in international tournaments. By the time she picked up a ball at the local YMCA, she knew this was where she belonged.
“I started playing volleyball when I was around nine years old,” Crooks says. “Watching my parents compete really drew me in. They’d bring me to practices, and eventually I just wanted to be a part of it.”
Her first memory of stepping onto a court? The YMCA. Simple, scrappy, and unforgettable.
From those early days, Crooks’ game evolved quickly. Inspired by her parents—both former Jamaican National Team athletes—she learned discipline,…
