Last basketball season was especially meaningful for Jared McGregor, and not just because his BYU team reached the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16.
The Cougars’ team manager turned walk-on guard made an effort to visit with individuals in need the night before almost every game, both at home and on the road, while doing so largely on his own and without many of his teammates and coaches knowing, as previously reported by the Deseret News.
McGregor called it the “Name of the Game” project, and this year he’s not only planning to keep it going, but to take it to the next level.
“For this season, I mean, really what I’m trying to do is give these kids an experience, something that will get their mind off of what’s going on in their life,” McGregor told the Deseret News.
“... Ultimately, I just want to leave a mark on this program. This is my last year, and I want to make a difference the best I can. I don’t want to leave here and think back wishing that I would have done more given the platform that I have and the resources that I have. And so I’m just doing everything I can to maximize my time and opportunities here.”
McGregor has officially established “Name of the Game” as a nonprofit organization and launched a website for the cause, where those interested in supporting his efforts can make a tax-deductible donation.
McGregor says his original idea for service last year was “kind of spur of the moment” and something he figured out as he went along, but this season’s effort will be even more planned out and organized.
As was the case in the past, McGregor will bring specialty blankets, autographed basketballs from the team and exclusive team-issued gear as gifts for the ailing individuals he visits.
This year, however, he’s received some generous outside help from local businesses to make these gifts possible.
Minky Couture has donated the blankets, Rec League has donated hats and the BYU Store has provided replica jerseys that will be customized with every person’s name on them.
McGregor has been overwhelmed with gratitude for the donations and support he’s received.
“It just shows the kind of community we have here at BYU and here in Utah County, just great people who love to see smiles on people’s faces,” McGregor said. “I mean, at the end of the day, that’s really what the goal is, to make people happy. So it’s been awesome to talk with people about it and see people wanting to get involved with it.”
With BYU in the midst of the most highly-anticipated basketball season in program history, there will be more eyes on the Cougars than ever before. McGregor hopes to use such a stage to help do as much good as possible through “Name of the Game.”
“I think that we’re a really, really talented team,” McGregor said. “I do play an important role on this team, trying to help us get better and whatnot, and I believe that comes on the court as well as off the court, trying to do what I can to bring as much positive attention to this program as I can.”
As a senior playing in his last collegiate campaign, McGregor hopes this year’s edition of “Name of the Game” will lead to even more opportunities to grow the organization and bless lives in the future.
“I love the idea of getting other schools involved,” McGregor said. “You know, maybe one day having Name of the Game at every power conference school, so every game that happens in college basketball, there’s a name tied to that game.
“There’s kids, there’s people that are in need everywhere throughout the country, and so I think this is a really good way for the basketball community to reach out, touch lives and make a difference.”
Those interested in supporting McGregor’s cause can visit his website name-of-the-game.org to learn more.
