At 7-foot-3, Jordan Wilmore once towered over basketball courts worldwide… but now, he’s standing tall for a new dream: protecting and serving as a police officer.
The 24-year-old Memphis native spent years chasing the path everyone else thought he should follow. After standout college stints at Missouri, Northwestern State, and Austin Peay State, Wilmore went on to play professionally overseas, finishing his career in the Philippines. But basketball was never truly his passion.
“Growing up, people always said, ‘You’ve got to focus on basketball, it’ll make you millions,’” Wilmore told CBS News. “But I’ve always been someone who wants to help others. That’s what makes me happy.”
Now, Wilmore is almost certainly the tallest police recruit in America. He’s training at the police academy and preparing to begin his career in Kemah, Texas, just outside Houston.
Kemah Police Chief Raymond Garivey says he’s working overtime to make sure his new officer has the right gear. “We’ve been searching for a uniform that fits, and even finding a cruiser that won’t crush him has been a challenge,” Garivey joked. “But none of that matters. What matters is his heart. He truly wants to serve and make a difference.”
Wilmore insists he has no regrets about leaving basketball behind… not even if the NBA called. “If I got that phone call today,” he said firmly, “I’d say no. This is where I belong.”
With his towering frame and even bigger dedication to service, Wilmore is proving that true success comes from following your own passion… not the one others choose for you.
