It was a night of nostalgia, pride, and history at Perry High School in Gilbert, Arizona, as Jalen Williams, now an NBA champion and All-Star with the Oklahoma City Thunder, returned to his alma mater for an honor he could have only dreamed of as a teenager. On February 11, 2026, Williams became the first athlete in Perry’s history to have his jersey retired, with his No. 11 now forever displayed on the gymnasium wall. The event was more than just a ceremony—it was a celebration of perseverance, family, and the power of believing in oneself.
The anticipation was palpable long before the first speech was made. Fans packed the gym to standing-room-only levels, with many arriving an hour early to snag custom “JDub” shirts handed out at the entrance. The energy only intensified when Williams entered the gym, flanked by a remarkable show of support from his Oklahoma City Thunder teammates, including Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, Alex Caruso, and Arizona State alum Lu Dort. As the reigning NBA champions made their entrance, the Perry student section erupted, underscoring just how much Williams means to his hometown.
“It’s special,” Williams said, reflecting on the presence of his teammates at the event. “Nobody asks them to do that. That’s just kind of the team we have. They want to support.”
Williams’ journey from Perry High to NBA stardom is nothing short of inspiring. He wasn’t a flashy high school recruit, standing just 5-foot-11 as a sophomore and carrying his signature red shoes across the court. His growth, both literal and figurative, was steady—by the time he graduated, he’d shot up to about 6-foot-3 but still only had three Division I offers. He chose Santa Clara University, where he blossomed into a dynamic shot creator with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, averaging 18 points per game in his final year and becoming a finalist for the Lou Henson Award, given to the nation’s top mid-major player.
His former Perry coach, Sam Duane Jr., who guided the Pumas to four consecutive state championships before stepping down last March, recalled Williams’ early days with fondness and admiration. “From that 5-11 sophomore carrying those red shoes around the court to Santa Clara to an NBA All-Star to a world champion with the Thunder, it’s been a pleasure to watch you,” Duane Jr. said during his speech. “Jalen has always believed in himself and I think that’s allowed him to continue to work. And his work ethic is off the charts.”
Williams’ time at Santa Clara didn’t just change his life—it put him on the national radar. In December 2025, his No. 24 jersey was retired by the Broncos, joining the likes of NBA legend Steve Nash in the Leavey Center rafters. The recognition at Perry High, though, carried a different weight. “When you’re that young playing, it doesn’t even seem—I wouldn’t say feasible—but you don’t really know if that’ll ever happen. It kind of just seems like a dream,” Williams said of the jersey retirement. “And now to come back and it be a reality is surreal.”
Williams’ family was front and center for the ceremony. His parents, Ronald and Nicole Williams, both United States Air Force veterans, were visibly moved as they watched their son’s achievements celebrated in the community where it all began. Williams didn’t miss a chance to acknowledge the sacrifices they made. “My mom was going to school while she was working. Med school is not easy. And then my dad having to carry the load and work and still take me to practice. … We ate a lot of Little Caesars. They know how much they sacrificed,” he said.
The Williams family legacy at Perry doesn’t end with Jalen. His younger brother, Cody Williams, has made his own mark, winning two state championships at Perry and being selected as the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz. Cody, now a forward for the Jazz, helped bring Perry its first basketball state championship in 2022—something Jalen, for all his accolades, never achieved. But there’s no sibling rivalry here, just mutual respect and a touch of brotherly humor. “I got an NBA ring, so we’re about even right now,” Jalen joked. “But he used to bring it up all the time and now I got a jersey retired before him… so we’re good.”
Williams’ impact on Oklahoma City has been nothing short of transformative. After being selected 12th overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, he quickly established himself as a cornerstone for the Thunder. His breakout moment came during the 2025 NBA Finals, where he averaged 23.6 points per game and delivered a memorable 40-point performance in Game 5, helping secure the franchise’s first championship. He’s now one of only 34 players in NBA history to score 40 or more in an NBA Finals game—a testament to his growth and determination.
Despite his professional success, Williams remains grounded in the lessons and memories of his high school days. “I remember all of that stuff before I remember basketball,” he said, recalling sneaking into the weight room, benching competitions, and even getting kicked out of the library. He sees his journey as proof that Arizona basketball has always had deep talent, even if it’s only now getting its due recognition. “If you look back, I was playing against Marvin Bagley and Alex Barcello, Dan Kiper, Saben Lee… Nico Mannion,” Williams said. “(Arizona has) always had the talent here, it’s just blowing up even more.”
Williams also took the opportunity to share advice with the next generation of student-athletes at Perry. “High school gives you a lot of tests on doing what’s right. This is around that area where you could fall into the wrong crowd and make choices that could change your life forever,” he said. “As long as you’re playing hard, enjoying what you’re doing, and focusing what you’re doing, you can be successful whatever you’re doing.”
The ceremony concluded with a sense of hope and continuity. Perry’s athletic director, Jennifer Burks, summed up the sentiment: “His journey from the Dan Serrano Gymnasium to the highest levels of professional basketball serves as an inspiration to our current and future Pumas. We are thrilled that his will be the first number to be hung on our wall of honor.”
With Williams’ No. 11 now immortalized at Perry, the next chapter of Arizona basketball is wide open. And for the next 5-foot-11 sophomore carrying red shoes across the Perry gym floor, Williams offered one final piece of advice—half-joking, half-serious: “Don’t try to pick No. 11.”
As the cheers faded and the crowd dispersed, the message was clear: Jalen Williams’ story is one of resilience, family, and the enduring power of dreams. For Perry High and the broader Arizona basketball community, it’s a legacy that will inspire for years to come.