Temetrius Jamel “Ja” Morant isn’t a normal basketball player but he’s a sensation who took the NBA by his gravity defying dunks and lightning moves.
He was born on August 10, 1999, Ja Morant childhood home is in Dalzell, South Carolina before moving to Murray, Kentucky.
His rise from backyard courts to NBA arenas shows how raw talent, hard work, and family support will help you to reach success.
His childhood house is in the community of Dalzell, South Carolina, a small, tight area.
Nothing fancy or pretentious about this place, it’s a simple, comfortable home.
His parents, Tee and Jamie Morant, created an environment with love, discipline, and encouragement.
Tee, a former basketball player, worked with Ja on his skills, while Jamie supported the family through various jobs and kept grounded.
Here, we’ll take a close look at the Ja Morant Childhood home from where his dreams began.
We’ll look at his childhood home, learn about his early struggles, peek inside the rooms where he grew up, and track his journey from South Carolina to NBA arenas.
Where Did Ja Morant Live as a Kid?
Ja Morant childhood home is in Dalzell, South Carolina, in a small community in Sumter County.
His family home wasn’t spectacular, they live in a modest single-story house that was purchased by his parents in the late 1990s before Ja was born.
“My parents gave me everything they could,” Ja mentioned in a 2019 interview with ESPN.
“We didn’t have much, but they never let me feel that way.”
Tee Morant, Ja’s dad, was his first basketball coach and supporter.
Their driveway became the training ground where Ja’s skills were polished.
Tee set up makeshift drills, using tires and other household items to help Ja practice his jumping and agility.
When he wasn’t practicing at home, he was at the local parks and recreation centers.
The Sumter County Recreation Department became his second home.
These beginnings, shooting hoops on outdoor courts with uneven surfaces and rusty rims built the foundation for his NBA career.
Did Ja Morant Grow Up Poor?
Yes, Ja Morant didn’t grow up rich. His family wasn’t poor, but they watched every penny.
In multiple interviews, Ja has been open about his family’s financial situation while growing up.
The Morant family lived paycheck to paycheck, with both parents working multiple jobs.
Tee Morant had stopped pursuing his own basketball career after Jamie became pregnant with Ja, choosing family responsibility over ambition.
Basketball gear isn’t cheap, especially for a growing kid.
Jamie saved for weeks to buy new shoes.
During his high school years, Ja wore the same shoes until they fell apart, something he references when discussing his own signature shoe line with Nike.
“Man, I remember begging my mom for new kicks and her telling me we had to wait till next month,” Ja recalled in a Nike promotional video.
What’s amazing about his story is how the financial limitations never made affected his dreams. Instead, he made him successful.
When AAU teams overlooked him because he didn’t have the right gear or connections, he worked hard at the local courts.
Ja Morant Childhood Home Tour: From South Carolina to Stardom
The Ja Morant childhood home in Dalzell doesn’t look like you’d expect from someone who signed a $193 million contract.
It’s a modest one-story ranch-style house with vinyl siding, a small front porch, and a driveway that served as his first basketball court.
The home sits on a decent-sized lot with yard space, which became important for a kid with big dreams.
Living Room
Walk into the living room and you notice the family photos covering the walls. This wasn’t a showroom but it was a lived-in space where the family used to gather.
According to close family friends, an old couch faced a modest TV where young Ja studied the moves of his idols like Allen Iverson and Russell Westbrook.
The room wasn’t fancy, basic furniture, family photos, and a few basketball trophies that started collecting as Ja got older.
What made it special wasn’t the decor but the conversations and dreams.
Bedrooms
His childhood home bedroom was like teenage territory, it had basketball posters, shoes scattered across the floor, and a twin bed that became too small for his frame.
Former classmates recall visiting and seeing cutouts from basketball magazines taped above his bed.
The room wasn’t large, probably not more than 10×12 feet, but it was his personal space to dream big.
His parents gave him that privacy and space to visualize his future.
Bathrooms
Nothing fancy about the bathrooms in the Ja Morant childhood home.
Basic fixtures, practical setup, and cleaned by Jamie, who likes a tidy home.
Ja shared a bathroom with other family members, learning patience and consideration.
One detail reported by a family member is that he practiced his post-game interviews in the bathroom mirror, to answer reporters’ questions.
Kitchen with Dining Area
The kitchen in the Ja Morant childhood home was the heart of the house.
Jamie Morant made sure her family ate together at least one time a day.
The dining table wasn’t only for meals, it can be used as homework central and the family meeting spot.
“Mrs. Jamie could make a little go a long way in that kitchen,” a neighbor told a Memphis newspaper after Ja was drafted.
“She’d cook up these amazing meals even when money was tight, and make sure everyone ate together.”
The kitchen wasn’t large or fancy, it had standard appliances, limited counter space, and a table that seated the family comfortably.
Backyard Court
This is the spot that shaped Ja Morant into the player he is today, it’s the backyard where his father created a basketball court.
Not a proper court but a hoop attached to a pole set in concrete, with a dirt and grass surface.
Tee Morant created challenging drills for his son using household items.
Old tires became obstacles for dribbling drills. Brooms served as defensive arms to shoot over.
They’d practice for hours, under the single floodlight Tee installed.
This backyard space was not more than 30×30 feet of uneven ground.
Sometimes the simple training grounds create extraordinary athletes.
Did Ja Morant Grow Up in the Hood?
Ja Morant didn’t grow up like what his fans think of “the hood,” but Dalzell isn’t in Beverly Hills either. It’s a rural, working-class community where people know struggle.
“People hear South Carolina and think certain things,” Ja said in a 2020 interview.
“We weren’t in some dangerous urban neighborhood. We were in a country setting with hard-working people who just tried to make ends meet.”
Dalzell has its challenges with limited economic opportunities, modest housing, and not much for kids to do but it’s not the urban poverty and crime that “hood” suggests.
The median household income is well below the national average, and job opportunities are limited.
The beauty of Ja’s community was its tight nature.
Neighbors looked out for each other and local recreation kept young people engaged.
Churches provided community support. This environment gave Ja structure and safety while teaching him about hard work and obstacles.
What’s interesting is that Ja never tries to exaggerate his “street cred” or extreme hardship.
He’s honest about growing up with financial limitations but also acknowledges the love and stability his parents provided.
What Did Ja Morant’s Parents Do for a Living?
Tee and Jamie Morant aren’t the NBA parents who had high-profile careers or connections in the sports world.
They were working-class people who put their children’s needs above their ambitions.
Tee Morant was a high school basketball player and played with the future NBA star Ray Allen.
He went on to play at Claflin University and wanted to have a professional career, but when Jamie became pregnant, he made the decision to focus on fatherhood.
Tee worked as a barber for years, cutting hair in local shops and from home to bring in extra income.
He later became a basketball coach at the local level, sharing his knowledge.
Jamie Morant worked multiple jobs in Ja’s childhood. She spent time as a cashier, worked in fast food, and secretary positions.
According to family friends interviewed by ESPN, she worked night shifts so she could attend Ja’s daytime games.
“My mom is the strongest person I know,” Ja told Sports Illustrated.
“She’d work all night, sleep for a few hours, then come watch me play. I never heard her complain once.”
Where Does Ja Morant Live Now?
From his Dalzell beginnings, Ja Morant now lives in a property in the Memphis area, according to his status as an NBA superstar.
According to Memphis real estate sources, Ja purchased a $3.5 million home in a gated community after signing his massive contract extension with the Grizzlies.
The location is private for security reasons, but local reports say a 7,000+ square foot home with six bedrooms, 7.5 bathrooms, a home theater, gym, with a basketball court.
The property is on around 1.5 acres in one of Memphis’s exclusive neighborhoods.
What’s cool about Ja’s current living situation is how he’s maintained connections to his roots.
According to a 2022 interview with GQ, his parents now live with him, along with his daughter Kaari.
Ja also visits back to his childhood community, funding improvements to local basketball courts and recreation centers.
While he’s moved on physically from his childhood home, he hasn’t forgotten where he came from.
Conclusion
Ja Morant childhood home which is in Dalzell, South Carolina, wasn’t remarkable for its size or luxury but it was remarkable for what happened inside and on its backyard court.
This modest house gave us an NBA superstar who values hard work, family support, creativity, and perseverance.
The contrast between Ja’s childhood home and his current Memphis mansion couldn’t be sharp.
In interviews, he mentions the lessons from the small house that guide him every day.
His parents’ sacrifices, the hours practicing on uneven ground, the family meals around a simple table.
What makes his story captivating isn’t his achievements but how he remains connected to his roots.
In a sports world dominated by ego, his humanity and appreciation stand out.
Ja Morant childhood home in Dalzell didn’t only give a basketball career but it built a man who understands that wealth isn’t in square footage or amenities, but it is in the love and support.
FAQs: Ja Morant
What Was Ja Morant’s Childhood Like?
Ja Morant’s childhood was modest and with great family support. Growing up in Dalzell, South Carolina, he was raised by parents Tee and Jamie who worked multiple jobs to make his career successful. His father, a former basketball player, trained him in their backyard. His childhood wasn’t extreme hardship but rather by the work ethic his parents modeled and the hours spent perfecting his game.
What Neighborhood Did Ja Morant Grow Up In?
Ja Morant grew up in Dalzell, South Carolina, a small, unincorporated community in Sumter County. This rural, working-class area has 3,000 residents and is about 50 miles east of Columbia. Dalzell isn’t an urban neighborhood or what would consider “the hood” but it’s a quiet, country setting. The community has limited economic opportunities but strong social connections through schools, churches, and recreation centers.
Where Is Ja Morant’s House Located?
Ja Morant now lives in an upscale gated community in the Memphis area, though the location isn’t publicly disclosed for privacy and security reasons. His current home is far from his childhood residence in Dalzell, South Carolina. According to sources, the property is located in the city’s exclusive neighborhoods, offering privacy for the NBA star and his family.
How Much Is Ja Morant’s House Worth?
Ja Morant’s current home in Memphis is valued around $3.5 million, according to local real estate reports. He purchased this property after signing his $193 million contract extension with the Memphis Grizzlies. The 7,000+ square foot home is on about 1.5 acres and features 6 bedrooms, 7.5 bathrooms, a home theater, gym, and a full-sized basketball court.