NAMPA, Idaho – Talk to folks around the Northwest Nazarene campus about Maurice Jones and you'll hear a few similar phrases: Big heart. Big smile. Wants to give back. Cares about others.

The 6-foot-5 kid from Riverside, Calif., is more than just a star for the men's basketball team. He has lived a life of helping others and giving back.

From helping teach special needs kids to play basketball when he was in high school in the Los Angeles area to leading the charge on a recent Crisis Care Kit program on campus to having a desire to teach and help children the same way he was helped.

"He has such a huge heart for people and working with people," said Dr. Jennifer Hill, the secondary education coordinator. "That's why I'm so glad he has chosen an education route. We desperately need teachers with that dedication and drive."

Jones is also working with his teammates and new coach Paul Rush to try to help the basketball team be more involved in the NNU community. There has been a perception that in recent years, the team has cared more about basketball than the student body.

"When you get to know him, you see he has a giant heart, is really humble, really genuine and is willing to invest time in people and really puts people before himself," Rush said.
 
NNU opens its season at 8 p.m. Friday against Multnomah as part of Homecoming festivities.

Take for example the Crisis Care Kits program put on by Nazarene Compassionate Ministries.

After the numerous hurricanes and earthquakes struck throughout the world this summer and early fall, chaplains Dustin and Olivia Metcalf wanted to offer students a tangible way to help – so they put forth a challenge during chapel that the group who put together the most kits would get free donuts from Guru Donuts in Boise.

Jones and the basketball team took the challenge seriously, compiling 23 kits – which at $20 each, is no small feat.

"It was really encouraging to see the way the team rallied around this project," said Olivia Metcalf. "Just this whole idea that they were willing to participate with us as a team was a powerful connection to our community and our broader world."

The basketball team easily created the most kits, and even though they are about to start their season, they are going to get their donuts.

Another example is his relationship with Hill. He first met her on his official visit to campus and has worked with her to develop a path to graduate.

When he found out at the start of the school year that Hill had breast cancer, he felt he had to do something for her.

He went on his own to Athletic Director Kelli Lindley's office and asked if the department could give Hill and her family free season tickets.

"Those two things he did on his own," Rush said. "I think it shows who Mo is and how he wants to love and serve and care for people."

Jones got a start helping others in the aforementioned program, teaching special needs kids how to play the sport he loves.

He keeps in touch with four of them. A few watch his games online and he makes sure to visit them when he is in California.

What they see is not just one of the best players in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, but also a team that is out to win games and make a difference at NNU.

"This is a very special team," he said. "This is the most fun team I've ever been on. We love being around each other, love playing with each other. After each practice we have spotlights where we acknowledge what other guys did good in practice. We always pray after practice. We always develop our key principles."

And through that work, the kid from L.A. with a big heart is helping change the community around him.