Ja’Marr Chase’s Basketball Skills Shine in Viral AAU Highlights

In a captivating display of athletic versatility, Ja’Marr Chase, widely known for his electrifying performances on the football field as a star receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals, has recently turned heads with his basketball skills. Highlights from his time with the B. Maze Elite AAU team have gone viral, showcasing his impressive agility, coordination, and scoring ability on the court.

The footage, shared by Overtime, reveals Chase’s dynamic playing style, where he effortlessly transitions between dribbling, shooting, and making plays that have fans reminiscing about his dual-sport talent. This glimpse into his basketball prowess not only entertains but also highlights the multifaceted nature of Chase’s athletic capabilities, sparking discussions among fans and analysts alike about the potential of multi-sport athletes in today’s competitive landscape.

A Glimpse into Ja’Marr Chase’s Athletic Journey

Chase’s journey to becoming a first-round NFL draft pick is marked by a rich background in sports. Before making waves in the NFL, he was a standout in high school, excelling in both football and basketball. This dual-sport experience has undoubtedly contributed to his exceptional hand-eye coordination and agility, traits that have made him a formidable force on the football field. His ability to switch gears and adapt to different sports speaks volumes about his athleticism and dedication.

The Impact of Viral Moments on Young Athletes

The viral nature of Chase’s AAU highlights serves as a reminder of the power of social media in shaping athletes’ narratives and careers. In an era where clips can reach millions within moments, young athletes are increasingly aware of the importance of showcasing their talents across various platforms. For aspiring players, Chase’s highlights offer inspiration and a tangible example of how diverse skills can enhance one’s overall athletic profile.

Reflecting on Future Possibilities

As Ja’Marr Chase continues to make his mark in the NFL, his basketball highlights remind fans and analysts alike of the potential that lies within multi-sport athletes. The crossover appeal of such talents can influence recruitment strategies and training methodologies in both sports. As the lines between athletic disciplines blur, the spotlight on Chase’s basketball skills may encourage a new generation of athletes to explore and excel in multiple sports, fostering versatility and creativity in their athletic pursuits.

In conclusion, Ja’Marr Chase’s basketball highlights not only entertain but also enrich the narrative surrounding his burgeoning career. They serve as a testament to his extraordinary athleticism and the broader implications of embracing multi-sport talent in an increasingly specialized world of sports. As he continues to shine in the NFL, fans eagerly await what other surprises he may have in store, both on and off the field.

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Fanatics Fest NYC was packed with big-name athletes from all corners of the sports world. But it was the unexpected moments—like the link-up between Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels and another star that had fans talking.

A memorable moment came when the two former LSU quarterbacks, Daniels and Burrow, were spotted casually tossing a football around during the action-packed weekend. It was a full-circle moment for football fans.

Burrow played quarterback at LSU from 2018 to 2019, leading the Tigers to a national championship and winning the Heisman Trophy in his senior year. A few years later, Daniels took over as LSU’s quarterback from 2022–2023 and went on to win the Heisman himself.

Now, both are recognized as stars in the NFL have both already led their teams to franchise history as quarterbacks.

At Fanatics Fest NYC, you can always expect the unexpected. With its blend of sports and entertainment, the event creates space for iconic moments, like this LSU reunion between Burrow and Daniels.

Daniels, heading into his second season with the Commanders, was everywhere throughout the weekend. From a panel with NFL legends to a conversation with team owner Josh Harris, to a WWE-style entrance set to a Travis Scott song, and then this moment with Burrow only added to the weekend.

In their passing session they weren’t worried about competition. It was a shared moment of mutual respect between the two Heisman winners, offering fans a glimpse of greatness rooted in purple and gold.

READ MORE: Commanders’ Jayden Daniels reveals matchup he’s looking forward to this season

Stick with CommanderGameday and the Locked On Commanders podcast for more FREE coverage of the Washington Commanders throughout the 2025 offseason.

• 3 Commanders among NFL’s top 100 players

• Commanders make important announcement ahead of 2025 season

• Commanders face early pressure test while rivals chase legacy goals

• Jayden Daniels gets big praise from rival Giants wide receiver

A college football player became one of the most-talked about NCAA athletes over the weekend, but not because of his stats.

Bowling Green University linebacker Gideon Lampron went viral on social media after fans learned his legal middle name is ESPN. His family pronounces it “Ess-pen,” but his dad admits he chose the unusual name (written in all capital letters) as a tribute to the Disney-owned sports channel (originally named the Entertainment Sports Programming Network).

Gideon’s father, Marty Lampron, told the Dayton Daily News that he chose “ESPN” because he’s a big sports fan. However, he didn’t get his wife’s approval when he put the name on Gideon’s birth certificate — she wanted the middle name to be Xavier and said “no” when Marty suggested ESPN.

“I grew up in Boston. I went for months trying to talk my wife into letting me name him Larry Bird. It didn’t go well,” Marty told the Dayton Daily News in September.

“Then she delivers Gideon, and she’s out of it and the nurse comes for me to sign the birth certificate. When I signed it, I literally printed ‘ESPN’ in capital letters. She was out cold when I did it. When she woke up, I told her I did it, and she said, ‘No, you didn’t.’ She didn’t realize I did it. She wasn’t happy with me.”

Gideon ESPN Lampron, a junior LB from Keystone, Ohio, transferred to Bowling Green this spring after spending the past three years at the University of Dayton. According to Total Pro Sports, he started as a zero-star recruit in FCS and redshirted the 2022 season, but made 51 tackles in 2023 despite only starting once. He finished the 2024 season with 99 total tackles, including 56 solo, plus 6.5 sacks and two forced fumbles, earning him Football Championship Subdivision All-American First Team honors and offers from FBS schools, including Kent State, UTEP, Eastern Michigan, Ball State and Bowling Green.

Lampron’s weird middle name got attention from Yahoo Sports, Barstool Sports, and other publications, but he’s hoping he can live up to his lifelong association with “The Worldwide Leader in Sports.”

“I want to make my dad proud, because him making my middle name ‘ESPN,’ it has set some expectations. I am just trying to deliver,” Gideon told The Morning Journal in September. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“Some of my friends would laugh. I never really hid it, I just never talked about it ever. Now, this is something that my friends are finding out. I have it on my Instagram and (X). I love (my middle name).”

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More than ever before, autographs on sports memorabilia are currency, not just nostalgia. Just about every signing it may seem is the first step to the secondary market, not someone’s scrapbook. A recent incident involving the Los Angeles Sparks’ Kelsey Plum is raising the question of what the etiquette should be when making a request. Should athletes just expect to face these asks whenever they step out in public, given that the people with pens are the new paparazzi?

Kelsey Plum wasn’t a fan of WNBA fans asking for autographs outside of her hotel

(via MinnyGraphs / TikTok) pic.twitter.com/q5bn5vqIGU

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 19, 2025

What’s not disputed according to video of the incident is that Plum was outside the team hotel in Minnesota when approached by men with open books of trading cards for her to sign. The three-time WNBA All-Star is a player whose autographed cards are valued by collectors in the resale market. Plum felt it was “weird” for men to be waiting outside of her hotel with books of things to sign and called them out for it.

“Don’t you find it kind of weird, like low-key?” she asked the autograph seeker about him being at the Sparks’ hotel before they were. “I’m a little turned off right now,” she added before saying she appreciated the fan and signing one card.

For further context, teammate Dearica Hamby tweeted:

“We literally left for practice and changed hotels… so to be there the moment we got there after SWITCHING hotels without being like HEY WE’RE SWITCHING HOTELS was weird.”

When the video of the encounter went viral, people took sides, with many coming out against Plum and in favor of the autograph seekers. The man in the encounter, Nick Pedersen, “minneygraphs99” on TikTok, captioned the video by saying, “Kelsey Plum is not a fan of the WNBA fans who like to collect her autographs.”

Pederson then attempted to defend himself in a Facebook group for WNBA fans.

“I asked Kelsey and she went ballistic and started calling me weird and I was ‘turning her off.’ Kelsey has always had something against male fans who want her autograph,” Pederson wrote. “Autographs are a hobby just like fishing or sewing. It brings me and a lot of others happiness.”

Through his eBay store, Minygraphs LLC, Pederson has sold over 3,000 items, including trading cards bearing similar after-market autographs.

When asked on Facebook about Plum being uncomfortable with him knowing the new hotel where she was staying, Pederson said that there was no stalking involved since “she’s older than me.” He added that the account of her reaction to him knowing about the new hotel was, “100% true, but they went to a hotel one block down the street and they all had their suitcases in the morning before practice. They loaded them in the bus and I heard the bus driver say something about the hotel they were switching to. Nothing creepy involved.”

At Fanatics Fest over the weekend, autograph dealers and collectors were apprised of the incident and asked what the policy should be when seeking autographs from athletes in public places.

“If it’s a whole bunch of items that you’re trying to get signed and you see an athlete in public, it’s probably not going to go favorable to you as a fan,” said Ray Bartreau of Black Tie Breaks in Safety Harbor, FL. “These people are very busy. They’re getting hounded for autographs all the time. I think the best etiquette is to ask nicely with one or maybe two items at the most.

“I do signings in volume where it’s a sanctioned, paid event, and to get the athletes to those is harder (given) their time. They’re being paid. So to catch them on the street and say, ‘Hey, spend 15 minutes signing all of my cards….’ I think that’s a little reach. I side with the athlete on this one.”

Zach Haire, owner of Sports Treasures in Knoxville, TN said, “I’ve always felt if it’s at a public place, but, you know, not a restaurant, I would never approach you at a restaurant, in their own personal space…. But if they’re at the hotel and there’s the barricades up and you’re behind the barricade, being respectful, I don’t see a problem asking an athlete.”

Fans waiting on line at Fanatics Fest for their purchased autographs in personalized signings to be authenticated sided with the player.

“I think first and foremost, you should have a lot of respect for that person,” Kevin Urbanczyk of Buffalo, NY said. “And if that person doesn’t want to give the autograph or needs that personal space, everyone’s entitled to that personal space. If that (autograph seeker) went above and beyond, then, you know, whoever got the signatures had a good day.”

“Respect her space,” said Randy Singh of Paterson, NJ. “It’s not an official event for autograph signings. If she stopped to say hi or take pictures or something and you’re like, ‘Hey, would you mind signing one autograph or taking one selfie picture?’ Then that’s appropriate. And if she says no, just say, ‘Hey, thank you for your time.’ It’s not an official signing event or appearance by that athlete. And you can’t ask for multiple signings. One is the limit.”

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(Top photo: Harry How/Getty Images)

The temperatures are climbing, and we’ll do anything to stay cool, whether that means hunkering down at home with the air conditioner on full blast, setting up a “water park” in the backyard to keep the kids refreshed and entertained, or jumping into a nearby lake over the weekend. We’re always looking for new ways to beat the heat, and we just spotted another good idea, courtesy of Costco. The wholesaler is selling a SaluSpa Arctic Ice Cold Plunge Bath, and it’s currently on sale for $150 (down from $200)!

For the uninitiated, cold plunging is very popular among athletes, celebrities, and anyone with an affinity for all things wellness. By simply immersing yourself in freezing-cold water for a few minutes (you can stay in for as short as 30 seconds to one minute or as long as five minutes if you’re an expert at this), it can help with everything from muscle soreness and recovery to an accelerated metabolism to an improved mood.

Usually, spas offer a cold-to-hot (or hot-to-cold) plunge pool, but you can get this experience right at home with Costco’s sturdy tub. It has “Fortifiber Drop Stitch Walls” that are rigid and durable and come with a cover, so raccoons and bears don’t try to take a dip in your tub. The item takes only five minutes to set up and measures 27.9″ H x 36.22″ W with a water capacity of 111 gallons.

Costco shoppers are pretty pleased with this find, with one person writing that the quality is “A+++++” and even though they’re just under six feet tall, they are able to sit up in the tub and still have leg room. Meanwhile, another person said: “Love this tub. Very comfortable and it seems to insulate the cold inside from all sides except from the top. It’s already plumbed with a garden hose fitting on the underside of the unit, I only wish it was plumbed with an additional fitting midway up one of the walls so you could easily attach to a cold plunge without having to interfere with the top cover. Would also like to see an insulated top as well, but otherwise very happy with this unit.”

We don’t know about you, but when the heat starts zapping the energy out of us, a cold plunge is exactly what we need to shock our system and wake us up. Costco’s SaluSpa item is only on sale until July 6, so we recommend you add this to your cart before the sale ends and have it set up just in time for your July 4 weekend plans. If you’re worried about the price, however, rest assured, there are many highly rated cold plunge tubs for under $200, too. We found several Amazon customer favorites below.

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