Different

Jamal Bey brings signature style to Washington // By Mason Kelley

By Washington Huskies

February 4^th, 2019

Jamal Bey is different.

And that’s exactly how he likes it.

When he was trying to pick a new hairstyle, he got his inspiration from the Marvel blockbuster “Black Panther.” He loved the look of the character Killmonger, but he wanted to put his own twist on it.

“I didn’t want the dreds,” he said. “My sister did this twisty thing to her hair, so that’s pretty much it.”

He found a look he liked and made it his own. That’s how the freshman carries himself. And it’s his unique nature that attracted him to Seattle. After growing up in Las Vegas, he was ready for a change.

“I kind of wanted a weather change,” Bey said. “This is nice. I like it a little cloudier. Some people don’t, but I don’t need to be out in the sun all the time. I like it when it’s a little more chill.”

Bey’s unique look extends beyond his hair. Look closely at his ears and not only does he choose a variety of earrings, but he likes to mix and match.

“I’m just trying to be a little bit different,” he said. “That’s why I wear two different earrings, just being me. I have a whole bunch and I just try, different ears, different styles.”

It started by accident. His junior year in high school, he found himself with a bunch of mismatched pairs and decided to try something new.

“I just put them in and thought, oh, that looks cool, so I’ve been doing it ever since,” he said.

Bey’s willingness to try something different helped lead him to basketball. He started playing when he was in fifth grade and his family went to the swimming pool at the YMCA.

It was closed.

His mother asked if he wanted to play basketball. But at first he was uncertain.

“All I had was my swimsuit and a shirt,” he said. “I didn’t even have shoes.”

But, he tried it. He borrowed his dad’s shoes (they didn’t fit) and quickly picked up the game. The more he played, coaches told him he worked hard and had the opportunity to grow his game. All he needed were shoes that fit … “and a little more skill,” Bey said with a laugh.

Bey’s work ethic helped him develop into a four-star recruit, one of the top 100 prospects in the country coming out of Bishop Gorman High School, according to ESPN.com.

“I’ve worked really hard,” he said.

Now that he is at Washington, Bey has continued to work both on the court and in the classroom.

“Things are really good,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot. I’m responsible for myself all the time. It’s fun.”

When asked about his interests off the floor, Bey said he enjoys art, particularly drawing and sculpture. He also enjoys video games, but hasn’t been playing much since the season started and, well, “my TV broke,” he said.

Right now, Bey’s full focus is on helping the Huskies hit their lofty expectations.

“We can go pretty far,” he said. “We have a lot of pieces. We have a great system.”

Bey has the talent to make an impact with Washington. But, regardless of how the rest of the season plays out, two things are certain. He will continue pushing forward with the work ethic that got him to this point and he will he do it by being different, celebrating the style that is unique to his personality.