On Jan. 2, 2024, the Prosper Eagles and the Rock Hill Blue Hawks were getting ready for a healthy dose of competition at a basketball game at Prosper High, but this time, the match had a bigger meaning.
Unaware attendees might’ve thought they went to the wrong game with all the orange t-shirts replacing the teams' colors at the stands — fans, instead, showed up in support of Prosper Eagle number 5, Jaxson Little, who was diagnosed with T-lymphoblastic Leukemia in mid-December.
After several days of Little complaining about feeling weak, experiencing pain and showing bruises, his mom took him to the ER. Following an assessment and diagnosis he was immediately admitted to Children’s Medical Center in Dallas where he began chemotherapy soon after.
Immediately after the family received this devastating news, the community stepped up to show support for the Littles. Fellow basketball parents and friends of the family, Wendy Marshall and Krystle Meyer, opened a fundraiser to help the family with medical expenses and a prayer vigil was held at Prosper High on Dec. 18, 2023.
What a great turnout tonight for the prayer vigil! Just another example of the greatness of this community where it counts the most…caring for one another! @ProsperISD @ProsperHS @prosperhoops #prosperproud pic.twitter.com/Y7p4XxoS9x
— ProsperISDAthletics (@PISD_Athletics) December 18, 2023
Less than a week later, the school, along with his teammates and community members started organizing the Orange Out game night complete with free orange T-shirts and a “spirit day” at the Chick-fil-A at the Gates of Prosper. During lunch and dinner time on Jan. 2, 2024, Chick-fil-A donated 20% of all sales of people showing up in support of the JV player to the Little family.
The games and the work that goes into them are always important but tonight has a bigger meaning! @prosperhoops and @RockHillGBB @RHHSBballBoys joining together for #littlestrong Jaxson, this whole community is with the you! #prosperproud pic.twitter.com/z1W0rrySuW
— ProsperISDAthletics (@PISD_Athletics) January 3, 2024
“I think it goes back to, when you pour into a community like their family has, then that community is going to pour back into you,” Prosper head basketball coach Scott Imes told NBCDFW.
With a goal of $100,000, the community was able to raise over $50,000 to help the Little family cover the medical expenses since the fundraiser began on Dec. 16, 2023. If you’d like to help the Littles, here’s the link to donate.