Becoming a Changed Man
Jessup alumnus Isaiah Milan’s interest in basketball started at a young age. “Basically, I loved everything about the game. The community, the atmosphere, the way the ball bounces, even that swoosh sound the ball makes when it goes through the net,” the criminal justice graduate said. He never realized that the game he loved so much would lead him to a transformational life in Christ once he came to Jessup.
Growing up and graduating high school in San Diego, Milan played for Irvine Valley Community College and later San Diego Christian College. After his sophomore year, he asked for a release to play elsewhere. “I had other D1 offers, but there was something special about Jessup,” he recalled. “I liked the personal touch the coaches gave me and to be honest, I was in desperate need of direction. When I met former coach Von Vogt, he explained that my spirituality was the most important thing to him. That was something genuine and I wanted to be a part of it.”
Shortly after his arrival in 2017, he accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior. “My faith changed everything for me. Once I decided to give my life to God, I started seeing things change in my life.” He also met his wife Ellise at Jessup, another blessing he is grateful for daily. “Before I came to Jessup, I was so lost. The enemy had control of my life. If it weren’t for Jessup and the way coach Von Vogt helped me achieve my goals, I might be selling drugs, but instead I’m living my dream playing professional basketball in France.”
Milan currently plays for Cergy-Pontoise Spartiates in Paris, France. This is his third year playing pro, his first year was with Le Cannet Basket in the South of France where he played point guard and was named MVP of the league during his inaugural season when his team went 30-1. The process of playing pro began when Milan secured an agent during his senior year at Jessup when he was named all-GSAC conference player.
The road to France wasn’t an easy one. It took a lot of patience and prayer. “Once I laid it before Him, and surrendered His will over mine, I was at peace. Within a few months, I got the call from my agent.” Just a few days after signing the contract to play overseas, Isaiah and Ellise learned they were also going to become parents. Now two years old, their son Jayce has racked up some impressive travel miles visiting France, Disneyland Paris and other international places like Monaco, Belgium, Luxembourg and Amsterdam.
Milan credits his Jessup experience with allowing him to grow. “Coach Von Vogt let me make mistakes and figure it out for myself. That was something I never had from any other coach,” he said. “My time at Jessup made me a well-rounded player. I gained a lot of experience because I played so many roles being part of that team. Now, I realize those experiences allowed me to gain skills that help me play anywhere.”
He also learned patience, along with being open-minded. “Often there’s more than one way to get something done,” he said. “But most importantly, at Jessup, I learned to love others.”
