Back in 2023, hometown sports hero Trey Draper published his first book “Winning Language,” aimed at helping people realize their full potential.
So when Draper got a DM on social media from a young person who wanted a copy because he couldn’t afford to buy one, it did something to him.
“My mindset was, if that one kid was in that position, how many other kids probably can’t afford books?” he said. “I don’t want it to be about the money. I never got into this for the money. I never wrote the book for the money. So I had a conversation with a friend, and it took off from there.”
By “took off,” Draper means that’s how he found himself hosting hundreds of children and parents for a massive Spring Break book fair on Tuesday, March 11 at The Gallery, an event venue on Brooks Road.
The event featured eight Black authors from across the country, including guests from Los Angeles, Houston, and Charlotte. Champions for Literacy, an organization that partners with NCAA programs to promote reading, also joined forces with Draper, donating 400 to 500 books to be distributed for free.
To be certain, there were more than books there. A DJ provided the music as people lined up at a nearby food truck. On the side of the building, kids took turns shooting hoops at a portable “pop-a-shot” setup. Dance groups performed and kids got their faces painted. The event started at 3 p.m. and was swarming with activity from the start.
And those free books? Mostly gone within the 90 minutes. Draper had to pause the book fair to give authors a moment to restock.
“You can’t fake influence,” Draper said. “It’s not even 4 o’clock yet, and we’ve got 200 people lined up outside. We’ll be here until 7, and my books ran out in the first hour.”
A leader on and off the court
After playing basketball for the University of Memphis, Draper transitioned into coaching, training, and leadership consulting. His career has taken him from Mitchell High School, where he helped lead the team to its first state championship, to coaching roles at IMG Academy and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
He has worked with over 50 Division 1 athletes, trained NBA and WNBA players, and provides NBA Pre-Draft and Off-Season training for elite prospects, including Memphis Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant. Beyond basketball, Draper is also a college basketball analyst for ESPN and a play-by-play announcer for University of Memphis broadcasts.
His passion for personal development led him to write Winning Language, a book about communication, leadership, and building a success-driven mindset.
“To most people, there are five love languages — acts of service, gift giving, physical touch, quality time and words of affirmation,” Draper writes in his book. “But my Love Language is helping you win.”
Champions for Literacy steps In
One of the event’s key partners was Champions for Literacy, an organization that collaborates with NCAA sports programs across the country to promote childhood reading. Trey Willis, the Fight for Literacy Games Director, helped coordinate a donation of the books to be given away at the fair.
“We use the power of sports to impact childhood reading,” Willis said. “We work with men’s and women’s sports teams all across the country, ranging from basketball all the way to gymnastics, and we use that platform to inspire kids to become strong readers.”
For Willis, the event was personal.
“I’m from Memphis. I know how important literacy is,” he said. “This is something that’s meaningful and important to me, so to be able to give back to the city, to be able to give back to the children who have a future in the city in this way is just special.”
Willis first connected with Draper at a University of Memphis women’s basketball game, where Champions for Literacy was also giving away books. Their shared passion for literacy led to a collaboration that made the book fair possible.
“We stayed in touch, and he invited Champions for Literacy to be a part of this event today,” Willis said. “And now, we’re seeing all of these beautiful young minds walk away with books to build their home libraries.”
More than books: A celebration of literacy and opportunity
The book fair wasn’t just about handing out books—it was about creating a space where children could see new possibilities for their futures.
Among the featured authors was Tray Wilson, writer of “Ivy’s Big Race,” a children’s book centered on anti-bullying, leadership, and friendship. Wilson, who was an untraditional learner growing up, wrote the book to inspire children who might feel different in the way they process the world.
“If you’re an untraditional learner, this is the book you want,” Wilson said. “Everybody has a different perspective on things, and that’s what this book is about — showing that different perspectives matter.”
Wilson’s journey as an author began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he felt a calling to create something lasting for young readers.
“I was a kid who learned differently, and sometimes I felt like the way I was doing things was wrong until I realized my way was the right way for me,” he said. “I want kids to know that no matter how they learn, their way is valid.”
His book was inspired by his pet fish, Ivy — the fastest fish he had ever seen — and its story evolved into a lesson about perseverance and self-confidence. Seeing the turnout at the fair reaffirmed Wilson’s belief in the power of books.
“Sometimes, when you look at the media, you’d think kids don’t want to read,” he said. “But this event proves that reading still matters, and it’s still important to kids.”
Bringing it back to Memphis
For Draper, bringing this event to Whitehaven was intentional.
“Champions for Literacy asked me, ‘Trey, where do you want to do this?’ And respectfully, I didn’t want to go to Collierville, I didn’t want to go to Germantown,” he said. “I wanted to do it for our kids, for them to see that it’s possible.
“You don’t have to make it to the NBA. You don’t have to go to the NFL. You don’t have to be a rapper,” he continued. “We love those fields, but you can do something else.”
For Draper, the turnout wasn’t a surprise.
“I show up for the people, and the people show up for me,” he said. “That’s just the best way to put it.”
The crowd reflected the power of relationships. Family, former coworkers, and friends traveled from across the country to be part of the event.
“I see scientists in the building, trainers, coaches, journalists, artists. It’s about showing kids different paths,” Draper said. “When you look at it, here we are now, 20 years later — we grew up in the ’hood, and instead of promoting violence, we’re promoting literacy.”
