Last Updated on October 7, 2026 by Orlando Bloom
Jayson Kent comes from a family in which basketball has been part of everyday life for generations. Born on February 3, 2002, in Austin, Texas, the Portland Trail Blazers forward is the son of Jason Kent and Anna Kent, two former college basketball players who later remained closely involved in the sport through coaching, training and athletics administration.
Kent also has a younger sister, Janae Kent, who developed into a high-level basketball player in her own right and eventually competed in the SEC. With both parents and both children having played competitive basketball, the Kent family has built an impressive sporting tradition that strongly influenced Jayson’s path to professional basketball.
Who Is Jayson Kent’s Girlfriend?
Jayson Kent has not publicly confirmed having a girlfriend.
Although his basketball career has increasingly placed him in the public eye, Kent has kept his romantic life private. Reliable college biographies, NBA profiles and interviews focusing on his personal background have not identified a current girlfriend, fiancée or wife.
There may be speculation about his dating life on social media, but no relationship should be presented as confirmed without reliable reporting or a public statement from Kent himself.
As of now, Jayson Kent’s relationship status remains private.
Does Jayson Kent Have Children?
Jayson Kent has no publicly known children.
There has been no reliable announcement indicating that the basketball player is a father, and his official biographies do not mention a son or daughter.
As of now, there are no publicly confirmed children in Jayson Kent’s family.
Who Are Jayson Kent’s Parents?
Jayson Kent’s parents are Jason Kent and Anna Kent. Both played college basketball before establishing careers connected to sports, making basketball a major part of Jayson’s childhood.
The couple have two children, Jayson and his younger sister Janae, and both eventually became NCAA Division I basketball players.
Jayson Kent’s Father: Jason Kent
Jayson Kent’s father is Jason Kent, a former college basketball player, coach and player-development specialist.
Jason played two seasons of college basketball at Ohio University from 1992 to 1994 before completing his playing career at the University of Charleston in West Virginia.
After his playing days, he moved into coaching and player development.
Jason served as the head men’s basketball coach at Huston-Tillotson University in Austin from 2001 to 2004. That period helps explain why Jayson was born in Austin even though the family later became closely associated with the Chicago area.
Jason subsequently joined the basketball staff at Chicago State University, working as an assistant coach after the family moved to Illinois.
He later became heavily involved in individual player development and founded NextLEVEL 24 Basketball, an organization focused on helping young players develop the skills needed to progress from youth basketball to the college and professional levels.
Jason Kent’s Influence on Jayson’s Basketball Career
Having a father with experience as both a college player and coach gave Jayson access to basketball knowledge from an early age.
Jason understood not only the technical side of the game but also the discipline required to progress through competitive basketball.
His training philosophy emphasizes hard work, mental toughness, discipline and player development, principles that became important parts of Jayson’s basketball journey.
The basketball environment surrounding Jayson extended beyond his father. Several members of Jason’s extended family have also been involved in competitive or professional basketball, meaning Jayson grew up surrounded by people who understood the sport.
Jayson Kent’s Mother: Anna Kent
Jayson Kent’s mother is Anna Kent, a former NCAA Division I basketball player who competed at West Virginia University.
Anna was part of a West Virginia program that reached the NCAA Sweet 16, giving her firsthand experience competing at a high level in college basketball.
She later built a career in college athletics administration, compliance and operations while also working as a basketball trainer and advisor.
Anna previously worked in the University of Texas athletics department during the period when the Kent family lived in Austin.
She has also worked alongside her husband through NextLEVEL 24 Basketball, helping athletes and their families understand areas such as recruiting, eligibility and player development.
Anna’s experience made her particularly valuable to Jayson and Janae because she understood both basketball and the administrative side of college athletics.
Why Was Jayson Kent Born in Texas?
Although Jayson Kent is closely associated with Oak Forest, Illinois, he was actually born in Austin, Texas.
His family was living in Austin because his father was coaching basketball at Huston-Tillotson University.
Jayson spent approximately the first four years of his life in Austin before his family moved to the Chicago area when Jason joined the staff at Chicago State.
Kent subsequently grew up in Illinois and attended Oak Forest High School, where he developed into an all-state basketball player.
Years later, his basketball journey brought him back to the city of his birth when he transferred to the University of Texas for the 2024-25 college season.
Who Are Jayson Kent’s Siblings?
Jayson Kent has one younger sister, Janae Kent.
Like her brother and parents, Janae became an accomplished basketball player, continuing a family tradition that extends across multiple generations.
Janae Kent
Janae Kent is Jayson Kent’s younger sister and a Division I college basketball player.
The siblings grew up together in Oak Forest, Illinois, and both became standout players at Oak Forest High School.
Janae developed into one of the most productive basketball players in the school’s history. She finished her high-school career with 2,063 points, becoming Oak Forest’s all-time leading scorer across both the boys’ and girls’ programs.
She was a four-time all-conference selection and earned First Team All-State recognition three times while attracting dozens of Division I scholarship offers.
Janae Kent’s College Basketball Career
Janae originally committed to LSU and joined the Tigers for the 2023-24 season.
She appeared in 32 games during her freshman year, gaining experience with one of the country’s most prominent women’s basketball programs.
After one season at LSU, Janae transferred to Texas A&M.
She quickly became an important part of the Aggies’ rotation and eventually developed into a regular starter. For the 2026-27 season, Texas A&M lists her as a senior guard.
Her career means that while Jayson reached professional basketball, Janae continued building her own reputation in the college game.
Jayson and Janae Kent’s Relationship
Jayson and Janae have spoken publicly about their close relationship and mutual support.
Jayson has described Janae as his best friend and has followed her basketball career closely even while pursuing his own opportunities at different colleges.
The basketball connection between them began long before college.
During Jayson’s senior season at Oak Forest, he once credited his younger sister with helping him correct a problem with his jump shot. Janae advised him to put more arc on the ball after noticing that his shot had become too flat.
Jayson followed her advice and responded with an improved shooting performance, later acknowledging that his sister understood what she was talking about.
The story illustrates the unusual basketball knowledge within the Kent household: even the younger sibling was capable of helping an eventual professional player improve his game.
Jayson and Janae Kent Became SEC Rivals
The siblings’ basketball journeys created an unusual situation when Jayson transferred to Texas and Janae transferred to Texas A&M.
The longtime Texas rivals both became members of the SEC, placing the Kent siblings on opposite sides of one of college sports’ most famous rivalries.
Jayson joked that Janae was responsible for most of the trash talk between them.
However, he made clear that their rivalry remained friendly and that their relationship was primarily based on love and mutual support.
For Jayson, moving to Texas also meant he could attend more of his sister’s games in person rather than following her career from a distance.
Basketball Runs Through the Kent Family
Jayson and Janae are not the only basketball players in their extended family.
Two of Jayson’s uncles on his father’s side, Anthony Kent and Jordan Fair, have also had significant basketball careers.
Anthony Kent played college basketball at Ball State before continuing professionally, including experience overseas and in the NBA G League. He later became a professional coach and player-development specialist.
Jordan Fair played college basketball at Wheeling Jesuit University and later became involved in coaching and basketball development.
Both have worked alongside Jason Kent through the family’s player-development operation.
The combination of former college players, professional basketball experience, coaches and trainers made Jayson’s upbringing unusual even compared with many professional athletes.
How Jayson Kent’s Family Influenced His Career
Jayson Kent was not considered a major national recruit when he finished high school, but his family background provided him with a strong foundation for continued development.
After starring at Oak Forest High School, he began his college career at Bradley.
He spent two seasons with the Braves before transferring to Indiana State, where his career took a significant step forward.
Kent became an important contributor for an Indiana State team that enjoyed a memorable 2023-24 season and reached the championship game of the National Invitation Tournament.
He then transferred to Texas for his final college season, returning to the city where he was born.
After completing his college career, Kent continued pursuing professional basketball and eventually earned an opportunity with the Portland Trail Blazers organization.
His development from a relatively lightly recruited high-school player to professional basketball reflects many of the principles his parents emphasized throughout his childhood: patience, discipline, continuous improvement and persistence.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jayson Kent’s Family
Who is Jayson Kent’s girlfriend?
Jayson Kent has not publicly confirmed a girlfriend. Reliable sources covering his basketball career do not currently identify a romantic partner, so his relationship status remains private.
Is Jayson Kent married?
There is no reliable public information indicating that Jayson Kent is married.
Does Jayson Kent have children?
No publicly confirmed children are known. As of now, Jayson Kent has not announced becoming a father.
Who are Jayson Kent’s parents?
Jayson Kent’s parents are Jason Kent and Anna Kent. Both played college basketball before pursuing careers connected to athletics.
Who is Jayson Kent’s father?
Jayson Kent’s father is Jason Kent. He played basketball at Ohio University and the University of Charleston before becoming a college coach, basketball trainer and player-development specialist.
Who is Jayson Kent’s mother?
Jayson Kent’s mother is Anna Kent. She played NCAA Division I basketball at West Virginia University and later worked in college athletics administration and basketball development.
Does Jayson Kent have a sister?
Yes. His younger sister is Janae Kent, a Division I basketball player who began her college career at LSU before transferring to Texas A&M.
Does Jayson Kent have a brother?
No brother is identified in Jayson Kent’s official college biographies. He is publicly documented as having one sibling, his younger sister Janae.
Who is Janae Kent?
Janae Kent is Jayson Kent’s younger sister. She starred at Oak Forest High School, began her college career at LSU and later transferred to Texas A&M.
Did Jayson Kent’s parents play basketball?
Yes. His father Jason played at Ohio University and the University of Charleston, while his mother Anna played at West Virginia University.
Is Jayson Kent related to Anthony Kent?
Yes. Anthony Kent is part of Jayson Kent’s extended basketball family and is his uncle. Anthony played at Ball State before pursuing professional basketball and later becoming a coach and trainer.
Where is Jayson Kent’s family from?
Jayson was born in Austin, Texas, while his father was coaching there. The family moved to the Chicago area when Jayson was around four years old, and he subsequently grew up in Oak Forest, Illinois.
Orlando Bloom is a sports journalist and analyst specializing in in-depth NBA coverage, tactical breakdowns, and advanced player analytics. With a passion for professional basketball, he covers everything from trade deadline maneuvers and Draft prospects to team strategies and league-wide trends. Combining detailed stat analysis with game context, Orlando delivers sharp insights and compelling stories for avid basketball fans and casual followers alike.
