RIPON, Wis. – J.J. Jumper, the official basketball mascot of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, is to appear at Ripon College’s Storzer Center on February 17 at 2:00 during the Red Hawk’s men‘s and women’s basketball games. J.J. Jumper will perform throughout both games as part of the NCAA’s commitment to promote youth basketball participation and sportsmanship.

J.J. Jumper’s purpose is to increase enthusiasm and awareness of NCAA Basketball, while engaging and educating youth on healthy physical, emotional and educational values. J.J.’s mission is to represent both genders and all races. J.J. appears at men’s and women’s basketball games, giving away NCAA Basketball promotional items and performing skits during timeouts and/or halftime.

This year is the program’s seventh full season. During the past three seasons, J.J. Jumper has made more than 275 visits at member institutions, appearing at almost 600 men’s and women’s basketball games. J.J. performs at men’s and women’s basketball regular season games in all three divisions, conference tournaments and all NCAA basketball championships.

Tickets for the game on February 17 can be purchased at the door on the day of the game. For more information contact sports information director Michael Westemeier at (920) 748-8770.

J.J. Jumper was created in 1999, in part to help member institutions reach their younger fans, J.J. Jumper was developed through a study done by NCAA Basketball, and the concept has received a positive response from both youth and adults.

To learn more about J.J. Jumper, please visit NCAA Kids at www.NCAAsports.com.