When JJ Andrews announced his commitment to Arkansas basketball on May 15, 2025, he wasn’t just selecting a college program. He was continuing a powerful family legacy with deep roots in Razorback athletics, following the path blazed by his father while carving his own unique journey.
Behind this rising basketball star stands a family with athletic excellence in their DNA. JJ’s parents bring impressive credentials from different sports and backgrounds, creating the perfect foundation for one of the nation’s most promising basketball talents who chose Arkansas over finalists Missouri and LSU.
The Athletic Powerhouse: Shawn and Janetta Andrews
JJ’s commitment announcement sent ripples through Razorback Nation as fans celebrated the next chapter in the Andrews family story. His father, Shawn Andrews, carved out an exceptional career as an offensive lineman at Arkansas from 2001-03, earning consensus All-American honors twice and multiple All-SEC selections.
Shawn’s dominance earned him the prestigious Jacobs Blocking Trophy on two occasions before being selected 16th overall in the 2004 NFL Draft. His seven-season professional career with the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants included two Pro Bowl selections before back issues led to his retirement in 2011.
JJ’s mother, Janetta Heggins Andrews, brings her own impressive sports resume to the family. Growing up in North Carolina’s Rowan County, she excelled as a standout multi-sport athlete at South Rowan High School, earning recognition in the Salisbury-Rowan Hall of Fame.
Standing 5’10”, Janetta took her basketball talents to Western Carolina University, where she continued competing at the collegiate level. Her height and basketball acumen complement the physical attributes JJ inherited from his father,r creating a potent genetic combination.
A Legacy of His Own Making
“I definitely look around at my uncles, they’re all over six feet five and over, and I’m like, wow. I wear a size 16 shoe, my family all have big feet… my mom, she’s 5’10 and she used to play basketball. Everybody in my family is an athlete,” JJ shared, acknowledging his genetic advantages.
The athletic lineage extends beyond his parents. JJ’s uncle, Stacy Andrews, also played on the offensive line in the NFL, further demonstrating the family’s elite athletic genes and deep connection to high-level athletics.
“A lot of people try to get my ideas on them because my dad played football there, but my decision will be about fit for me,” JJ told 247Sports during his recruitment process, showing his determination to make his own choice.
Despite forging his own path, the Arkansas connection holds special meaning “Knowing that my dad played there is definitely cool to see because I’ve always looked up to him just as a person because he’s an amazing person… being able to maintain that offer, it’s a big deal for me and my family.”
KEEP READING: Arkansas Basketball Transfer Portal
JJ credits his parents with essential guidance during his recruitment: “I’m around my parents a lot. They help influence my decisions about colleges and decision-making. They make sure to keep my head level, and I make sure to keep my head level, and whatever is the best option for me in life, that’s what I will take.”
As JJ begins his Arkansas journey under coach John Calipari, he carries forward not just his family’s athletic legacy but also their wisdom, representing a new chapter in the Andrews family tradition while establishing his own identity in basketball rather than football.
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