Jalen Rose is stepping deeper into storytelling.
The NBA legend’s Detroit-based multimedia company, Same Page Entertainment, is set to debut its first original television project, South West High, on Tubi beginning February 23, 2026.
The five-episode drama series — co-created by Jalen Rose, Ty Mopkins and Dennis Reed II, with Rose also executive producing and starring — is inspired by the mentorship and education mission behind the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy in Detroit.
Set inside a struggling inner-city high school on the brink of collapse, South West High follows former professional basketball player Nolan Thomas (Rose) as he returns to his alma mater as principal. Determined to transform the school that once saved him, Nolan quickly learns that leadership requires more than discipline and good intentions. As he pushes for reform, he’s forced to confront hard truths about power, accountability and sacrifice — and whether saving the institution may cost him everything.
The ensemble cast includes Dawn Halfkenny, Towanda Braxton, Christina Cooper, Stevie Baggs Jr., Brooklyn “Queen” Oates and Don Brumfield Jr., with guest appearances from Anna Maria Horsford, Detroit rapper Sada Baby and FOX 2 Detroit anchor Maurielle Lue.
The series aims to balance grit with hope, spotlighting the realities of urban education while honoring the resilience of both educators and students navigating systemic challenges.
“We are thrilled to partner with Tubi to debut South West High,” Rose said in a statement. “Since opening the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy in 2011, I’ve had a front-row seat to the determination, resilience and ambition of young people in Detroit. This series is fiction, but the spirit behind it is very real.”
He added that the project allowed him to collaborate with longtime friend and former classmate Ty Mopkins while continuing to tell stories rooted in community.
Behind the scenes, Detroit legend Royce 5’9” serves as music supervisor and composed the original score alongside Denaun Porter, reinforcing the show’s local authenticity.
The launch of South West High marks Same Page Entertainment’s formal entry into original series production as the company builds a Detroit-rooted slate across film, television and podcasts. Upcoming projects include a feature documentary on the McDonald’s All American Games for Prime Video, a narrative feature film, and Rose’s return to podcasting from the company’s new downtown Detroit studio.
With South West High, Rose isn’t just telling a story about education — he’s extending the mission.