Dobbins inherited his mother’s tenacity. Mya Grounds, a high school athlete who excelled in volleyball and basketball, was unable to pursue collegiate athletics due to parental responsibilities. Despite this, she finished her education by enrolling in classes at the University of Houston and earning a finance degree.
She now juggles her job as an IRS accountant with the responsibilities of raising her younger son, Kance, and other children. Lawrence Dobbins was the standout running back at J.K.’s high school, La Grange. He was also a great sprinter on the track and field team.
Lawrence’s speed led him to Lincoln University, a Division III HBCU in Philadelphia, where he was a member of the 4100-meter relay team that came just short of winning the national championship in 1999. He returned to Texas, however, and enrolled at Blinn College, a small college with a football program.
Despite initially joining the football team, he was unable to participate and eventually resigned. Lawrence ran into problems after football did not work out for him. On February 22, 2014, J.K. was 15 years old when he died from a stroke at Bartlett State Prison. Lawrence was convicted of property theft in 2012 and sentenced to two years in prison.
