INDIANAPOLIS — After a series of cryptic, strange posts made on social media by his son Jizzle James, Indianapolis Colts Hall of Fame running back Edgerrin James revealed Jizzle is dealing with “substance abuse” and “not in the right state of mind.”
Jizzle, a former Cincinnati basketball guard, had been displaying increasingly erratic behavior on social media over the past several weeks. After transferring to Charlotte, following former UC coach Wes Miller in the spring, he is no longer listed on the team’s roster.
Advertisement
In some posts, Jizzle hinted at a return to Cincinnati, but the school confirmed to the Cincinnati Enquirer that is not an option at this time.
“Jizzle is dealing with substance abuse and is NOT in the right state of mind right now,” James wrote in an Instagram story post Tuesday. “If you see him, show him LOVE-but DO NOT give him money, valuables, or anything material.
“You’re not helping him by feeding the problem. He wants/needs for NOTHING … Give him a hug. Give him encouragement. Give him love. THAT’S IT … Be patient with him. We’re fighting for him, not against him. ‘Everything’s Gonna Be Alright.'”
On Sept. 6, in a since-deleted post, Jizzle showed a screenshot of a text conversation with someone who purported to be representing the University of Cincinnati. The message was a cease-and-desist notice instructing him to stop using UC logos and materials, which Jizzle responded to with vulgarity.
Advertisement
Jizzle tagged several NBA franchises on the post, adding “point guard for sale” to indicate his free-agent status.
Zach Stipe, Cincinnati’s senior associate athletics director for communications and creative content, confirmed to The Enquirer that the message with a 321 area code (Orlando) was not from a UC representative.
On Friday, Sept. 4, Jizzle’s manager, who goes by the handle @lahurtdawggg on Instagram, announced that Jizzle would be going on tour signing autographs and selling jerseys. His tour was set to begin in Mississippi, and he has since announced several dates across Florida. Jizzle said his young son, Jett, would also be attending meet and greets.
In the past several weeks, Jizzle and his manager have been active on social media, posting multiple times per day, often with cryptic messages or unclear intent. His manager has also reached out to content creators on TikTok, asking for positive coverage of Jizzle in exchange for compensation if Jizzle reaches the NBA.
Advertisement
Jizzle is 21 years old and would have college basketball eligibility next season based on the NCAA’s new “5-for-5” rule. He spent three seasons with Cincinnati, leading the team in scoring as a sophomore in 2024-25. James missed Cincinnati’s first 10 games of last season for undisclosed personal reasons.
Cincinnati parted ways with Jizzle last summer before he was brought back on the roster midway through the season. He played in 23 games last season averaging 10.9 points and 2.1 assists per game for the Bearcats.
The Cincinnati Enquirer contributed to this report.
Follow IndyStar sports reporter Dana Hunsinger on X @danahunsinger33. Reach her via email dbenbow@indystar.com.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Edgerrin James makes plea for son Jizzle James. ‘He’s not in the right state of mind right now’
