Most players that can make it in the NBA leave college early to pursue their dream of playing professional basketball. For some, that means the end of their academic career. For others, like Brooklyn Nets' Jarrett Jack, it simply means putting it in the back burner for a while.

Jack left Georgia Tech after his junior season to enter the NBA's 2005 draft. He was selected 22 overall by the Denver Nuggets and went on to have a long, still ongoing career and to earn millions of dollars. Ten years later, he finally earned his degree after spending his summers studying. Jack credits his parents with providing him the necessary motivation, telling Shlomo Sprung of Sheridan Hoops:

"It's something I promised my mom I would do after I decided to make my dream become a reality, and I'm very, very thankful that she pushed me to stick with it." "I definitely just have to give a lot of thanks to my parents," Jack said. "They're the ones who had my back when there were days and moments when I really wanted to enjoy my summer. They pushed me to keep up with it and stay the course as much as possible and I'm glad they did."

Jack showed the same determination that has kept him in the league to make good on a promise to his mother and to finish college. Kudos to him.