In 2022 young Jennell Houston at 15 years old, and three other youths, from Majesty Gardens were offered high school basketball scholarships to the North Florida Educational Institute (NFEI). She was amongst a group of 16 youths sponsored by the American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ) to a residential basketball camp at the G C Foster College in Spanish Town where she caught the attention of visiting scouts from the USA.

Jennell's, and the other three players, dreams was made possible by the Ministry of Sports through the Sports Development Foundation ((SDF) and the AFJ who assisted in funding her visa, airfare and other expenses which enabled her and the other youths from the Majesty Gardens community to go to the USA.

Jennell, who was a participant in the Southern Basketball Conference outreach project in her community, took up basketball from about 9 years old. Her father died while she was an infant and she attended the Hailie Selassie High School in Kingston, where she was a poor attendee because of lack of support at home. She eventually took up washing windscreens at stoplights to feed herself and to attend school when possible.

Jennell is now in her final year of high school and during her sojourn at NFEI she has made her mark as a standout athlete and scholar.

According to MaxPreps.com "Jennell Houston, a guard for the North Florida Educational Institute (NFEI) Fighting Eagles, is a standout basketball player in Florida for the 2025-26 season. She is ranked #116 in Florida and #14 in Division 1A. As of March 2026, she is a top scorer for her team, averaging 10.1 points and 6.6 rebounds per game."