For Aliyah Boston, basketball wasn’t just a sport—it was something she fell in love with at the age of nine. It all began when she started watching her older sister, Alexis, play. Then, at 12, both sisters moved to New England to live with their aunt and cousin. “When I first started playing, it was kind of just for fun, but then I realized how much you could get out of playing,” she once shared. And that’s how Boston first got her hands on a basketball.
No doubt, she had talent—but to reach the level of success she has today, talent alone wasn’t enough. True success comes with struggles, and overcoming them requires more than just skill. It takes unwavering support from your parents—and above all, faith. And Aliyah? She had all of it.
Who is Aliyah Boston’s mother, Cleone?
From the very beginning, Cleone Boston had a feeling her daughter was destined for greatness. Watching Aliyah play, she knew there was something special in her. Still, nothing could have fully prepared her for just how far her daughter would go. “This level of success… I don’t know if we ever really imagined it,” Cleone admitted in an interview with WTLX.com. “We just thought that she would thrive in the system and grow in the game she loved, but we didn’t honestly envision this.” That was Cleone’s reflection back when Aliyah led the South Carolina Gamecocks to the Final Four—one of the many defining moments in her career.
Yet even as the accolades kept coming, one thing never changed: the Bostons always celebrated every step of the journey, together. “All glory to God for blessing us just to even be here in this position with her,” Cleone said, a testament to the family’s deep faith and unity. But if you think Aliyah is the only high achiever in the Boston household, think again. Her success is deeply rooted in a family of purpose-driven individuals.
Cleone herself is one example. She serves as the president of the Miracle Babies Foundation, a nonprofit that has donated over $170,000 to the Schneider Regional Medical Center in St. Thomas. Originally from the U.S. Virgin Islands, where Aliyah was born, Cleone is also the co-founder of a sports company called Parach Resource Management. According to Virgin Islands Daily News, the company’s name holds a Hebrew meaning, symbolizing “growth, flourishing, and fulfillment of God’s promises.”
She’s often shared their family’s incredible journey: one built on sacrifice, rooted in faith, and defined by a courageous decision. And while Cleone’s impact is deeply felt, she’s not the only one who’s helped shape Aliyah’s path.
Who is Aliyah Boston’s father, Algernon?
Just like Cleone played a crucial role in shaping their daughters’ future, Algernon “Al” Boston was just as vital in their early development. He didn’t just cheer from the sidelines—he laid the foundation, quite literally. Al built a makeshift basketball court right in their backyard, lovingly naming it the “Boston Arena.” One of the first basketballs the girls ever played with? It came from a local K-Mart in St. Thomas, handpicked by their dad.
Soon, that court became a battleground where Aliyah sharpened her skills, often going head-to-head with her older sister, Alexis, who is two and a half years her senior. And when Alexis wasn’t around, her opponent was none other than Al himself. “I would not give them a free bucket—they had to work hard for every shot,” he recalled with pride.
But Al’s support went beyond the backyard. At every game in St. Thomas, he was there, steady, supportive, and present. Whether Aliyah needed encouragement or a familiar face in the crowd, she always had her dad nearby. Once, Cleone shared a story with Sports Illustrated that captured Al’s unwavering dedication: “The referee came up to him and asked jokingly, ‘You don’t work?’ I’m used to seeing moms at all of these games.”
What is Aliyah Boston’s parents’ nationality?
Aliyah Boston and her sister, Alexis, spent their early years growing up and attending school in the Virgin Islands. Their parents, Al and Cleone Boston, both American citizens from the same area, raised them there with strong values and big dreams. But as the girls’ passion for basketball started to grow, so did the realization that the opportunities they needed weren’t close to home.
Syndication: The Indianapolis Star Indiana Fever forward Aliyah Boston 7 guards Atlanta Dream guard Jordin Canada 3 on Thursday, May 9, 2024, during the preseason game against the Atlanta Dream at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Indiana Fever defeated the Atlanta Dream, 83-80. Indianapolis , EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xGracexHollars/IndyStarx USATSI_23232947
And suddenly, everything changed when they attended a basketball camp in Massachusetts, where Cleone’s sister, Jenaire Hodge, lived with her daughter. The camp opened a new door, and a tough conversation. The Bostons knew that if their daughters were to chase bigger dreams, they’d have to make a difficult decision. So, with heavy hearts but hopeful minds, they sent Aliyah and Alexis 1,700 miles away to live with their aunt.
Of course, it wasn’t easy. “She definitely made us do our chores,” Aliyah once said about her aunt. “It also made me grow up faster than if I would have still been staying with my parents because they could have helped me with certain stuff.” Living away from her parents meant sacrificing emotional support, but it also built strength. And everything she gave up back then helped shape the woman and athlete she is today.
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