FAMILIES come in all shapes and sizes and the Cruze family is no different.

Their story about adopting an orphaned boy is indeed an intriguing one. Now 14-year-old James, a budding tennis player, was given a new lease on life when he was adopted by American citizens Jay and Linda Cruze when he was only six years old.

His parents, who were from the Seattle, Washington area, came to Jamaica in 2000 and met him at the New Hope Children’s Home in Mandeville where they and their older daughters instantly fell in love with the then three-year-old.

Jay and Linda later started the adoption process and decided that they wanted to stay in Jamaica where they relocated in 2002.

The non-profit missionaries now run a boys home in Mandeville where they were once teachers at the Jamaica Bible College. James is named for his grandfather, who was a top 100 tennis player in California as a youngster.

He started playing the sport three years ago.

“I saw it on TV one time and I liked it so much, just how they were hitting the ball and it just seemed fun so I tried it for one summer and I really liked it,” James told the Observer.

“I took a couple months off to see if I really wanted to do it and I put my heart into it and I’ve loved it ever since,” he added.

James Cruze, who was a runner-up in the boys Under-14 at yesterday’s PanCaribbeanBank All-Jamaica Junior Championships, is now coached by his father and also renown local coach Lockett McGregor, who is based in Kingston.

James’ mother, Linda, said the commitment to the sport now takes the family to Kingston three days a week, which can be heavy on the gas bill.

Luckily, the player is homeschooled which allows him time to focus on his tennis.

“It’s a great sport (where) you do not have to be out there on a team and it’s just fun,” she said.