Chester High School grads surprise mom with new home

CHESTER, Pa. (WPVI) -- The Hollis-Jefferson brothers graduated from Chester High School and have both gone on to successes on the basketball court.

In an emotional video, brothers Rahlir and Rondae fulfilled a mission they assigned themselves as teenagers.

For their mother Rylanda Harris's 44th birthday, they surprised her with her very own house.

"I'm proud and very happy for both of them. With the surprise that was the best birthday I had in my whole life," Rylanda said.

"We always talked about it, moving mom out of Chester, get her a nice home and he called me up one day, and he was like 'bro , time to get her a house,'" Rahlir said.

Rahlir, 24, and his mom spoke to Action News Tuesday.

Rondae, a rookie on the Brooklyn Nets, brought up the idea to his brother again on draft night.

In secret, the boys hired a realtor until they picked the right one.

"Then when we told her, 'Mom, this is your new home,' it was just overwhelming joy," Rahlir said.

Both men are basketball standouts and products of Chester.

Rahlir played at Temple and is headed to the National Basketball League of Canada this December.

Rondae was a first round draft pick to Portland and was immediately traded to the Nets this past June.

The Hollis-Jefferson boys credit their successes and staying on the right path to their mom who worked multiple jobs.

They gave her the new home during a surprise birthday party; she knocked on the door having no idea this was now her new address.

It was a big gift for a mom who only asked the boys for one thing.

"To graduate from high school, all I asked for was a diploma," Rylanda said.

The boys credit their extended family with helping to raise them including their grandparents.

Rylanda moves into her new place in November with her mother.