A series of challenging moments and proud accomplishments throughout high school culminated in a college commitment for one exceptional senior girls basketball player, Maya Thompson. With an official admission offer to the University of New Mexico, Thompson will play in Division I and has her signing day coming up on Nov. 17. Composed of monumental accolades and growth, her basketball journey at Emerson is surely one to follow, and the extensive legacy she has left on the team should be celebrated.
As someone who has coached and mentored Thompson throughout her high school basketball career, girls basketball coach Jack Perkins takes pride in her growth and the steady contributions she has given to the team.
“She has matured tremendously,” Perkins said. “She’s going to be the first person to play all four years of varsity for Emerson. Even as a freshman, she was clearly the best player on the team.”
Not only was she able to sharpen her skills as a player, but she also garnered leadership skills and supported her teammates.
“ As a player and a leader, I think I’ve become more patient and calm over the years, … being able to uplift my teammates instead of tearing them down,” Maya Thompson, 12, said.
Although the ‘winning isn’t everything’ adage permeates every sports team as words of encouragement, Thompson had shown a unique, compelling perspective that pushed her team forward in the past years.
“I love her attitude of, ‘We’re gonna go out there, and we’re gonna do everything we can to win the game. If we don’t, then we’ll figure it out,’” Perkins said. “One big thing that she brought to the team is an understanding that if we don’t do everything we can to be as successful as we can, then we’re not doing ourselves a service.”
Regardless of how much effort and dedication players put into every game, hurdles in their journey are inevitable. This wasn’t an exception for Thompson either. What really set her apart from others was the way she used them as opportunities to grow even more, instead of viewing them solely as roadblocks.
“My most challenging time in basketball was my freshman year,” Thompson said. “There was a lot of adversity. However, overcoming adversity, being willing to grow as a player and [listening] to my coaches played a big [role] for me.”
The chief reason Thompson was able to overcome her challenges was none other than her deep sense of self-discipline.
“In three years of playing, so far, she’s missed one game, and that was because she was in the hospital and sick. Still, she came to the game and sat on the bench,” Perkins said. “Where 90% of her teammates are going to stay at home and lay in bed, she still shows up because she can’t ask people to be as committed and do what she wants them to do if she can’t do it herself.”
As she looks ahead to her next chapter, she hopes to bring the same level of determination and dedication to the college basketball team. In the long run, she aspires to serve as a crucial player on the team.
“I look forward to making an impact,” Thompson said. “I really hope I can come in and be a big piece for my team and our success. My dream is to play in the NCAA tournament March Madness, so I really hope I can take us to that point.”
Seeing Thompson making personal strides along with bringing healthy mindsets to the team, Perkins considers it to be a privilege to be able to watch her growth as a coach.
“It has been a beautiful four years with her,” Perkins said. “I really don’t want the season to end. I’ve really struggled knowing I really love the senior class. This has been the most special group of kids that I’ve been a part of, and I’m going to miss them tremendously.”
For underclassmen players in the team who will follow in her footsteps, Thompson offers a piece of advice that has helped her significantly over the years and played a huge role in shaping her current self.
“ The message I would give is that hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work,” Thompson said. “Also, focus on your own path. Don’t let social media and other people’s paths that you’re watching affect your self-image. I think not comparing myself and being willing to follow my own path was big for me.”
From coaching Thompson in her freshman year to now sending her off to college, Perkins has watched her grow into the player and person she is today. His pride in her is indescribably deep, and he shares his final words of encouragement for her future.
“I hope that in whatever she does, she understands that, as long as she works hard and pursues her dream, she’s always going to be happy,” Perkins said. “There are going to be some hard days, but I hope she understands that she’s loved, she’s cared about and she’s strong enough to tackle the problems.”
