Shady Spring – Ammar Maxwell has enjoyed a decorated high school basketball career, winning a pair of state championships and earning a pair of first-team all-state selections.
It all served as a springboard for the talented 6-foot-4 wing.
Surrounded by coaches, teammates, future teammates and family, Maxwell signed his National Letter of Intent to play college basketball next year at Glenville State University.
He joins several peers and classmates such as Jacob Meadows (baseball) and Gavin Davis (football) who have elected to take their talents to Gilmer County.
Maxwell had several suitors, including a few locally but his familiarity with Pioneers head coach Bob Bolen helped the cause. Bolen saw Maxwell up close for years, doing color commentary for Video Productions’ broadcasts of Shady Spring games prior to taking the Glenville job last year.
“Coach Bolen, I have a great relationship with him,” Maxwell said. “He kept up with me all summer, and in touch ever since he offered me. And he has a great relationship with my parents. So I mean, it was just great fit.”
For Maxwell the opportunity is two-fold.
He gets to study with his education paid for and he already knows what he wants from the jump.
“I want to major in business right now,” Maxwell said.
Maxwell is the third Tiger the program has sent to the next level to play college basketball over the last four years, joining Tommy Williams and twins Braden and Cole Chapman.
It’s long been a goal of Shady Spring head coach Ronnie Olson’s to build a program that not only competes for and wins state championships but prepares its players for life after high school.
“When I took this program, I think we wanted to build but I think one of the biggest parts that I take pride in truthfully, is my guys being able to play at the next level and be able to set the stage for them,” Olson said. “Whether it be Video Productions, whether it be social media, whether it be you know improving their likenesses, whatever it is, I want our guys to get be out there. And I feel like that’s my responsibility. Parents have responsibilities – raise your kids and put them into good jobs and stuff like that. My job as a coach is to put them in their best position to be successful at the next level in their sport. And I think that we proved we’ve been able to do that and I take pride in that as much as I do wins and losses when I get those guys to sign.
“It’s like winning a sectional or regional championship every time someone signs on the dotted line. And so that means a lot to me. And I said that from day one, I take pride in it and it’s super special to me. It’s a reflection of me, it’s a reflection of our program and I take pride in it. I’m not gonna lie, Ammar and I are close personally and it’s not because he won two state championships. It’s because he’s special and we talk all the time. I feel like a father to him. So I have pride in him signing and going on to play ball. If I can help any way I can, it’s great. But now I take great pride in that and I feel like if you’re a coach and you’re not doing that, then you’re not doing what you’re supposed to do as a coach. Just like teachers have to prep their people for the ACT, writing essays and learning how to do equations I’ve got to prep my guys to play the next level.”
Olson has effectively prepared Maxwell for the next level on competition alone. The Tigers routinely stacked their schedule with the best teams in state on their way to four consecutive Class AA state championship games. Maxwell played against DI players such as Isaac McKneely (UVA) and Sharron Young (Akron) on a yearly basis.
Facing off against those players are amongst some go his favorite memories but not quite at the top of the list.
“I think it’s playing at The Greenbrier,” Maxwell said. “I mean, I just love that court. I just love The Greenbrier. I just like being there. It’s just a good place and I like it a lot.”
You don’t reach the level Maxwell has without improving your game. He’s aware of where he needs to improve to see the court next season.
“I definitely need to get in the weight room, get some muscle on me and get stronger,” Maxwell said. “When I went up there and played five-on-five I was kind of weak when I was driving. I just got to get in the weight room and get better. You know, shooting too and just working on my game in general.”
