Dreams don’t come easy. They take sweat, sacrifice and committed support from people who believe in you. Follow along as we meet top high school athletes and share their stories of inspiration, support and success. #Get2TheGame
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PLAYER PROFILE:
Omari Spellman
School: St. Thomas More School (Oakdale, Ct.)
Position: Center
Height/Weight: 6-9/269
Class: 2016
For Omari Spellman, playing basketball isn’t just about his talent; it’s about his love for the game. The power forward from St. Thomas More Preparatory School has been playing since he was two years old, and dreams of one day taking his love of the game to the next level.
PREGAME RITUAL
“Before every game I tell each teammate something positive. Then I get warmed up and listen to music.”
FAVORITE QUOTE
“A fool believes himself to be wise, but a wise man believes himself to be a fool.”
INSPIRATION
“My mother inspires me. She has done so much for me and I want to be able to reciprocate that.”
“THE THINGS THAT KEEP ME MOTIVATED? I WOULD SAY THE CONSTANT WANTING TO PROVE PEOPLE WRONG, THE CONSTANT WANTING TO GIVE BACK TO MY COMMUNITY, THE CONSTANT WANTING TO GIVE BACK TO MY MOTHER, AND THE CONSTANT WANTING A BETTER LIFE FOR MY LITTLE BROTHER, MY LITTLE SISTER, AND MY FAMILY.”
POWERING TOWARDS A DREAM
Omari Spellman is determined to be one of the best players to ever play the game of basketball.
Some might say that’s quite a lofty goal. But then again, not everyone has the same ambition as Omari.
“I feel the reason a lot of people don’t accomplish their dreams is because they write them off, and they say, ‘I can’t do that.’ When you say things like that, you limit your ability to be great,” says Omari. “Look at dreams as goals, and contribute every inch of your being to achieving that goal and that dream, and you can do it.”
The power forward is on the verge of something big. He has the potential to play ball at the next level, with the goal of eventually going pro. But even with his ambitions, he still takes every day at a time and focuses on the present. That means giving his all on the court and playing the game he loves.
“My favorite part about basketball would probably be the competitiveness – five guys on each side of the court, just going at it for 40 minutes,” says Omari, “I love how exciting the game can be when someone makes a big play, how loud the crowd gets.”
However, Omari’s focus isn’t limited to the basketball court. He lives at and attends St. Thomas More Preparatory School, which has instilled in him both a sense of independence and an appreciation for academics.
His mother, Teresita has seen Omari evolve firsthand, “We’ve always stressed academics in our household, we always stress the importance of studying, and we always stress the importance of life after basketball.”
“My dreams are more so goals than anything. I don’t dream just to say I have that dream. I want to make those dreams a reality.”
Omari says that he hopes his pursuit of his dream inspires others to achieve theirs.
“Anyone can achieve any dream, as long as they set their mind to it,” he says. His example? Himself. “I’m just a regular person I just happen to be a little bit taller than a regular person.”