Player Spotlight: The Return of Ryan Damon

Next Play Story: The Return of Ryan Damon

Every season has a story that reminds us what the Next Play mentality really looks like. This winter, that story belongs to Ryan Damon.

After suffering an ACL tear in the spring following his sophomore year basketball season, Ryan faced the kind of adversity that tests more than just your body — it tests your patience, your mindset, and your belief in the work. He missed his entire junior year of competition. No games. No Friday-night lights. Just rehab, quiet gyms, and the daily grind of getting a little better when nobody is watching.

And he never wavered.

Instead of focusing on what he lost, Ryan leaned into growth. He showed up around the game, stayed connected, and when the time finally came to return, he didn’t ease back in — he attacked the opportunity. Playing with Next Play last spring, Ryan rebuilt his rhythm and confidence, proving that resilience isn’t about where you start, it’s about how you respond.

Now, he’s earned a starting role and has become a key piece for the Explorers.

Last Friday night against Archbishop Ryan, Ryan Damon showed exactly who he is — a gritty competitor who drives the basketball with purpose, makes the extra effort plays, and knocks down open shots when the moment calls for it. The kind of player every team needs when the games start to matter a little more. He scored ten points, grabbed a handful of rebounds and played excellent defense and led his team to a great road come from behind victory.

Tonight, the stakes rise again.

The Explorers tip off their first-round playoff game at 7 PM back at Archbishop Ryan High School, and they’ll need Ryan Damon at his best — tough, confident, and locked into the next play. His journey back isn’t just about scoring or starting; it’s about perseverance, trust in the process, and the power of staying ready when your moment returns.

At Next Play, we talk a lot about development, resilience, and character. Ryan Damon embodies all three.

This is why we do what we do.

Next Play Mentality. Always.