Player Spotlight: Mason Meagher — A Next Play Success Story

Player Spotlight: Mason Meagher — A Next Play Success Story

Every year, a few kids remind us why we coach. For us, Mason Meagher is one of those kids.

Mason started later than most in the Next Play program, but he always had a genuine love for the game. Before he ever put on a Next Play jersey, he was the kid outside practicing on his own, working on his handle, trying things he’d seen older players do. He had what we like to call a “playground game”—a little bit of sizzle, a lot of creativity—but he hadn’t yet learned how to play team basketball.

When he entered Springfield Township High School as a freshman, Mason set a clear goal:

make the basketball team.

It would be the first organized team he had ever played on.

When he came to our tryouts, Mason didn’t stand out to most people—but I saw something different. I’ve known Mason since kindergarten, when he, Richie, and his twin brother Rallin were all running around the township gyms. I remembered his eagerness, his willingness to learn, and the spark he had even back then.

So when we built our 9th-grade team—a team we assembled late in the summer specifically to help kids like Mason grow—he earned a spot. And he went to work. Quietly. Consistently. Without excuses.

Today, we got the news:

Mason made the JV team at Springfield Township High School.

For a kid who started later…

For a kid who had to learn structure and team concepts…

For a kid who simply loved the game enough to keep showing up…

This is a huge accomplishment.

And you can be sure:

we’ll be in the stands rooting for him.

Proud of you, Mason. Keep going. The story’s just getting started.