Learning Throughout His Journey

Becoming a star player for the Maryland Terrapins was no easy journey for Donta Scott. Through perseverance and immense effort, Scott was able to overcome several hardships while those who love him rallied behind him, helping him reach for his dreams.  

“My journey is really long,” said Scott. “I wasn't always a basketball guy, my mom got me into basketball. That’s why my mom is a big factor in my life. She got me into basketball first, and I wasnt always good at it. 

“I remember the first time I played, I didn't have any basketball shoes, so I had boots. Growing up it wasn't always that easiest.”

Growing up in Philadelphia, Scott often found himself facing obstacles and overcoming challenges en route to becoming a key piece to the Terrapins squad. It was through perseverance and a strong support system that Scott was able to make his goals become a reality.

“The journey that I had on the way up before basketball was just rough,” said Scott. “I wasn't really put into a good educational area where I lived in [Philadelphia] and it was a lot of up and down moments with my family moving a lot and just a lot of negativity from the area I lived in. It was from gun violence or just being around the wrong crowd, not knowing enough growing up and not having my dad in my life being a key factor in that.”

Once Donta Scott reached high school, he was surrounded by a strong supporting cast that would stand by his side, ensuring that they would be there for him - offering support from academics to basketball to his personal life. He credits a lot of that support to his mother and his AAU basketball coach, who has become a key figure in his life ever since. 

“I got to high school in a really good high school with a lot of people around me, a lot of good mentors and a lot of people who tried to help me with my school and academics which was a struggling part,” said Scott. “As I started getting better at basketball, a struggle that I still had was school related. That helped my journey to get to Maryland by making sure I had proper grades to be able to start out and play right away. Once I got to Maryland, I took off from there.”

As he continued to improve, Scott grew closer to his AAU coach and teammates, referring to them as a second home away from home, all while the continued support of his mother motivated him to reach further success. 

“I got better and better [learning] from my coach [Howard Hudson], who actually took a chance on me when nobody else was," said Scott. "He just put the work in and grinded with me; being a good mentor to me. He basically tried to shape me and put me in the right direction of being a man. Just knowing what a man is supposed to do in some situations, and housework and all that stuff.

“That's what the basketball part for me is all about, making a better lifestyle for me, my family and especially my mom. Without her I wouldn't be here or playing basketball at all because she's the one who actually decided it was about time I got out the house and do some exercise and get moving.” 

Once Scott became more involved and focused on his athletic talents, he would eventually commit to the University of Maryland, where, from day one, he knew that the Terps community and fanbase was something special. Scott is forever appreciative of the positive experiences that he has gained, explaining that this special group has become a family to him. 

“It means a lot. That's a big part of the reason I came here. When I took my visit I felt like it was a family based place, a family based unity and that's what I've been seeing a lot” said Scott. “Once I got to Maryland, I took off from there.”

Then, during his junior season, Scott was once again faced with an obstacle, as his childhood home in Pennsylvania underwent severe flooding due to Hurricane Ida. The flood caused damages to Scott’s house and destroyed many of his family’s possessions. However, his strength and toughness allowed him to navigate through the hard times.  

“That's kind of been my whole life, just getting through adversity and getting through tough times, especially the flood,” Scott said. “Even though I wasn't there, that still has a big impact on me because that's my family. The flood really affected them a lot. Leaving them not knowing where they were going to go next.

“Growing up there for the majority of my life it was hard to have to just let that place go, and say it's time for us to just leave this behind.”

Upon learning of the flood, both the Maryland basketball coaching staff and the Terrapins community were quick to rally behind Scott and his family, offering their support in any way they could. 

“What stood out to me the most is when Coach Turgeon actually heard from another source that my family was in a flood. As soon as they heard that, the first reaction and instinct that they had was - ‘How can we help Donta and help his family out?’” said Scott.

“That really stood out to me because the fact that they heard from another source and that they stood right on their feet and started coming up with ideas to help me, really stood out.”

As a result of this support from his coaching staff, a GoFundMe page was constructed to help raise funds for Donta Scott and his family to help them get back on their feet and reclaim the many possessions they had lost during the flood. 

Together, the Maryland program and fans from across the country reached out to offer their support to Scott’s family. 

“It just means the world to me just knowing that a lot of these fans out there that come watch our games can really have that family-based enthusiasm to help somebody out that they don't barely know on a [personal] level, but they know on the court,” Scott said. “Just knowing that that's something you would do for your family, and knowing that family based atmosphere they gave me even on the court and off the court with the GoFundMe is just really exciting. [It was] really nice and a key moment in my life to say that the Maryland fans, the Terps, they will have your back.

“They didn't have to do that. They didn't have to give me any first thought or second thought but within their hearts, they did. It's been really helpful for my family.”

Since receiving the outpouring of support, Scott explains that his family’s situation has been improving since the flood, as they are staying close to home while searching for their next destination.

“The GoFundMe was really a lot of help for my family, just helping them get a lot of their possessions and other things they need back. It really helped my mom have at least some headspace” said Scott. “My mom seems like she's doing better, she's always been a strong woman.”

As his family continues to regain their footing, Scott has been looking to pay it forward to those who have been through similar challenges. Through his book WIRED Differently: My School Journey, Scott hopes to educate students facing hardships, and convince them that success is within their reach. 

“The book was written to help unfortunate kids growing up who didn't have someone in their corner, helping them understand the bigger picture,” Scott said. “I didn't always see the bigger picture with basketball until people started opening that page up for me. I just thought I should give back to the kids or help the teachers try to understand kids who may be in my same situation.” 

As for now, Scott continues to impress Terrapin coaches and fans alike with his performances on the court as well as his successes in the classroom and life. 

“Donta has gone through a lot,” said interim head coach Danny Manning. “From where he's started to where he is now, just in terms of the adversity that he's faced growing up in the area he grew up in. The academic challenges that he had to navigate as a student. And finding a way to stay motivated, finding a way to channel energy into what you need to channel that energy into to be a successful young man is part of a remarkable journey for Donta. To be where he’s at right now and to have the success that he’s had as a student, as a basketball player and as a young man is something that everyone in his family and in his circle is very proud of,” said interim head coach Danny Manning.

Constantly progressing and continually impressing those around him, Scott will hold the Maryland family close to his heart, never forgetting the generosity they offered when he needed it the most. 

“I just appreciate the support. I really love Terp nation, and my coaches and family. They're really key in my success and what I've been able to accomplish now.”