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My Story | Eric Ayala

Name: My Story | Eric Ayala
Uploaded: 2022-03-09T17:13:02Z
Description: My Story | Eric Ayala

By Maryland Terrapins

March 9^th, 2022

"I carry that on my shoulders, where I’m from, and it’s something I take to my heart."

"One time I had to take the basketball away from Eric because he wasn’t focused on school. I told him, ‘you have to earn the right to play basketball. Just because you’re good, doesn’t mean I have to allow you to play.'" - Brandy Smith, Eric’s mother

"I'm playin right here, I remember having dreams of going to a school like Maryland... playing on the big stage... It's coming full circle right now."

"My support system kept me out of trouble, whether it was my mom, my grandparents or my friends. They’ve been there for me every step of the way."

"Early on as a kid I knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to play basketball at a high level."

"There’s been numerous games in college where I’ve gone home and it gives me new juice heading into my next game. It brings me back to reality and makes me realize how much more work I have to do."

"I always knew that I could be more than where I was from."

“It’s unreal to think about how much I was able to accomplish here at Maryland.”

"I think back to all the times my Mom struggled and all the sacrifices she made for me to be where I am today and I can’t thank her enough."

“I wouldn’t be the player I am today without the Maryland fans.”

"When it’s all said and done, I hope the impact I had on them mirrors how hard I played and the effort that I gave on the court."

Footnotes

Photos by Maryland Athletics Photographer Zach Bland. Quotes by Eric Ayala unless otherwise noted. All content is property of University of Maryland Athletics and protected by copyright laws.

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FootNotes

Photos by Maryland Athletics Photographer Zach Bland. Quotes by Eric Ayala unless otherwise noted. All content is property of University of Maryland Athletics and protected by copyright laws.

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