When you talk about growth, real growth, you don’t measure it only in points, assists, or minutes played. You measure it in perspective, maturity, and the way a young man begins to understand who he is becoming. That’s exactly what this season meant for Ahmad Minor, junior guard for the Savannah Jaguars.
When Ahmad was asked what he learned this season, his answer didn’t sound like a typical basketball response. It sounded like a young leader being formed.
The first thing he spoke about was teamwork — the understanding that success isn’t about one player shining, but about everyone doing their job so the team can be at its best. He learned that sometimes leadership looks like encouraging others, and sometimes it means allowing others to encourage you. That balance — giving support and receiving it — became part of who he is.
Ahmad also learned patience. He realized the game isn’t always about him, his shots, or his stats. It’s about timing, trust, and sacrifice. It’s about knowing when to step forward and when to step back. That kind of patience doesn’t just make better players — it makes better teammates.
This season taught him the power of learning from others — from teammates, from coaches, from the grind of the season itself. He grew not just as a guard, but as a person. He began to understand that development isn’t accidental — it’s intentional.
One of the most powerful lessons Ahmad learned was trusting himself. Confidence, he realized, isn’t arrogance — it’s belief built through work. It’s showing up every day, grinding, improving, and knowing that greatness isn’t given, it’s earned. He now knows he can become a great player through discipline, commitment, and effort.
He also learned the value of listening and understanding — that growth requires humility. If you don’t understand something, you ask. That wisdom starts with being willing to learn.
But maybe the deepest lesson Ahmad shared was this:
“Character is not given — it is built.”
Basketball reveals who you are, but it also shapes who you can become. The game exposes your habits, your mindset, your heart — and if you let it, it builds discipline, integrity, and resilience.
And above all, Ahmad understands the privilege of wearing a Savannah Jaguars jersey — of playing for a team where coaches love you enough to push you, challenge you, and demand more from you because they believe in you.
This season didn’t just develop Ahmad Minor the basketball player; it also developed Ahmad Minor the person.
It developed Ahmad Minor, the young man.
The leader.
The teammate.
The competitor.
And the most powerful part of his story?
“I can’t wait until next season.”
Because when a player learns these lessons as a junior, the future isn’t just promising — it’s powerful.
Photo Credit: Courtesy Savannah Athletic Association
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Optim Orthopedics supports local basketball athletes’ health and safe return to play.
They keep Savannah’s basketball athletes healthy and ready to compete all season.
Team physicians include Dr. Don Aaron (Bryan County), Dr. David Sedory (Benedictine, Bradwell Institute, Liberty County), Dr. David Palmer (Calvary Day, Richmond Hill, South Effingham), and Dr. Thomas Alexander (Savannah Country Day, St. Vincent’s Academy).
