Basketball, to many, is a fun hobby to play with friends or strangers. The rush of adrenaline players get from shooting a three-pointer or dribbling in for a layup makes it an enjoyable pastime. For PPCHS alumni Mauriac Charles, however, basketball became one of the only things he felt good at as a kid. To him, basketball was more than just a sport; it was something that helped him grow and persevere.
“I’ve always had a connection with basketball—it was my safe space,” he said. “It’s where I go when I’m happy or down. I [always] wanted to play it at the highest level”
Mauriac Charles graduated from Pembroke Pines Charter High School in the 2017 class. During high school, Charles focused on classes geared towards another passion of his: engineering. Now, looking back at his high school years, Charles credits Charter for preparing him for college in a way no other school could.
“The college preparatory curriculum got me ready to crush all my college courses with ease,” Charles remembered, “There were teachers like Dr. Phillips and Ms. E that got me through the daily grind [of] high school [in order to] to achieve the highest level of learning possible.”
After high school, Charles continued pursuing a degree in engineering but felt like he was missing something. So, Charles switched gears and decided to continue chasing his dream of professionally playing basketball at the highest level possible: “After high school, I had the [realization] that I could feed myself and my family by doing what I love to do.”
As of now, Charles has set his eyes on the Europrobasket League, which is a 9-week program in Madrid, Spain, that gives upcoming athletes access to advanced basketball facilities located in Europe. The program also helps get players signed onto a professional team further into their careers.
In the midst of having to travel overseas and risk it all for his dream, Charles’ motivation remains steadfast in the community he surrounds himself with. Having people in your circle is the key to success, he claims, referencing that his circle had uplifted him many times when he was down and helped keep him humble.
For those who are pursuing basketball as a career, Charles expresses that it won’t be easy. To be victorious in the end, Charles states that you must put in your all and never give up. He further emphasizes, “No matter how tough things will get, do not give up, because once you do, only regret follows suit. When we continue to be challenged, we inevitably end up growing.”
As Charles looks back on his journey, along with his family, he credits God with helping him through the ups and downs of pursuing his dream: “[He] uplift(s) us when we’re down and keep(s) us humble when we are on top of the world…,” Charles says. “All glory to God.”
