Ready for the Moment - Jayvon Maughmer

Story provided by Fanword.com

By Jayvon Maughmer

You grow up dreaming about this opportunity.
Shooting hoops in the driveway, imagining the game is on the line.
Watching March Madness on TV, pretending it's you taking that final shot.
So many times, you picture it in your head—hoping that someday, it'll be real.
Now, it is.
This week, I will step onto the biggest stage in college basketball while wearing a Liberty jersey.
I'm playing in the NCAA Tournament.
The journey here wasn't easy.
I started at Cedarville University, spent four years grinding at the Division II level, and wondered if I'd ever get my shot.
I had to trust the process and stay patient—knowing that if I kept putting in the work, my moment would come.
Now, it has.
And I'm ready to make the most of it.

From the Driveway to the Dance

Basketball has been part of my life for as long as I can remember.
Growing up in Chillicothe, Ohio, my brother and I played nonstop in the driveway, along with our cousins.
Nobody wanted to lose.
Those battles pushed me, shaped me, and built the competitive fire that still fuels me today.
That same drive carried me through Cedarville, where I developed as a player, won Great Midwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year, and played alongside my brother, Branden.
But I wanted more.
I saw my brother make the jump to Division I, and I knew I could, too.
I just had to wait for the right opportunity.
When Liberty came calling, I knew this was it.

Finding My Fit at Liberty

Choosing Liberty was about more than basketball.
Yes, it was a chance to play Division I.
Yes, it was a winning program with a great coach.
But it was also about faith.
My father, grandfather, and uncles are pastors, so faith has always been at the center of my life.
Coach McKay shares that same perspective—he pushes us to grow as players and as men.
From day one, I felt a connection with my teammates, the staff, and the culture.
There was no hesitation.
I bought in.
We all did.
And now, that belief has taken us to the biggest stage in the sport.

This is March Madness

There's nothing like Selection Sunday—waiting for your name to be called, knowing you're soon going to go up against one of the best teams in the country.
We earned this.
Regular-season champs.
Conference tournament champs.
Now, we're stepping into the brightest lights—with a chance to make some noise.
We know what's at stake.
We know how tough Oregon will be on Friday.
But we also know what we're capable of.
We play our game—defend, take care of the ball, bring intensity—and we can compete with anyone.
Coach McKay has told us all year, "The only team that can beat us is us."
If we do what we do best, who knows?
Maybe we'll shock the world.

Embracing the Moment

As I prepare to take the court, I feel nothing but gratitude.
For my family, who has supported me every step of the way.
For my teammates, who have become my brothers.
For my coaches, who believed in me and gave me this opportunity.
For God, who has guided me through every step of this journey.
I've spent my whole life imagining this moment—and now, it's time to go live it.
Just like I did in my driveway all those years ago.
Because this?
This is March Madness.
And we're ready.
Let's get to work.

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