SPANISH FORT, Alabama—Spanish Fort Toro guard Seth Ramey will be a part of the Sun Chiefs basketball program next season. But he will not be in the line up, he will be a team manager with a number of important team duties.

Ramey overcame doubt from some that he was not tall enough or large enough to play varsity ball to become a spirited leader and source of inspiration for his team.

Seth is just a great kid,” said SFHS coach Dru Powell. “The enthusiasm for the sport he brings to every practice and game is really special. He has been fun to coach and watch and I admire him for battling through injury to get back on the court. And he is such a hustler on the court, had a fine senior year. Helped us out a lot, especially on defense.”

FSCC coach Jack Robertson agreed.

“You know we’re glad to have Seth. I’ve never seen anyone get so excited at ball games. He understands the work it will take, though, do the stats help with drills and kind of practice being an assistant coach and Seth told me he wants to pursue that. Of course there’s a lot of dirty work a manager has to do, too. But Seth’s not afraid of hard work and I know he truly loves the game as I do. And it always warms my heart to see young people who do have great passion for it. It’s not the size of the player, it’s the size of the heart in the player that I care about.

“We are also getting Gabe Phillips from Fairhope as another team manager so they will be working together and continue to be part of the team, but not in a playing role. But they can share in the misery and the more fun parts of it together. It will be a good opportunity for them to learn what to do and what not to do as a coach.”

Powell added that as a former manager in college himself staying near the court and the locker room helped him stay immersed in the game.

“As a former manager myself, I can tell you you learn a lot by just being there and paying attention and Seth has such a big heart and love for the game. I think he’ll make a fine coach one day.”

Ramey struggled to make the varsity his junior season, but then suffered an injury that sidelined him completely.

“My junior year I hurt my hand and couldn’t play so I became the manager for coach Powell and I kind of knew I would probably not play after high school. But I got to play a lot this past year and enjoyed it. I just have too much love for the game and I wanted to stay close to it. I’ve always played as long as I can remember, but I was more involved with (car) racing for a while. But when It got to where I couldn’t do that I turned to basketball and concentrated on getting better. ”

Ramey thanked those who helped him

“I want to thank my dad Blake and my mom Kim. They pushed me to not give up. I never made the team through my junior high years and I was starting to second guess myself. So when it came to my freshman tryouts I was not sure about even trying. But my mother and dad kept encouraging me and it really sunk in how important it is to keep going when you really want something. So I worked hard and I think their support and just the love and passion and intensity of the game kept me going.

“Now I feel more comfortable about my future and they had a lot to do with it. And I want to thank coach Powell for helping me and coach Robertson too for the opportunity. And also thank God and my teammates.”

The son of Blake and Kim Ramey, he plans to pursue a degree that may lead to coaching.

“Want to get my degree in something like secondary education and become a coach one day.”