The six-event tour begins in July

As a young boy, Donta Scott realized that he learned differently than his peers. Now, the University of Maryland basketball star is opening up about educational experiences and path to the University of Maryland and the Big 10 Conference in a book he authored, WIRED DIFFERENTLY: My School Journey — and he’s sharing his story with high school student-athletes through a book tour.

On Monday, Scott announced his six-event tour which begins in July. Each hour-long conversation promises to be candid, inspiring, and full of practical advice from one of the best players in the Big 10 Conference. Scott was one of the Terps’ best players last year, averaging 12.6 points and 6.2 rebounds a game. He’s expected to play a leading role as the UMD men’s basketball program transitions from the Mark Turgeon era to the beginning of the Kevin Willard era.

Scott was hit by a car as a toddler and hospitalized with a head injury that he believes has made academics an uphill climb for most of his life, and he was later diagnosed with a learning disorder.
“I was late coming to things,” he said. “(With basketball) I started clicking and seeing the bigger picture.”

Scott wants the book to offer hope to young athletes who have learning disabilities and other academic struggles, and help them overcome the fear of asking for help. The youngest of nine, Scott is the first of his siblings to attend a four-year-college and wants to use his platform to offer concrete guidance on how to meet admission standards and qualify for scholarships as well be a role model for anyone who may not have one at home.

“Even if you don’t see it, there are kids who look up to you,” he said.

The book was written and published by Black Cager Press with Delgreco Wilson, a fixture of the Philadelphia basketball community who mentors students through the college recruiting process. A friend of Scott’s youth basketball coach, Wilson said Scott was often labeled a “bad kid” because his anger with schoolwork would boil over.

“Young Black guys struggle, and there’s a stigma attached to learning difficulty,” he said. “Instead of just saying, ‘I don’t understand,’ or ‘I need extra help,’ they act out. They are just trying to keep people off the fact they don’t know how to do the work.”

Scott was recruited by schools including Temple, Georgetown, Seton Hall and South Carolina, but it was his comfort with UMD’s academic support staff that made the difference, Wilson said. “He has absolutely just taken control over that aspect of his life,” he said. “Donta takes his time and learns. Once he grasps something, he really has got it.”

Scott acknowledges it took some time to find his groove in college, but an emphasis on scheduling and time management has made the difference.

The conversations on the book tour will be centered around important themes in WIRED DIFFERENTLY: My School Journey. Scott and Wilson have partnered with different high schools throughout the mid-Atlantic region to promote the book, which was published by Black Cager Press. (Student-athletes in attendance will get a copy of the book)

The book tour stops include:

1) St. Frances Academy (MD) – A perennial Baltimore Catholic League powerhouse and the alma mater of current Maryland forward Julian Reese and the home of Maryland commit Jahnathan Lamothe.

2) Imhotep Charter HS (PA) – A perennial Philadelphia Public powerhouse and the alma mater of Donta Scott. Imhotep is the home of of current Maryland target and ESPN Class of 2023 #4 prospect Justin Edwards and ESPN Class of 2024 #44 Ahmad Nowell.

3) National Christian Academy (MD) – A perennial PG County basketball powerhouse and the home of current Maryland target and ESPN Class of 2023 #42 prospect Isaiah Coleman.

4) Camden HS (NJ) – One of the top public high school basketball programs in the nation. Home of the current Class of 2023 ESPN #1, DJ Wagner and 2023 ESPN #20 Aaron Bradshaw.

5) West Catholic (PA) – The Philadelphia Catholic League runner-up in 2022. West Catholic’s roster features several young Division 1 basketball prospects.

6) Constitution HS (PA) – A perennial Philadelphia Public League power. Constitution consistently challenges for PIAA state championships and produces scholarship level prospects.

Dates and times to be determined.

For additional information, please contact:

Delgreco Wilson

Black Cager Press

BlackCager@gmail.com

The book can be purchased here: https://black-cager-publications.sellfy.store/