Tyrese Maxey's journey from the South Garland High School basketball court to the NBA has taken him across the country, but he has never lost sight of home.

On Saturday, August 15, Garland ISD celebrated Maxey during a ceremony in the South Garland library. Garland Mayor Dylan Hedrick, district leaders, campus athletics coaches, and Maxey's friends and family gathered to proclaim the school's gymnasium the Tyrese Maxey Gymnasium.

View photos of the ceremony.

The honor recognizes Maxey's accomplishments on the court and his continued commitment to the community. The City of Garland also presented Maxey with a proclamation recognizing his contributions.

"I rep Garland really, really, really, really, really hard," Maxey said during the ceremony.

During his time at South Garland, Maxey helped lead the school to the UIL Class 6A state tournament and was named Mr. Texas Basketball and a McDonald's All-American. After graduating in 2019, he played one season at the University of Kentucky before being selected by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2020 NBA Draft. He has since become an NBA All-Star and All-NBA player.

Superintendent Dr. Ricardo López said Maxey's impact extends well beyond basketball, noting the Board's enthusiasm for naming the gym reflected the significance he holds for the South Garland community.

"Names are relevant. They're powerful. They mean things, and kids know this," López said. "The kids of South Garland get to have hope too."

López also recognized Maxey for supporting students in Garland, many of whom face challenges Maxey experienced firsthand.

"You come back year after year, and you keep giving back to the kids," López said. "And we want you to know it doesn't go unnoticed."

Maxey supports local students in several ways, including through his annual 1% Skills Basketball Camp for children ages 7-12. This year's camp was held shortly after Saturday's ceremony. He also provides shoes and other items to local children through the Noon Exchange organization.

View photos of the basketball camp.

Maxey's mother, Denyse Maxey, Executive Director of the Tyrese Maxey Foundation, also highlighted his success in the classroom. She said Maxey graduated in the top 10% of his class and credited her family's emphasis on academics.

"He was a great athlete, but he was an even better student," she said.

His success in the classroom, along with his service to the community, made the honor an easy decision for the Board of Trustees, López said.

"We've had plenty of great players come through Garland, but no one has had the impact that Tyrese Maxey has had," López said.

Following the proclamations, the GISD Board presented Maxey with two cowboy hats, a nod to Garland's status as the Cowboy Hat Capital of Texas. One was a straw hat for his visits home to Texas, while the other was a beaver hat for colder days in Philadelphia.

Maxey expressed his gratitude for the honor of having the South Garland gymnasium named after him. He also used the moment to recognize the people who helped him along the way, including the teammates and friends who supported him during his South Garland years.

"I don't do this alone," he said.

Maxey may play in NBA arenas across the country these days, but his journey remains connected to the people and place that helped him get there.

The new lettering recognizing the Tyrese Maxey Gymnasium will be installed at a later date, with details about a formal unveiling to be announced.