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Indiana high schooler’s senior night adds to impressive accomplishments
Liam Price, a basketball team manager at Center Grove, was able to take the court and score a layup on senior night as a member of the Trojans boys basketball team. (Photo: Amy Counts Photography)

Indiana high schooler’s senior night adds to impressive accomplishments

GREENWOOD, Ind. (BVM) – Most 18th birthdays are special ones. But if you ask Liam Price, his might just take the cake. 

Liam is a recent graduate of Center Grove High School. Over his four years there, he was team manager for the varsity basketball squad, but had never gotten the chance to play. That would change on the team’s senior night – also his birthday – in February.

Liam has autism, Tourette’s syndrome, and also struggles with high anxiety levels. However, since entering high school, his life has completely changed. One reason why is his involvement with basketball at Center Grove.

The athlete has played many different sports in his young life, including flag football, baseball, soccer, track and field, and swimming. Although swimming may be his greatest love, basketball is a close second according to his mother, Cindy. Liam has been a basketball fan and player for the last 10 years, and has a deep love for the Indiana Pacers. 

The 18-year-old got involved with the basketball program at Center Grove right away freshman year. At a football game the Prices were attending, basketball coach Zach Hahn engaged with Liam in the first of many talks they would have. 

Typically, discussions between Liam and Hahn would revolve around the Pacers. The Center Grove grad loves to talk sports whenever he can. 

“Sports has become a great conversation starter for him when social interactions can be a challenge,” Cindy said.

He would often stop law enforcement officers at the school and anyone else he could to talk sports as well, and earned the nickname “The Mayor of Center Grove.”

It didn’t take long for Hahn to extend the invitation to Liam to become a team manager. Over four years later, Liam learned he would get to suit up for the first time on senior night. 

“It meant a lot in the respect that I had never gotten to play a sport in front of a big crowd,” Liam said. 

Hahn and the rest of the Trojans told Liam the news in the locker room just days before the contest would be played.

Suiting up for the game was Liam’s goal, but Hahn went a step further and gave him the start. The Trojans won the opening tip, made a pass to Liam, and in nine seconds the senior made a layup to be remembered for a lifetime. 

“I had a smile on my face and the crowd went nuts. I had never scored a basket before and it made me feel pretty happy,” Liam said.

It was a proud moment for Liam, but perhaps an even better one for Cindy, his father Jon, and fans alike. 

“It made other people feel pretty happy as well,” Jon said. 

The parents have had numerous people come up to them wherever they go who tell them that Liam’s story has given them hope and is truly moving.

The basket on senior night was the cherry on top to how far Liam has come over his high school years. A large part of his success is due in part to Hahn, who means everything to this family.

“He means a lot to me, he’s given me opportunities to be with the team and be a part of the team,” Liam said.

“Coach Hahn means a lot to our family simply because of the opportunities he has given Liam. He has given him a lot of momentum as far as his future,” Jon added.

Through Hahn’s opportunity, Liam has been able to interact with many different teammates over his four years at the school and, according to Jon and Cindy, has had a real calming effect for the team. 

One notable former teammate of Liam’s is Indiana Hoosiers standout Trayce Jackson-Davis. The two had a special relationship, and Jackson-Davis even came back for the senior night of the friend that he calls “Big Man.” 

“He influenced me by being a good friend and just being himself. He used to even shoot half-court shots with me,” Liam said.

The calming influence the teenager provides may have never been more evident than it was for Jackson-Davis, or as Liam calls him, “Dr. T.” 

“I believe Liam had a calming effect on Trayce. He had a lot of publicity and a lot of pressure on where he was going to school. But he could go over to Liam and just hang with him and I think Liam gave him a lot of inspiration,” Jon said. 

The fact that Liam can have this kind of influence is remarkable considering where he was just years before. Physically, Liam suffered from activity induced asthma as a kid and struggled with his weight. He also had difficulty in social situations and was homeschooled during his junior high years. For his parents, the decision to send him back to public school was tough. 

“I’ll be honest with you, we at first were not excited about the idea of re-enrolling him into a brick and mortar school,” Cindy said. “He was already having so many issues with his focus and we were worried about even putting him back into that mix.”

Cindy credits the school staff, specifically special education teacher Courtney Gradert – referred to by the Price family as “Mom No. 3” – as big helps in getting Liam back into school and easing their worries. Jon also mentions members of the athletic department, specifically coach Hahn, football coach Eric Moore, strength training coach Marty Mills, assistant athletic director Scott Knapp, and athletic director Jon Zwitt as big influences as well.

Liam Price has won numerous medals for his involvement with unified sports at Center Grove. (Photo: Amy Counts Photography)

Liam’s all-around development has led to some other special accomplishments during his high school career. In addition to basketball, Liam has been a strong influence within the school’s unified sports program. Specifically, starring in track and field. The 18-year-old has been part of the transformation to popularizing unified sports. 

“I think people don’t always think about individuals with disabilities having aspirations towards sports necessarily,” Cindy said. “But these kids seriously want to win, they’re willing to push hard to get that trophy for their school.”

But some of his more notable achievements have come outside of just playing sports. Liam co-authored the Inclusion Tiles Student Guide, which informs readers about inclusion of those with disabilities into sports, schools, and communities. 

In addition, Liam received the Indiana Governor’s IMPACT Work Ethic Award. He also made an appearance in Oprah Winfrey’s virtual commencement speech in May, which was streamed live on Facebook and later nationally televised. To top it off, Liam was named senior prom king in his final year at Center Grove, which was held virtually by the school.

However, the most impressive accomplishment for Liam during his high school tenure may very well be when he was selected as a U.S. youth ambassador for Special Olympics. Liam impressed those from the Special Olympics with his articulation and the way he carried himself, and even won a football throwing contest during halftime of an Indianapolis Colts game to get him further noticed. 

After deciding he was willing to take more of a leadership role within the Special Olympics and unified sports, Liam accepted the invitation to become a youth ambassador. As such, he travels to schools across the state of Indiana to talk about the importance of unified sports. 

The role means a lot to the 18-year-old, who is excited about the impact he can have on others. 

“I think it can be a world changing moment in some ways,” Liam said. 

He has also spoken in front of lawmakers in Washington D.C., stressing what the Inclusion Revolution is all about and why unified programs need support. 

“Liam knows he is making a global message and it makes a huge impact on other people,” Cindy added. 

Unfortunately, Special Olympics Indiana, like most other organizations, continues to cancel activities due to COVID-19. However, they did still hold a virtual 2020 Summer Games event which Liam co-hosted in June. The 18-year-old also continues to help others get through these tough times by making workout videos, hoping to keep his peers active. 

In the fall, Liam will attend the University of Indianapolis. He plans to walk on with the swimming team, and will study forensic accounting and criminal justice. The future Greyhound has already spent time working with the Zionsville Police Department as a teen squad mentor, and hopes to eventually work in cyber security.

There are not many kids, disability or not, who accomplish as much as Liam has by the time they are finished with high school. The Center Grove graduate is a truly special person who impresses everyone he comes across. 

“What he has been able to accomplish and what he has been able to focus his efforts on makes me proud of him everyday,” Cindy said. 

Liam continues to make everyone proud, and the impact he is having on people not only in Indiana but around the country is truly inspirational.