From hoop dreams to history class
After seven NBA seasons, Gary Neal '07 returns for his master’s in teaching
By Kyle Hobstetter on March 7, 2020
Growing up in Aberdeen, Maryland, Gary Neal had two goals. The first was to play in the NBA.
After graduating from Towson University in 2007 with a degree in history with a focus on secondary education, Neal played professionally for 13 years. He spent seven years with six NBA teams: the San Antonio Spurs, Milwaukee Bucks, Charlotte Hornets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Washington Wizards and Atlanta Hawks.
Neal is the only TU graduate to play multiple NBA seasons. He helped the Spurs reach the NBA Finals in 2013—one of his four postseason appearances.
Now Neal is pursuing his second childhood goal: to be a high school social studies/history teacher.
He has enrolled in the Master of Arts in Teaching Program (MAT), ready to be back on campus.
“When I came back to school, everybody embraced me,” Neal says. “After my basketball career was over, getting my master's degree was the one thing I wanted to accomplish. Towson has always been a big part of my success, so I was excited to come back.”
Neal’s transition from professional basketball player to graduate student was quick. In May 2019 he played for Banvit in Turkey. Three months later, he was on campus and starting classes.
Neal is itching to get in front of a classroom. He will get his chance next spring, when he student teaches in a local classroom.
“Being able to give back and connect with kids is just a phenomenal opportunity,” Neal says. “Ages 13–18, that’s an impressionable time of a child’s life, and you can make a positive impact on them. That’s all it really takes is one person that they can have as a reference point and connect with.
“My successful journey in life thus far...I’ve had a lot of people help me along the way. I want to give back and be that person for others. I want to have an impact.”
He hasn’t had to wait for that, though. Since returning, Neal has served as a graduate manager with the TU men’s basketball team.
Neal is one of just 27 TU players in program history to score over 1,000 points and earned first team All-CAA honors as a senior. He is also a 2019 inductee into the Towson University Athletics' Hall of Fame.
He has always had a good relationship with men’s basketball coach Pat Skerry even though their paths on campus never crossed. Skerry took over coaching duties in 2011.
But since coming to TU, Skerry made it a point to reach out. When he was first hired, Skerry traveled to San Antonio while Neal was with the Spurs to open the communication channels.
When Neal started taking classes again, Skerry was the first to welcome him back.
“We’ve built this this rapport from the first day we’ve been in communication,” Neal says. “I’ve always told him he’s done an amazing job here, and he’s still doing an amazing job here. And he’s been extremely supportive of this whole process of coming back to school.”
Skerry asked Neal if he'd lend his expertise to the team in fall 2019. He jumped at the chance and has provided insight on the bench.
“I feel like the team has taken to me well because I was in their shoes,” Neal says. “I lifted in the same weight room, I walked the same halls to class…I feel like that makes me relatable. And it’s a great feeling interacting and being around the team. You get to see they are really great kids.”