During the month of February, the Town of Waxhaw is honoring Black History Month by celebrating Waxhaw’s black-owned recreational businesses. Tamar Slay brought his talents, knowledge and experience to Waxhaw through the newly opened Slay Basketball facility after retiring from a successful 12-year career as a professional basketball player. The state-of-the-art facility allows youth, college and pro-level athletes to train, think and recover in an elite environment.

Although Slay was highly successful throughout his career, he knows what it’s like to start from the bottom. In 1998 he walked onto Marshall University’s campus homeless. Sixteen years later, he is now a Marshall University Hall of Famer, 2nd round draft pick in the NBA. Slay played as a small forward for the NJ Nets and Charlotte Bobcats and spent years playing overseas. Today, Slay remains active in the NBA with the Players Association and boot camps, as well as the NBPA Leadership Training Program and NBPA Top 100 Coaching Program.

Slay lives, works, and plays in Waxhaw with his family including two boys. He says, “hard work, teamwork, and time management are some of the many great lessons that sports can teach.” Slay adds he’s happy to be able to provide those life skills to the Waxhaw community because “we have so many wonderful families that make the town what it is.” If you wish to learn more about Slay’s new Waxhaw facility, visit tamarslay.com.