Basketball manager honored surprised by coach

The manager for the South Fremont boy’s basketball team got a big surprise ahead of the cougars game on Friday night.

Spencer “Spence” Hathaway has special needs and has been the manager for the basketball team for the last four years.

On Friday night, January 18th, Coach Ryon Pope held a team meeting before the game, honoring Spencer for his service to the basketball program as the team manager.

He says he had to break the news to Spencer every year that he did not make the basketball team, but every year Spence came back to be the manager.

Pope presented Spencer with warm up clothes and a jersey, and the invitation to be an honorary captain and warm up with the team before the game.

The biggest surprise came when they presented Spencer with shoes from his favorite basketball player, Steph Curry.

What he didn’t tell Spencer is that he would play in the game that night.

In the fourth quarter, Spencer made his debut on the hardwood, contributing to his teams victory over Salmon.

Spencer’s sister, Emily, tells Local News 8 and KIDK Eyewitness News 3, that he loves South Fremont and hopes to one day be an athletic director and coach at South Fremont.

Below you can see Coach Pope honoring Spencer, and his reaction to the surprise he received.