Oakwood guard commits to Dayton as a preferred walk-on

“UD reached out and asked if I was interested in being a preferred walk-on,” Maxwell said, “and immediately I was interested. We kind of developed a relationship, and I came to the decision. It’s been a dream of mine, so I’m looking forward to it.”

Maxwell received Division I scholarship offers in the summer of 2021 from Kent State, Akron, Radford and Toledo. Those offers were no longer on the table as he approached his college decision. With many players getting an extra year of eligibility because of the COVID season of 2020-21, there are fewer scholarships available for incoming freshmen. The transfer portal has also limited those opportunities as some programs choose to rebuild their rosters with players who have college experience.

Maxwell said it was hard at the time to lose the scholarship offers, but “everything happens for a reason.” Playing at UD without a scholarship is not a small consolation. He comes from a UD family.

Maxwell’s great uncle, Rev. George Renneker, graduated from the school when it was known as St. Mary’s and was president of UD from 1944 to 1953. His grandfather David Maxwell graduated from UD in 1983 as an adult student and also worked at the University of Dayton Research Institute for 48 years. His other grandpa, Tom Fowler, earned his master’s degree from UD in 1980.

Matt Maxwell, Will’s dad, is a 1992 UD graduate, and his mom, Beth Maxwell, graduated from UD in 1995.

Will’s blood runs red and blue. UD Arena is a second home.

“I’ve had season tickets my whole life,” he said, “so I’ve been going ever since I was a baby.”

Maxwell led Oakwood and ranked second in the Southwestern Buckeye League in scoring last season with 20.7 points per game. He led the league in assists (4.4) and rebounds (8.2). He was the SWBL Player of the Year as a senior and the co-player of the year as a junior when he averaged 20.8 points per game.

Maxwell finished his career as Oakwood’s all-time leading scorer with 1,650 points and helped lead the team to back-to-back SWBL championships for the first time in school history. He made the All-Ohio Division II first team as a junior and the second team as a senior.

“I’m a team player,” Maxwell said. “I like to pass the ball and get my teammates involved. I’m kind of an all-around player, not just the scoring. I like to play both sides of the ball. Definitely an unselfish player.”

Maxwell will head to campus after graduating May 30 and join a roster that includes four returning guards (Malachi Smith, Kobe Elvis, Koby Brea and walk-on Brady Uhl), three new guards (transfers Enoch Cheeks and Javon Bennett and freshman Marvel Allen) and one other freshman preferred walk-on, Evan Dickey, a 6-4 guard from Chaminade-Julienne.

Dayton could still add players to the roster. It will have two open scholarships if DaRon Holmes II returns to school or three if he keeps his name in consideration for the NBA Draft.

Walk-ons play an important part in Dayton’s success, even if they don’t get game action, though they sometimes have gotten chances to play more than mop-up minutes, especially during coach Anthony Grant’s first six seasons. Uhl hit the team’s first 3-pointer in a Atlantic 10 Conference tournament victory against Saint Joseph’s in March, igniting a game-deciding rally.

Maxwell knows Uhl, who went to high school nearby at Alter, and also knows the name of Bobby Wehrli, a walk-on who earned major minutes throughout the 2014-15 season.

“I’ve seen Brady play, and I was thinking, ‘That could be me,’” Maxwell said. “I’m definitely looking forward to try and work my way up.”

Maxwell sat behind the Dayton bench at UD Arena for the game against George Mason last season and also visited for a game against Duquesne the previous season. He told the coaches in December or January he didn’t have any other Division I opportunities and was offered a spot as a preferred walk-on, which means he doesn’t have to go through the walk-on tryouts the team has every year before the season.

Maxwell has known for several months he was going to UD but waited until this week to make a public announcement.

“It’s a dream come true,” he said. “I’m really excited. I’ve always wanted to play for UD.”