For Ta’Maj Gilliam, basketball is more than a game. It’s his life. 

The pressure, precision and passion in the game draw the Batesburg-Leesville senior to the court. Whether it's a friendly contest between friends, a scrimmage in practice or an intense playoff game, Gilliam takes the same mental approach each time. 

“It doesn’t matter if it’s PE basketball,” he said. “ I'm always playing the same every time. Some people are like, ‘Why do you take it so serious? Why do you do this? Why do you do that?’ Man, it's my life, bro. I want to be something.”

Gilliam has made a name for himself at Batesburg-Leesville, but he’s looking to go beyond that. He led the team to an impressive (17-8) record and region championship last season and aiming even higher this year. 

With a bunch of returning teammates and the same work ethic as ever, Gilliam said Batesburg-Leesville is in for a special season. 

“ I want me and the guys that have a state title,” he said. “Baseball did it last year. Football was close. I feel like we are kind of the next sport to get there.”

The Panthers have been building to the moment under head coach William Ash. The team and Gilliam have steadily improved over the past few seasons, culminating in the 2025 region title. 

Gilliam averaged a team-high 16 points and earned his team extra possessions with 2.5 steals per game. Those numbers are up from his 14 points and one steal average in 2024. 

His development vastly predates his time with the Batesburg-Leesville varsity team. It started where it did for many other elite players: outside, playing with their siblings. 

“ I would always see my older brother. He would always be outside playing basketball and such. I wanted to be exactly like him,” Gilliam said.

Gilliam is a middle child with older and younger siblings involved in sports. He was always the underdog on the basketball court, being bodied by his older brother and sometimes overlooked in favor of his younger one. 

“ Me and my younger brother, we would always have rivalries because he was kind of like a prodigy, and I always had to work harder,” he said. “My older brother would smack me.”

While Gilliam received no sympathy from his siblings on the court, he credits these sibling battles for toughening him up and making him the player he is today.

With one more year left at Batesburg-Leesville, Gilliam is more dedicated than ever to having a big year. 

Outside of wanting to win a state championship, he is excited to play with his teammates one last time and, hopefully, gain the attention of some colleges. 

“I want to play  college ball somewhere. It doesn't necessarily matter where I go, as long as the atmosphere is good and the coaches actually believe in me,” Gilliam said. “We’re trusting the man above with that one.”

Another All-State season like he had in 2025 would go a long way. 

Playing at that high a level can be time-consuming, though. It does not give Gilliam a lot of free time for other hobbies. But one thing he found he can enjoy doing is making beats and experimenting with music. 

Like basketball, music has been in his life from a young age. He took piano lessons as a child, and while he eventually stopped, the musical bug was stuck in his head. 

It’s not as serious as basketball, but Gilliam finds solace in mixing sounds and creating music. 

“I like hearing the bass and how I can tie things together,” he said. “ If I'm working or something, I like to tap and feel the vibe from the rhythms.”

Balancing his basketball and non-basketball lives can be a tedious task. Gilliam admits to having some procrastination tendencies, but it has never gotten in the way of his work, and he said he operates best when under pressure.

“ I don't know what it is about me, but I kind of perform well under pressure,” he said. “I procrastinate just enough to where I’ve got time to get my work done, and I actually have time to just chill.”

The time to chill is almost over with his final season on the horizon. As his final months with the Panthers approach, Gilliam reflected on some of his fondest memories in a Batesburg-Leesville uniform. 

From a crazy Christmas comeback in his sophomore year to the region title last season, many moments stick out. Some he remembers not for his accomplishments but his teammates’. 

“The second round playoff game-winner with [Braylen Davis], because I just missed those free throws before that and almost sold us the game,” Gilliam said. “That was great. All of those.”

Gilliam is hoping to make a couple more memories this season. He knows his days in a Panthers uniform are limited, so he’s making sure to leave his mark on the group that comes after. 

“ Every time I'm in the gym, I'm trying to play one of them,” he said. “It doesn't matter who it is. I'm trying to get them to where they could be.”