When Anthony Ammons Jr. arrived at San Quentin in 2012, the basketball court became his entry point into the prison’s broader community. As a member of the San Quentin Warriors basketball team, he found camaraderie, mentorship, and a sense of purpose that extended far beyond the game. That experience, he shared, sparked a deeper interest in personal growth, community service, and education.
“At San Quentin, I learned how to be a follower of good people,” Anthony said. “Instead of being a follower of the gang mentality, the negativity, I became a follower of good habits, because I was trying to train myself to do things differently.”
Although Anthony had been a standout basketball player all his life, he had never experienced the same success in the classroom. As he became involved in San Quentin’s many programs, he discovered that the prison’s education opportunities were unlike those he had encountered elsewhere.
“I was never a big fan of school, and what I saw at other prisons with education programs was that you can go to class, but there was no community afterwards. So I didn’t attend school there,” said Anthony. “Mount Tamalpais College was different, and that is what really motivated me to enroll.”
Through Mount Tamalpais College, Anthony began envisioning a future beyond prison. Education became a way to build on the lessons he had learned through basketball—teamwork, perseverance, and accountability—and to turn them toward achieving his personal and professional goals.
“I went to prison at age 16 with a sentence of 102 years to life, and I served 20 years,” Anthony said. “I knew my professional experience alone wouldn’t get me where I want to go in my career. MTC helped me understand that with an education to ground that experience, there is no door I cannot walk through and no community I cannot help.”
He credits MTC staff and volunteer faculty for their consistency, care, and high expectations, noting that their support encouraged him to shift his priorities toward education.
“I thought, wow—you’re coming to a prison to teach a class, with a smile on your face? I gotta get my education,” Anthony said. “And what I loved most was that there was no judgment of failure, or even discussion of failure. It was like, what’s next? Are you going to stay in that failure mindset, or are you going to move forward? There was nothing but encouragement.”
On the court, basketball was also opening new doors for him. His talent, energy, and work ethic led him to star as one of the central figures in the 2019 documentary Q Ball, which chronicles the relationships, challenges, and growth of the San Quentin Warriors basketball team.
Due to his participation in MTC courses and other programs, as well as his work responsibilities at the San Quentin hospital, Governor Jerry Brown commuted Anthony’s sentence in 2018, and he was ultimately released in 2020. As he navigated reentry into society, Anthony continued to focus on serving his community and furthering his education.
Anthony’s first job after release was as an elevator operator for the Golden State Warriors. While in that role, he was struck by a stray bullet in Oakland, leaving him with significant nerve damage to his foot.
“Because of the gunshot wound, I couldn’t play anymore,” he said. “It put me in a cold depression.”
Anthony committed himself to recovery and professional growth, eventually earning a position with Assemblymember Mia Bonta’s office as district scheduler and public safety advisor. He relearned how to run and has recently returned to the basketball court. He remains close with his former San Quentin Warriors teammates.
Today, Anthony serves as a Special Projects Coordinator with the California Attorney General’s CARE Team, connecting with community-based organizations on reentry, disability rights, and immigration. In addition to his full-time work, he is pursuing an associate degree in Criminal Justice Administration at Long Beach City College, and was recently selected as a recipient of MTC’s Alumni Scholarship Program, awarded in partnership with 10,000 Degrees.
Explore the MTC Alumni Scholarship Program and get to know the 2025 recipients.
