Its time we catch up on the commitments from around the state. Several DII, DIII and NAIA schools have begun signing prospects; as well as, the junior colleges around the state.
Starting our journey in Upper East Tennessee, the Buffalos of Milligan are proud to announce a very good signing class for the Appalachian Athletic Conference stalwarts and venerable coach Bill Robinson.
Jacob Cawood (Midway) was the first to sign on the dotted line. Cawood had an outstanding senior season and finished among the all-time leading scorers in school history.
Joining Cawood, Tyler Nichols (Elizabethton) brings athleticism and hustle to the Milligan program. A local kid who had some bites elsewhere chose to stay home and help Coach Robinson keep the Buffalo program at its current high level.
Finally the Buffalos welcome Chase Phillips (Johnson County) into the fold. A decorated player from the area will be another welcome addition for Coach Robinson and his staff.
Staying in East Tennessee but on the other side, the Lions of Bryan College once again welcome a plethora of players to fill not only their varsity roster but junior varsity roster as well.
Coach Don Rekoske and the Lions are a charter member of the NAIA and play in the Appalachian Athletic Conference.
They welcome a host of players into the fold including Ethan Williams (Fulton), Darrin Gillenwater (Campbell County) and Riley Dempsey (Sequatchie County), a big bodied 6'8 post who could find some minutes with his size next season.
More future Lions include Trisan Spradling (McMinn County), Caleb Hayes (Anderson County), Dylan Speck (Watertown), Jordan Self (Cosby), Marquis Ward (South Doyle) and Sam Moss (South Doyle).
Just down the road in Athens, the Tennessee Wesleyan Bulldogs and Coach Mike Poe welcome the services of Yosmond Fenderson (Fulton). Yos had an outstanding senior campaign finishing with several conference , accolades on his resume. Wesleyan also plays in the Appallachian Athletic Conference of NAIA.
Towards Nashville we got a big get for the staff at Cumberland University. Will Shelton (Hardin County) one of the best players in that portion of the state has pledged to play for Coach Lonnie Thompson and the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs are a member of the NAIA and toil in the Mid-South Conference.
After finishing 28-4 with a trip to the national tournament good things are bound to happen for your program. Freed-Hardeman and Coach Jason Shelton received such good news as Grant Teichmann (Brentwood) pledged to be a future Lion.
Teichmann was huge at the Class AAA state tournament garnering all-tourney honors and capped it off with an all-state nod as well. The Lions play in the newly formed American Midwest Conference of the NAIA.
Jumping out of state, John Payne (Goodpasture) was a hot topic of conversation this season committing early, then going through the process then settling on his original choice. A good choice I might add. The Blue Raiders of Lindsey Wilson College.
The Blue Raiders are coached by Paul Peck and play in the aforementioned Mid-South Conference of the NAIA.
Northern Michigan welcomed a real nice prize to their program this week as Naba Echols (Mitchell) pledged his allegiance to the Michigan school. Echols who was a huge part of back to back state championship teams at Mitchell will be a very welcome addition for coach Bill Sall and the Wildcats. Northern Michigan plays in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference of DII.
Moving to the junior college ranks we go back East where the Senators of Walter's State welcome a couple of players into the fold for venerable head man Bill Carlyle. Bailey Lamb (Grainger), one of the top shooters in the area and Kyle Briggs (Jefferson County), a solid defender and team guy.
On down the road at Roane State, Randy Nesbit welcomes another of the top shooters in the senior class with the addition of Brady Nease (Union County).
Staying within the TJCAA, Columbia State welcomes a solid trio of contributors. Will Alexander (Maplewood), a high scoring guard who had a massive senior year, Leon Howard (Nashville Overton), a solid point guard and floor leader and Kevonte Davis (Hillsboro), a big kid with some upside.
Going out of state for their junior college experience we have Keith Wilson (Memphis Overton) who will attend Eastern Oklahoma Junior College and Antwain Jennings (Pearl Cohn) who also ventures West to attend Northwest Kansas Technical College.
