Rock Hill college signing ceremony too big for conference room

Rock Hill had to move its spring college signing ceremony from the usual conference room to the media center, such was the size of the crowd looking on.

Seven Bearcats signed papers that commit them to competing in college athletics starting this fall, the largest number the school has had in a number of years. Modesty Fobbs and Monique Stevenson (women’s basketball), Khari Hunter (football), Brenden Foster (track and field), Andrew Barber (men’s basketball) and twins Jacob and Jared Coccia (track and field/cross country) all signed in front of a swarm of family, friends, classmates and coaches.

The big group made the event a little nerve-wracking for the honorees.

“When I was signing the paper my hand was shaking,” said Barber. “When I was talking I was kind of light headed a little bit, but I had to control that.”

Monique Stevenson and Modesty Fobbs

Two of coach Kenny Orr’s girls’ basketball seniors signed with Spartanburg Methodist. Stevenson, a guard, was at an SMC game on a recruiting visit when she noticed her teammate, Fobbs, a forward, at the game. Neither had any idea the other would be there.

“After the game we went and spoke to the coach and after that is when it all started to come together,” said Stevenson.

Stevenson said she had been working toward this goal, but Fobbs admitted she was a bit surprised to be continuing her hoops career.

“I thought it was a really good school and they have a high graduation rate,” said Fobbs, who would like to move on to Belmont-Abbey after her two years at Spartanburg Methodist.

Fobbs and Stevenson experienced Rock Hill girls’ basketball at the low points that were the norm several years ago, as well as the considerably more successful last two seasons. The Bearcats were ranked No. 1 in the state for several weeks and reached the Upper State championship game.

“It’s been amazing,” said Stevenson. “From my 10th grade year to this year it’s a big change, a complete change.”

Jacob and Jared Coccia

The Coccia twins will both run track and field and cross country at USC Upstate, but they won’t be rooming together.

“We might room in the same quad, the same set of rooms,” said Jacob, who signed his papers right-handed.

“We wanted to meet new people,” said Jared, who held the pen Rock Hill gives each student-athlete that has a college signing in his left hand.

The pair had plenty of options, including Campbell, Queens, and some other Division II schools, but opted for Upstate because of an affinity for the coach and the school’s training facilities.

“They have the Milliken Center,” said Jacob. “It’s woods and trails and grass and stuff. They don’t actually have a track - they use another high school’s track - but it’s still a nice track.”

They said there was always the slight chance they might go to separate schools but it just naturally came together for both of them to end up in Spartanburg.

“It’s been a long process, we talked to a lot of coaches and teams and we tried to make the best decision for us,” said Jared.

Andrew Barber

Barber will play college basketball at Mars Hill for coach Rick Scruggs.

The Bearcats guard had recruiting interest from across the Carolinas - Francis Marion, Wingate, Pfeiffer and some others - but opted for Mars Hill for several reasons, including the coach. Scruggs coached Barber’s dad, Robert, at Francis Marion and the younger Barber felt the coach would bring the best out of him, too.

“I trust him as a coach to get me where I need to be,” said Barber, who was wearing some stylish blue loafers without socks. “And I know he’s gonna teach me the game a lot better than I know it right now.”

Earlier in 2016, Barber - who plans to major in business management - was anxious because of the lack of recruiting interest.

“I was getting kind of down on myself,” he said. “I prayed about it, went to sleep and woke up the next morning and got that hunger back and went at it every day as hard as I could. And this is where I’m at today.”

Khari Hunter

Hunter has only played organized football for a few years, but the standout Bearcat linebacker’s career will continue for at least four more after he signed with Newberry.

“I feel relieved, actually,” said Hunter. “Me not playing football for that long, it could have turned out either way. I’m just glad I’m getting to go to college to play football.”

Newberry offered Hunter the best scholarship package and he liked that the Wolves coaches had similar personalities to the Rock Hill defensive coaches. He’ll probably play as a linebacker-defensive back hybrid.

“I feel like I can excel in that program as a football player, and as a student,” said Hunter.

Hunter plans on majoring in chemistry. He rattled off a litany of jobs he could pursue, ending with pharmacist.

“Those are all good paying jobs,” he said.

Brenden Foster

Foster is undertaking a cross-country adventure after signing Friday morning with William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

Foster will compete in track and field, namely hurdles and the high jump, events he’s excelled in at Rock Hill. He visited the school last November, giving him the full Iowa weather experience. His family wasn’t initially keen on the idea, but has warmed to it in the months since.

“I’m all about different stuff,” said Foster. “It’s like 15 hours but once I kept talking about it, something I really wanted to do, they were all for it.”

With the pressure of picking a school vanquished, Foster expects to finish the spring outdoor season in strong fashion.

“I’m trying not to really think about it because I still want to do good here,” he said. “I’m trying to put it in the background.”

This story was originally published April 15, 2016 at 11:01 AM with the headline "Rock Hill college signing ceremony too big for conference room."