‘Brothers for life’: The Herald’s area schools celebrate National Signing Day
More than 25 athletes in The Herald’s coverage area signed to play sports in college on National Signing Day on Wednesday — and several others will be signing later in the week.
Below are highlights from the area schools’ signing day celebrations. Here’s what you need to know.
Clover signees celebrate with their ‘brothers for life’
Coach Lane walked up to Clover senior and former defensive lineman JQ Guinn — who had just finished signing his national letter of intent to Western Carolina University — and smiled.
“You sure you want all of these guys to come up here?” Lane asked.
Guinn laughed and nodded, and Lane waved the boys over.
Nearly all of the football team’s upperclassmen from this past season formed a sea of adolescence in Clover High School’s gym on Wednesday afternoon. The group of 30-or-so did the same thing each time one of their senior teammates signed their collegiate sports dreams into reality: They huddled together tight enough to fit into one horizontal snapshot in front of the Blue Eagle backdrop, and smiled for the cameras.
In a simple way, this act was symbolic of the family and community the Clover football team had cultivated over the last few years — including the 2019 season, which ended among the most special in Clover history.
“Coach Lane and all the boys, they took me in, like I’ve been here all four years of high school,” said Guinn, who transferred from York Comprehensive High School before his senior football season at Clover. “First day I got here, I didn’t really know many of the football players, but they made themselves known really quick. Whenever we were out there on the field, they took me in.”
Guinn, a defensive lineman, signed to play football at Western Carolina University. He was one of eight football signees from Clover: There was Christian Erwin, who signed to play at Carson-Newman University; Blackmon Huckabee, who signed to play at Furman; Hayden Johnson, who signed to play at The Citadel; Jay Falls, who signed to play at Erskine College; Zach Blanchard, who signed to play at The Citadel; Zay Witherspoon, who signed to play at Ramah University; and Zacch Davis, who signed to play at Mercer.
Guinn wasn’t the only transfer who signed on Wednesday.
Davis, who transferred from Byrnes last year, said he is bonded to his Clover football teammates forever.
“Being down so many times, being doubted against Dorman — just being doubted coming into the game — (made) us bond,” Davis said. “I got these brothers for life. Most of these guys will be at my wedding.”
Huckabee said he was going to miss being around the people he “grew up with.”
“I’m not from here originally; we moved, though, and they took me in...” said Huckabee, who lived in Rock Hill before moving to Clover. “My senior year, we really believed in what we were doing. And you know, we had a really successful season, went into the playoffs and did really well. It came down to that last field goal against Dorman.
“It’s something that we’re never going to forget.”
Head football coach Brian Lane said that this particular group of signees was special.
“(I’m) going to miss them, but what I always tell them is, ‘You’re setting the bar for the next group,’” Lane said. “I’m going to work hard for the next group to beat that bar.”
Girls’ basketball player Mariana Ballard also signed a letter of intent to continue playing basketball at Johnson and Wales University — but unlike the other signees, she’s in the middle of her program’s special season.
“I want to finish it and go all the way to the state championship and win,” she said of her 5A top-ranked girls’ hoops team.
— Alex Zietlow
South Pointe seniors lead one last time
It didn’t take long for Rontarious Aldridge to take charge one last time.
And it made head coach DeVonte Holloman laugh.
There was confusion when the five players were asked to come up for a photo opportunity. The players didn’t know which camera to devote their collective attention to. But the South Pointe defensive end — who earned All-Herald first-team honors, was a Shrine Bowl selection and was an unquestioned leader of his team in his senior year — cleared the confusion right up with simple directives.
Aldridge would point to a camera in the crowd, and the five players’ faces would shift. He’d point; they’d shift. Point. Shift. And so on.
The act drew laughs from the crowd on hand, but it was special to Aldridge.
“I got at least three more months with them, and then I don’t know when I’m going to see them after that,” Aldridge said. “I just wanted to have a picture of all of us hanging in my dorm, looking at us (together) for one of the last times.”
Aldridge signed to Newberry College on Wednesday. He was joined by running back Quay Chambers, who signed to Ellsworth Community College; offensive lineman Logan Hilton, who signed to Methodist; quarterback Tahleek Steele, who signed to play at Emory and Henry; and offensive lineman Alfred Williams, who signed to play at South Carolina State.
“I woke up in the middle of the night (last night), and I was just smiling,” Steele said just past 11:20 a.m. on Wednesday. “It’s an amazing feeling. I went and picked out my outfit and then I laid back down, ended up going back to sleep. And then I woke up again a little early, and I was smiling again...
“I’ve been watching the clock all day, ready for 11 o’clock.”
When Coach Holloman was asked what he will miss most about the players who signed their letters of intent today, he didn’t need a second thought.
“The leadership,” Holloman said. “You look at it, and there were three of our four team captains up there. And you know, the two who weren’t team captains were guys that the team still looked up to.”
— Alex Zietlow
Northwestern signs five in front of 200-plus crowd
Macy Petty had signed and delivered her national letter of intent to play volleyball at Lee University back in November — well before Wednesday’s National Signing Day.
So when the rest of the signees who were with her in Northwestern’s gym on Wednesday signed to make their college commitments official, she took up a pen and paid homage to an influence in her life that had steadied her through the long, stressful recruiting process.
She drew a picture of her dog, Connor — who she endearingly calls “Con-Con.”
“I needed something to sign, so I drew a picture of him,” Petty said and laughed.
Connor is a Pomeranian puppy who was rescued, Petty said. For breakfast on this special day, she said she had “a blueberry muffin and a hug from my dog.”
Petty was one of six signees honored on Wednesday in front of a 200-plus crowd of Northwestern students, family members and friends.
She was joined by Jailyn Ervin, who signed to play football at Erskine; Ger-Cari Caldwell, who signed to play football at the University of South Carolina; and three Spartanburg Methodist signees — Isabella Padillo (soccer), Michael Walkup (track and field) and Virginia Walkup (track and field).
“Today has been crazy,” Ervin said with a big smile. “I like it, though... I really know the community is behind us, and I really love that.”
— Alex Zietlow
Indian Land’s AJ Jefferson talks his NFL dreams
AJ Jefferson of Indian Land, a Herald All-Area defensive back, signed to play at Air Force Academy on Wednesday morning.
Jefferson notched 41 tackles, seven interceptions and 18 pass breakups in his senior season. He was committed to West Point before the season.
“Air Force gives me the best opportunity to pursue my dream and play in the NFL,” Jefferson said. “It will be really exciting.”
He was joined by five other signees, including one of his football teammates.
Donavan Manson signed to play football at Coastal Carolina. Weston Nguyen signed to wrestle and Kyle Raynor signed to play baseball at Limestone College.
Destin Clark signed to play basketball at Wingate University, and Gavin Dunlop signed to Coker University for soccer.
— Reporting by Mac Banks
Rock Hill’s Tylik Edwards, Aydan Espinal sign
Tylik Edwards of the Rock Hill football team and Aydan Espinal of the Rock Hill volleyball team each signed national letters of intent on Wednesday.
Edwards, a first-team All-Herald defensive back and Shrine Bowl selection, signed to East Tennessee State University to continue playing football.
Espinal signed to play at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania — a nine-hour drive from her home (and her parents) in Rock Hill.
“My older sister plays volleyball too, and she plays four hours away, so they’re kind of used to it a little bit,” Espinal said and laughed.
Espinal said she will be majoring in biology.
— Alex Zietlow
Chester signs two and celebrates another
The Chester Cyclones had three football players sign letters of intent on Wednesday afternoon.
Ly’Terrence Mills, Marquayveon Evans and Teddy Murphy will play the sport at the next level.
Mills, who played receiver and defensive back for Chester, will play at New Mexico Military Institute.
He plans to major in business administration.
“I really liked the coaches,” said Mills. “I feel like it will be a great opportunity for me to better myself as well as to prove myself. I am looking forward to the challenge.”
Despite the fact that it is very far from home, Mills is glad he made the choice.
“The distance from home was not a factor in my decision,” he added. “I really liked the business school there, and when I graduate, I plan to go to Law School.”
Evans, who played offensive guard and defensive tackle for the Cyclones, signed to play at the University of Connecticut in the early signing day in December.
He is undecided on a major, but he is leaning toward business.
“I feel like that will give me more options in the future if that is what I choose,” said Evans. “I really like the school, the environment, and the campus.”
Evans is optimistic about his chances of playing early in his career.
“The coaches were straightforward with me,” he added. “They were very positive and said that my playing time would depend on my work and my improvement.”
Murphy, who played defensive end and linebacker at Chester, will go to Fort Valley State in Georgia.
Fort Valley State is coached by former Chester head coach Maurice Flowers.
“Playing for him was part of my selection process,” said Murphy. “I am looking forward to the challenge of the next level.”
Murphy, who recently won the heavyweight title in the region wrestling tournament, plans to major in business agriculture.
“I liked what they had there,” added Murphy, who will focus entirely on football in college. “The campus is nice, and it was a very positive visit.”
Chester head football coach Victor Floyd feels like all three will do well at the next level.
“Their hard work and dedication for the past four years has helped our program get to where it is right now,” said Floyd. “They were here for the foundation and the state championship.”
Floyd noted that this year’s senior class had 41 wins, which is the second most of any senior class in school history.
Chester athletic director Ricky Campbell talked about their work ethic during their high school careers.
“All three have worked very hard to earn what they are getting today,” said Campbell. “I have no doubt that they represent Cyclone Nation very well. They will make us proud.”
— Sam Copeland
Two Nation Ford Falcons sign to Pfeiffer
At Nation Ford High School’s signing day on Wednesday afternoon, Zach Skidmore and Chloe Johnson each signed to play sports at Pfeiffer University.
Skidmore will be playing lacrosse, and Johnson will be playing soccer.
“My brother and sister both went there and played lacrosse so I have been around there,” Skidmore said. “I felt really comfortable there. It was a good fit for me.”
Johnson said Pfeiffer’s nursing program stuck out to her.
“I chose Pfeiffer because the coach was a really big influence on me, and because of the nursing program,” Johnson said.
Jasmine Hope signed to Bryant University and will be running track.
“I went there on my official visit, and I fell in love with the community,” Hope said. “It is really nice, and I really love the atmosphere.”
— Reporting by Mac Banks
Fort Mill hosts four football players, nine signees in total
Late Thursday morning, nine athletes signed to play college sports.
Four of them are playing football: Dylan Helms (Pikeville University), Jordan Herman (Hutchinson Community College), James Hyland (Presbyterian College) and Cole Rasmussen (Charleston Southern University).
“We have got some guys still to be determined, but I couldn’t be more proud of those four guys,” Fort Mill head football coach Rob McNeely said.
Two signed to play soccer: Grayson Woodard (to Winthrop University) and Sinjin Shivers (to Coker University).
And the other signees were AJ Jaworowski, who’s playing baseball at Belmont-Abbey College; Zach Terry, who’s playing lacrosse at Queens University; and Shelbey Fuller, who’s swimming at Davis and Elkins College.
— Reporting by Mac Banks
The Herald has reached out to the area schools’ athletic directors to get the names of the athletes who are signing letters of intent. Is an athlete missing? Please email sports@heraldonline.com.
This story was originally published February 5, 2020 at 8:52 PM.
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