APS student-athletes from around the district signed national letters-of-intent to play football and basketball for the colleges of their choice on Wednesday, Feb. 3 — the vaunted National Signing Day — in a ceremony held at The New Schools of Carver. All of the star APS athletes were there to make their commitment official, most notably blue-chip football players like the No. 1 defensive lineman in the nation, Douglass’ Garrison Smith, who signed with Georgia, as did girls’ basketball star (and McDonald’s All-America candidate) Khaalidah Miller. Other blue-chip athletes who signed were Washington High teammates Quadral Forte (a quarterback who signed with West Virginia) and Antonio Goodwin (a defensive back who signed with Auburn).
Just as impressively were the outstanding performances by players off the field. Douglass High girls basketball coach Vernise Harris-Hill said goodbye to five guards who sported at least a 3.4 grade point average. (Brooke Smith takes her 3.9 GPA to Georgia Tech; Chelsea Warfield is still deciding between Mississippi State and St. Johns; Gardenia Wilson is headed to North Georgia; and Cheryl Wade is split between Florida A&M and Texas-El Paso.)
Mays High wide receiver-defensive back Acey Palmer chose the Air Force Academy, where he will take his 3.4 grade-point average and 22 ACT score. “I could tell the coaches provide a really nurturing atmosphere and have your best interests in mind, especially with academics,” said Palmer, who made his decision after last weekend’s campus visit. He was particularly impressed with the Air Force’s graduation rate for student-athletes, which is among the nation’s highest. palmer says he wants to be a pilot.
Grady’s Christopher Walton thanked the Play It Smart program for helping him get a football scholarship to the University of Alabama-Birmingham. The program allows academic coaches at schools in the district to bring in tutors to help student-athletes with everything from academics to navigating the complicated recruiting process. “Not all of us know the process as far as when to take the SAT or ACT,” said Walton. “They help us improve our grades. My academic coach (Alexis Yancey) really helped. I mean, my parents were always telling me to do well in school and encouraged me, but she helped give me that extra push, and the [Play It Smart] tutor really helped me a lot in math.”
Come back to Talk Up APS and the District Website for more photos and video.
A list of student-athletes and their schools is at the jump …
New Schools at Carver | |
Darryl Byrd | Football Scholarship- University of Charleston-Parents: Melanie Byrd |
Deric Scptt | Football Scholarship-UAB- Parent: Tammy Scott |
Brendan Johnson | Brendan Johnson- Alabama A & M- Parent: Trina Johnson |
Frederick Douglass High School | |
Tommy Gooden | Football Scholarship-Jackson State University-Parents: Pamela & Bernard Gooden |
Garrison Smith | Football Scholarship-University of Georgia-Parents: Cynthia & Greg Smith |
Khaaadliah Miller | Basketball Scholarship-University of Georgia-Parents: Phyllis & Willie Miller |
Cheryl Wade | Basketball Scholarship- FAMU-Parents: Dalvin & Michelle Stephens |
Gardenia Wilson | Basketball Scholarship-North Georgia or Georgia State University-Parents: James & Cecilia Wilson |
Chelsa Warfied | Basketball Scholarship-Mississippi State or St. Johns University-Parents: Chester & Yvonne Warfield |
Brooke Smith | Academic Scholarship-Georgia Tech-Parent: Terry McCray (Basketball Player in High School) |
Henry W. Grady High School | |
Christopher Walton | Football Scholarship-UAB-Parents: Gartrell & Valek Walton |
Maynard Jackson High School | |
Otis Powell | Football Scholarship-Shaw University-Parents: Mr. & Mrs. Otis Powell |
Jose Avelar | Football Scholarship-Lincoln University-Parent: Jose Avelar |
Antavious Earls | Football Scholarship-Lincoln University-Parent: Anthony Earls |
Oscar Sims | Football Scholarship-Lincoln University: Parents: |
Terrell Dantzler | Football Scholarship-Fayetteville State-Parents Mr. & Mrs. Raymond McDougal |
Benjamin E. Mays High School | |
Acey Palmer | Football Scholarship- Airforce, Tuskegee University or Presbyterian-Parents Acey Sr & Mary Palmer |
Tim Wynn | Football Scholarship-West Carolina, Western Kentucky, Illinois, or Georgia State-Parents: Tim & Keteria Wynn |
Tyrell Adams | Football Scholarship-University of Charleston, State University of West GA, Shaw University or Robert Morris-Parent: Wyketia Adams |
Mario Turner | Football Scholarship-Grambling State University-Parent: Stephanie Hammonds |
Kendra Long | Basketball Scholarship-Georgia Tech-Parents: Kedral Long |
Joshua Reese | Academic Scholarship-College of Wooster- Parents: (Football Player in High School) |
Kavian Anderson | Academic Scholarship-Fisk University, Winston-Salem State University, or Kentucky State University-Parents: |
North Atlanta High School (100% of Senior Athletics Received Scholarships) | |
Anthony Jordan | Football Scholarship-Bethune Cookman University-Parents: Rhonda Jordan & Aaron Allen |
Chaz Moulder | Football Scholarship-Tusculum College-Parent: Audrey Thornton |
Justin Browning | Football Scholarship-Tusculum College-Parent: Clint Browning |
Lironta Archie | Football Scholarship-Tusculum College-Parent: Dashaye Archie |
Todd McKinley | Football Scholarship-Concordia College-Parents: Larry B Carr Jr. & Emily McKinley |
Michael Wells | Football Scholarship-Concordia College-Parent: Janice Todd |
Joshua Burton | Football Scholarship-Concordia College-Parent: Shirley turner |
Darriyn Lomax | Football Scholarship-Concordia College-Parent: Carla Lomax |
Christopher Brown | Football Scholarship-Concordia College-Parent: Tami Brown |
Brenton Nelson | Football Scholarship-Concordia College-Parent: Leshon Stewart |
South Atlanta Educational Complex | |
Joshua Davis | Football Scholarship, Tusculum College-Parent: Michelle & Bobby Davis |
Booker T. Washington | |
Desmond Barnes | Paine College-Parent: Lynne Barnes |
Quadral Forte | Football Scholarship-West Virginia-Parent: Ashanti Howard |
Antonio Goodwin | Football Scholarship-Auburn University or West Virginia-Parent: Regnatta Jones-Goodwin |
Jatavious Lumpkin | Football Scholarship-Edward Waters-Parent: Shirley Lumpkin |
I think that is really great
Tommy (phyco),Khaalidah,Garrison (Big G0, Cheryl, and Gardenia (Gee). best there is was and ever will be
I am so proud of Khaalidah i always knew that basketball was going to put her on top much love to u and good job on your scholarship
all the way tun up