First Presbyterian Christian Academy Highlander basketball player Mike Tige has signed a letter of intent to play for the Barons of Brewton-Parker College.
Tige signed the letter Monday morning surrounded by FPCA administrators, family and friends.
Tige scored a total of 155 points his senior year as a Highlander and played for the Coastal Crew Rebels.
New Highlander coach Ernie Walthour said BPC is a good fit for Tige.
“Coach Jarvis Smith left Robert Toombs and took the job at Brewton-Parker, so he is familiar with our players and kids. We also have some other kids up there, Terrence Alston Jr. and Hakeem Golden, and it will be like he is back with family in a small community. We felt like it was a good fit,” he said.
Walthour said Tige has worked hard and college will provide him a good opportunity to play and further his education.
“I told him to follow the role model set by Terrence and put education first and I told him to stay involved with school activities…that is the most important thing, stay busy and stay focused,” Walthour said.
BPC coach Jarvis Smith said he was familiar with Tige and respects the players who come from FPCA.
“Mike comes from FPCA which has a history of prior success. They won three state championships. He is a well rounded kid as well as a pretty good basketball player which is what we are looking for. Our goal here is to surround our program with good kids,” he said.
Tige played in the one and two spots for FPCA and Smith said he sees a lot of defensive potential.
“I think he is going to be an asset on the defense side of the ball,” Smith said. “He’ll be coming in starting off on our junior varsity program and we will develop him and work on some offensive skills and see what the future holds for him here as a Baron.”
“It felt great but I know I have a lot of work ahead,” Tige said after signing. “It is a good school and they have a good coach this year and I really like the program.”
The future biology major said, “It feels great to have people around me that I know.”
He said he is planning on running to stay in condition and has spent the summer, training with FPCA teammates DJ Felder and Jordan Johnson to stay basketball ready.
“The coach told me to work hard and stay dedicated and I’m ready to do that,” he said.