Morehouse College has an alumni list that reads like a who’s who: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Spike Lee, Julian Bond, Samuel L. Jackson and Herman Cain all graduated from the prestigious school in Atlanta.
Now, a Bradwell senior has an opportunity to add his name to the illustrious list of Morehouse men.
Justin Monroe signed a letter of intent to play basketball for the Maroon Tigers.
Monroe said he chose Morehouse because it is an excellent school and it offers his major, mechanical engineering.
If a diploma from Morehouse was not enough, Monroe’s major allows him to also receive a degree from Georgia Tech.
“This (Morehouse) is a real good school for education and I can get the degree I always wanted,” Monroe said. “I always wanted to play college basketball and I am real excited about playing at Morehouse.”
He isn’t the only one excited. His parents James and Lori Monroe are equally enthused about Monroe’s future.
“I am very proud of him. He has worked hard,” James Monroe said. “I’ve talked to the coaches and they told me all the expectations. We talked about academics, which is one of the first and foremost things I want him to go to school for and Morehouse offers that.”
Bradwell coach David Jones is proud of his former player.
“First thing, it’s a great academic opportunity and there’s good competition in basketball,” he said. “The main thing is he comes out with a college that talks. It says something to have Morehouse on that diploma. The college is highly recognized and people all over nation know what Morehouse is. The dummies don’t go there. This is a great opportunity to enrich him and the experience he gets there should prepare him for life.”
Monroe was noticed by Morehouse scouts at a Christmas tournament Bradwell played at Morehouse.
“He had a real good tournament and that kind of what happened with it,” Jones said. “He had one game that was real good and they saw him play.”
According to Jones, Morehouse wanted a wing shooter and they liked the way Monroe shot the ball.
“He has what they are looking for. He had a real good game,” Jones said. “It kind of set everything in motion. He was at the right place at the right time.”  
For the Tigers last season, Monroe averaged 12 points per game and 7 rebounds a game. He shot 35 percent from the three-point line.
Bradwell assistant basketball coach Kashien Latham said he believes Monroe will do well at Morehouse.
“Morehouse is a very prestigious school and he has to take it seriously,” he said. “He can’t get caught up in being too much of an athlete. He’s sound academically, so he will do fine.”
Assistant coach Pete Woodard said Monroe’s competitiveness will help him at Morehouse.
“I’ve only known him for a year and a half, but the one thing I learned about him is he’s a great competitor,” said. “Many times he takes things so competitively, he takes it on a personal note and wants to give more and more and that’s what makes him tough. He feels he can handle any challenge you put before him and when he wants the ball he wants the ball because he feels he can do it.”
When Monroe wasn’t lighting the court up with the Tigers, he was playing AAU ball with the St. James Coastal Crew Rebels.
Rebels coach and director Ernie Walthour is proud of Monroe and said it’s good for the program to see an athlete compete at the next level.
“It means a lot to see any player get a scholarship, especially Justin,” Walthour said. “He works so hard. I am real excited about him getting a scholarship and also for the Rebels.”