Last week seven East Georgia State College baseball players and six basketball players signed to further their academic and athletic careers. The signings were held in the EGSC gymnasium and off campus.
On Monday, May 3, Ka’Shay Hankerson, a guard on the EGSC women’s basketball team from Reidsville, Ga., signed a national letter of intent for an athletic scholarship to play for Albany State University. Destinee Ellison of Sandersville, Ga., signed to play with Point University. Ke’Tara Trappio of Savannah, Ga., signed with Albany State University. Kayla Garrett of Reidsville, Ga., signed with Southern Wesleyan University.
On Wednesday, May 5, men’s basketball player Joseph Williams signed to play for Fort Valley State University. Williams is a forward originally from Delaware. Preston Crisp of Savannah, Ga., signed to play with South Carolina State University.
Also, on Wednesday, seven baseball players signed their letters of intent. Cameron Gilkey from Richmond Hill, Ga., signed with Erskine University. He is a right-handed pitcher. Brandon Blume, also a right-handed pitcher, signed to continue playing for the University of South Carolina-Beaufort. Blume is from Buford, Ga. Griffin McClure of Roswell, Ga., signed with Georgia Southwestern State University to play as a right-handed pitcher. Connor Frost of Roswell, Ga., signed to play for the University of North Georgia. Gabe White, a left-handed pitcher, plans to play for Bethune-Cookman University. White is from Toccoa, Ga. Kyle Wilkinson of Evans, Ga., is an infielder who also signed to attend Bethune-Cookman University. Austin Mercado, a left-handed pitcher, is from Bronx, NY. He signed to play for Anderson University.
Mercado’s mother, Joviana Mercado, was able to travel from New York to attend the event. She said it was a bittersweet moment to watch her son sign to continue his baseball career, but she is excited for this new chapter.
“East Georgia was a lot more than baseball to us. Austin was here for three years and it felt like home. He made so many friends and received a good education to move forward at this next college,” she said.
East Georgia State College would like to congratulate these athletes on their hard work and dedication! We wish you all the best!
