By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – Four Thompson High School football players will continue their careers at the next level after inking scholarships with a college and a local sports prep academy.

THS football players Terrell Manzano, CJ King and Larrice Bryant signed with the Columbiana-based Alabama Prep Sports Academy and Donavynn Hicks signed with Lane College in Jackson, Tenn., during a Feb. 17 ceremony in the THS library.

“Guys, today is your day, and we’re happy to be able to share it with you. This is always a very special occasion, and I appreciate the fact that we get to sit here and watch you make something for you and your life and making a dream come true,” said THS Principal Dr. Wesley Hester. “You should hold your head high and be very proud of all the hard work, because you deserve it.”

Alabama Prep Sports Academy is a post-graduate institution allowing athletes to polish their academic and athletic skills in preparation for moving on to the next level.

“Every time we have a young guy leave here and go to another school, they’re representing us. That’s part of our blood and part of our family,” said THS head football coach Mark Freeman. “I’m so proud of all of the guys. They did all the things that we asked them to do, and they never waivered.”

Each athlete thanked a list of supporters for helping them get to where they are today:

-“I’d like to thank God, my family for continuing to push me, by brother giving me motivation and my coaches never letting up on me,” King said.

 

-“Thank you to God for the opportunity that he gave us. Thank you to my parents and these coaches for letting me play at the next level and to my teammates for pushing me,” Manzano said.

 

-“I’d like to thank God, my parents, my grandparents for helping me through this long process. Thank you to all my coaches for staying on me,” Hicks said.

 

-“I want to thank everyone in my family and coach Freeman, especially coach Freeman, and all the coaches for giving me the opportunity to play at the next level,” Bryant said.