Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

ALABASTER – Thompson High School’s newest athletics signee took a unique and special journey to play college sports, but now, Seth Tippins will get to fulfill his dreams and take the next step in his athletic and academic career.

Tippins officially signed to play wheelchair basketball collegiately for the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

“We are extremely proud of Seth and the hard work he and his teammates have put in throughout their high school years,” Tippins’ father Stanley said. “We look forward to many more successes from this outstanding young man.”

Tippins has had an incredibly successful high school career playing wheelchair basketball and has made his name on the national stage.

Tippins played for multiple seasons on the Lakeshore Lakers, which is based in Homewood at The Lakeshore Foundation. The organization provides opportunities for individuals with physical disabilities and chronic health conditions to compete in sports.

Tippins is one of many elite athletes who train at the foundation’s headquarters, including dozens of current and future Paralympians taking advantage of its status as an official U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Site.

As a member of the Lakeshore Lakers, Tippins has won each of the last two high school wheelchair basketball national championships. He and his team are currently nationally ranked and projected to win the national championship once again in 2025 to cap off an incredible athletic career.

Wisconsin-Whitewater head coach Jake Williams said in a statement that Tippins has enormous potential, and he looks forward to helping Tippins succeed in the classroom, on the basketball court and in life.

Now, Tippins will look to finish out his high school career strong before representing Thompson and Alabaster on the college circuit as a member of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s team, which has won 14 national championships, including in 2024.