Reigning state champs send 5 off to next level
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — The Savannah High boys basketball team, the reigning Class A Division II state champions, sent five members from this year's team to the collegiate level.
Maki Joyner, arguably the best basketball player in the 912 area code, is headed to Northwest Florida State College in Niceville, Fla.
'I feel like if I go [to junior college] for a year,' Joyner said. 'At least, put some more weight on myself, get better. Stay humble, stay locked in and I'll be straight.'
Then, 6-foot-8 Deshawn Davis is going to the Midwest. He will play at Cowley College.
Chance Hendricks, who was the MVP of the state championship game against McIntosh County Academy will stay in state, is committed to Middle Georgia Prep.
'It's developmental to me,' Hendricks said. 'I want to go and get way better. Winning comes with getting better. I'm not trying to go win. I'm trying to develop as a player.'
Zy Smart and Shone Ruth will stay teammates as they head to Swainsboro, Ga. and attend East Georgia State College.
It just is it's not really too much around there,' Ruth said. 'It's just strictly basketball and just no distractions so I can put my head down to work.'
Smart added, 'Tomorrow we graduate too. So it's a serious, serious feeling. So I, I really really haven't got the feeling yet, but I know it's going to probably going to hit tonight.'
Congrats to all the signees.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
15 minutes ago
- New York Times
Iowa hires former NFL GM Scott Pioli as consultant following House settlement
Iowa's athletics department has hired former Kansas City Chiefs general manager and New England Patriots executive Scott Pioli as a consultant to help the football program transition into a new financial model. The move comes as universities prepare to pay athletes directly in response to the landmark House settlement approved last week. Advertisement Pioli, 60, worked alongside Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz with the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens from 1992-96, and the two have fostered a close relationship over the last three decades. Pioli has attended Iowa football practices and was retained last fall in preparation for the athletic department sharing revenue with Iowa athletes. Pioli will continue to work with all of Iowa's programs, but his expertise lies with football. At New England, Pioli was the Patriots' vice president of player personnel when the team won three Super Bowls and was named the Pro Football Writers Association's executive of the year three times. Pioli was the Chiefs' general manager from 2009-12, and then served as Atlanta Falcons assistant general manager from 2014-19. He has since worked as an NFL analyst for SiriusXM, NBC Sports and NFL Network. Iowa will share the maximum allowable amount of money under the House settlement, which is $20.5 million, with as much as 75 percent going toward the football program. In addition to bringing on Pioli, Iowa has established a cap management structure that includes general managers for each sport. Marcus Wilson will serve as executive senior associate athletics director for cap management and administration, while Scott Brickman, the department's general manager for NIL and strategy through a partnership with Altius Sports Partners, will review and approve all agreements. Financial parameters related to the $2.8 billion House settlement, which was approved on Friday night by Judge Claudia Wilken, go into effect on July 1.
CBS News
16 minutes ago
- CBS News
Stefon Diggs earns praise from Mike Vrabel for bringing energy to Patriots offseason workouts
The Stefon Diggs controversy appears to be a thing of the past in New England. Diggs is on the field Monday as the Patriots kick off mandatory minicamp in Foxboro, and the veteran receiver earned praise from his new head coach for the energy he brings to the field. The last time Mike Vrabel was asked about Diggs, the coach was being peppered with questions about a video that surfaced on social media showing the receiver partying on a boat during Memorial Day weekend. Diggs was seen sharing an unknown pink substance with partygoers, which created quite the stir in New England and around the NFL. "Obviously, we want to make great decisions on and off the field," Vrabel said at the time. The Patriots were in the middle of OTAs in Foxboro when the video surfaced. Even if those practices were voluntary, it wasn't the best look for Diggs, who is recovering from ACL surgery this offseason. But Diggs was back in Foxboro for OTAs last week, and was back out on the field Monday for the first of two practices of mandatory minicamp. While Diggs is still limited in what he can do on the field as he recovers, Vrabel has liked what he's seen from the veteran pass-catcher. "He's trying to figure out where everything is and what his role is, and making sure as we add those situations – third down, no huddle, red zone – that he's staying up on it and working hard in his rehab," said Vrabel. "There are certain drills he can be out there and certain drills he won't be. But I think he's engaged and I like his energy." Energy has never been a problem for Diggs over his 10-year NFL career, and it's good to see he's still bringing it despite being limited on the field. Diggs also spent a lot of time working with second-year receiver Ja'Lynn Polk in last week's OTA practice that was open to the media, bringing a much-needed veteran voice to New England's receiving corps. The 31-year-old had 47 catches for 496 yards and three touchdowns for the Texans in 2024 before he suffered a torn ACL in October. His rehab appears to be going well this summer, and the Patriots are hoping for a lot of catches -- and a lot of energy -- from Diggs after signing him to a three-year, $63.5 million deal in the offseason.
Fox News
17 minutes ago
- Fox News
Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw takes issue with Cardinals' pregame antics before start
Los Angeles Dodgers star Clayton Kershaw hurled a gem against the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday as the team picked up a 7-3 victory. The veteran pitcher went five innings, allowing one run on six hits and striking out seven. He only threw 82 pitches and picked up the first winning decision of the year. Kershaw expressed after the game he was a bit upset with the Cardinals going into the matchup. The Cardinals played Matt Adams' clutch home run off Kershaw in the 2014 National League Division Series on a loop before the game began at Busch Stadium. It wasn't Kershaw's finest moment for the Dodgers but the team playing the moment from more than 10 years ago appeared to irk the pitcher. "I think it's a little bush league, but I don't expect anything less from these guys. So, it's no worries," he told Kershaw was the National League MVP and Cy Young Award winner during the 2014 season. More than 10 years later, he's still going strong for the Dodgers though the expectations are a bit different. He's started five games this season for the Dodgers and has a 4.35 ERA with 15 strikeouts. He was last an All-Star in 2023. He missed most of the 2024 season with various injuries. Los Angeles improved to 39-27 with the win over St. Louis. The defending World Series champions a game ahead of the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants in the National League West division. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
