Whitefield Hoops Star Commits to UGA

Whitefield Academy standout basketball player Kenny Gaines committed to Georgia on Tuesday, picking the Bulldogs over Clemson, Georgia Tech, South Carolina and Iowa.

The shooting guard averaged 21 points per game as a junior last season for the Wolfpack. The 6-foot-3, 195-pounder also plays for the Georgia Stars AAU team.

Gaines told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Georgia coach Mark Fox had impeccable timing on Monday evening.

“Really, it was Coach Fox that won me over,” Gaines told the AJC. “On Monday night, my mom and I were sitting in my room and praying what decision to make, and what schools to really consider and look at. It was like five minutes after we got done praying that Coach Fox gave us a call. We felt like that really was a sign from God. We asked Him to show us as fast as he could what schools to pick. After we got that phone call, we really knew that it was Georgia.”

• The football teams at Whitefield, Lovett and Campbell are in the midst of their second full week of practice. But at CHS, today is the first day for girls softball as open tryouts are being conducted from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. All interested players should bring valid physical forms to tryouts. For more info, email coach Elizabeth Burleson at elizabeth.burleson@cobbk12.org.

• At Smyrna First Baptist Church, the Upward Sports program is still accepting registration for numerous sports including flag football and cheerleading. The evangelistic sports ministry is specifically designed for kindergarten through 10th grade boys and girls.

Teams practice one night a week for one hour. Games are played on Saturday for one hour and concessions are offered all day.

Early registration cost is $100; after August 13 the cost is $110. The registration deadline is August 22. Please register online or you may download the registration and take it with payment to the church office between 8:30 a.m. and 5 pm, Monday through Friday.

For more information, please call the church office at 770-435-3231.