Jerel Richards Signs with Trinity Baptist College

Former Bible Baptist School standout Jerel Richards signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball at Trinity Baptist College in Jacksonville, Fla., Tuesday morning in the school office.

With his No. 5

Braves' jersey hanging behind his left shoulder, Richards committed to the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association school in northeast Florida, 140 miles south of Bible Baptist School.

Trinity Baptist will be the third school Richards has attended, and Richards said his mother, LaToya White, told him to prioritize his education this time.

"I sat down this time, and after talking with my mom, she told me that I can't keep switching schools," said Richards, who attended Toccoa Falls College in the fall and LaGrange College in the spring. "I need to focus on my education and not coaches and sports. I thought about it, and after I visited Trinity, I saw the people that were going to be around me. They were good, positive influences. I like the classroom sizes.

"I just feel like that's the best fit for me."

White was excited about her son's choice.

"(It's) awesome," she said. "I've been the one transporting him to and from the other schools. It'd be a four- or five-hour drive, so it's kind of refreshing to know he's right down the street now. It's not far. I can put my hands on him if I need to now and it's not hours away.

"I'm happy for that."

Richards left Toccoa Falls because the Eagles didn't have a football program. He transferred to LaGrange College for the spring semester to play football and basketball.

Before he signed with Trinity Baptist, Richards admitted his focus at each school was on athletics. He said playing football at LaGrange was not as fun as when he played in high school.

Now, he appears content to finish his collegiate career in Jacksonville, and his mother is happy.

"I'm excited," White said. "He'd been to two colleges. I want him to get some place and get settled. The school he's going to now is a really good school. That's my thing: I want him to get some place and stay there."

Though undecided on a major, Richards said he wants to a career in which he is able to be a good influence on kids.

Richards said the Eagles' coaching staff has him penciled in for a backcourt role.

"I've played point guard all my life," Richards said. "Right now, I'm not sure which one he wants me to play. Either one, I'm fine with."

Now that his letter of intent is signed, he said he felt more relaxed.

"It's a big burden off my shoulders," he said. "For a long time, while I was at LaGrange, I knew I didn't want to be there. But I had no idea where I was going to go. The whole time there, I was asking for guidance."