Savannah council leaves retreat with vision for strategic plan, honest conversation on past divisions
HIGH-SCHOOL

VIDEO: Johnson's Rhodes signs with Erskine

MICAH MCVICKER

In the Johnson High School Media Center, Jamaal Rhodes put pen to paper and signed his letter of intent for basketball. Then, he tried on the Erskine College hat laid out in front of him. He became a part of the Flying Fleet.

Afterward, his coach, Marty Holder, said this day is like heaven.

"When you watch a kid grow four years, and the end result is advancement, that lets me know that for four years, he was a student first," Holder said. "Then he was an athlete. He excelled in the classroom. He excelled on the basketball court, and these are the results you get when you stay focused and dedicated towards your goals."

Rhodes said Erskine College, a Christian liberal arts college located in Due West, S.C., is a fit for him.

"When I took the visit with my mom, I loved the environment," Rhodes said. "I loved the campus. The coaches were really cool. It felt like a place where I could excel in the classroom and on the basketball court. It felt great all around. I knew that's the place where I belonged."

According to MapQuest, Erskine College is 218 miles from Johnson High School. Rhodes said the proximity to home influenced his decision.

"It's close to home," he said. "I'm a homey person. We took visits all over. New York - I don't know how long of a flight (it is). The fact that it's close to where I'm from, it played a big role because I prefer being closer to home. That made it all the better."

Rhodes is undecided on his major. The role the Erskine coaching staff envision Rhodes playing is more clear.

"We sat down, talked with the coaches (and) worked out with the coaches, and they decided shooting guard or small forward," Rhodes said. "That's great to me. I played a little bit of that at Johnson, so I got some getting used to (the new positions), but it sounds good to me."

Holder said Rhodes was an ideal student-athlete.

"Being a role model student, for other kids out there to see what you can accomplish in four years when your journey is over, I pray for days like this every day," he said.