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Class of 2009 athletes take talents to NCAA
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They’ve performed well in high school and as a result, the seeds of Rockdale County’s talented student-athletes will be spread across the lawns ofcollege campuses nationwide as they embark on their new-found NCAA careers.

From the bright lights of Division I schools to the intimate setting at a Division III institutions, the county flag will wave proudly as these players pursue their dreams of success in the athletic and academic arenas.

As is the case with most college student-athletes, some of these individuals will sit out their first year as redshirt players or bide their time on the bench as freshmen.

However, this time will be used to increase their strength, gain a superior knowledge of the game and hone their skills.

Once their name is called, these players are sure to come out firing with hopes of achieving the same fortunes that made them household names at their respective high schools and throughout the community.

Among the crop of players who’ve signed their collegiate letters of intent from Heritage High School are baseball star Anthony Bazzani (Eastern Kentucky University), gridiron greats Corey Alford (Georgia Tech), Justin Jones (East Carolina University), Reggie Juin (Tusculum College) and Melvin Jones (Presbyterian College), softball’s Whitney Phillips (Georgia State University), soccer studs Constance Bates (Columbus State University), Ross Sellers (Georgia Southwest University) and Paul Bates (Emmanuel College) along with hoopsters Jasmine Middlebrooks (Converse College) and Daniel Bester (Emmanuel College).

Over at Salem, the list includes soccer phenoms Jordan Young (University of Georgia), Brittany Beaumont (Clemson University) and Jacob Young (Truett-McConnell College), football players Brandon Hill (North Carolina A&T State University), Sam Watts (Mississippi State University), basketball’s Precious Elkins (Lenoir-Rhyne College) and baseball player Brandon Crumbley (Augusta State University).

Rockdale County’s seniors inked to compete in college are baseball hurler Buck Farmer (Georgia Tech), football’s Ryan Culbreath (Furman University) and Javon Lucas (Emory and Henry College), soccer star Sarah Kustick (Presbyterian College) and lacrosse player Hope Mathews (Tennessee Wesleyan College).