It's become routine in recent years to see a packed gym at Aiken High School for boys' basketball games.
So it was only fitting Friday for the lobby of the James A. Taylor Activities Center to be crowded once more as three Hornets seniors signed to play in college. Antonio Bussey signed with Claflin University, and Calvin Mathis and Kevin Williamson chose to continue their collaboration at USC Salkehatchie.
"I'm just extremely proud of them," said Aiken head coach Darris Jackson. "To see these kids grow and get better over a four-year period, and set a goal for themselves – what folks don't know is that these kids have been coming in at 6 in the morning since March of last year because they wanted ball at the next level.
"When kids can set a goal for themselves and then go out and put forth the effort to achieve that, it should be commended. They deserve every second of the day, and I hope they're enjoying it. I'm excited to watch some Claflin and USC Salk basketball over the next few years. I'll be on the road a lot, it looks like."
Aiken's basketball program went from finishing below .500 to earning back-to-back Region 4-AAAA championships, thanks in large part to the contributions of its seniors – more are expected to sign soon.
READ THE COMPLETE AIKEN STANDARD ARTICLE HERE
PHOTO CREDIT: Kyle Dawson/The Aiken Standard