Ex-Harlem hoops star putting decision on hold

Former Harlem High School basketball standout Cedric Boatner received interest from a lot of schools, but landed no solid offers.

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So, he decided to press the pause button on his college decision. Instead, Boatner will attend Prince Avenue Prep in Pickens, S.C.

"I had a lot of looks, but they weren't offering, or were talking about, 'We have somebody else to look for first,'" Boatner said. "I figured going to Prep would help me more, because I'll have more time for the schools to look at me; kind of like give me a second chance."

Boatner will attend a camp with his new school in July. He said he will also try to play another summer of AAU ball.

The coaches he heard from during the past two years said they liked Boatner's ability to play either guard position. Boatner said he did not have the height of a typical shooting guard, but his jumping ability closed that gap and that he was big enough to take advantage of most point guards.

Boatner, who was The Columbia County News-Times Boys Player of the Year as a junior, said he heard from Mercer, North Georgia, North Florida, Winthrop, Wichita State, Stanford, Louisiana Tech, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Troy, Cornell and South Alabama. He also heard from Stanford as a junior.

Harlem coach Kim Chambers set up a tryout for Boatner at Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia, which he said went well.

Boatner called Prince Avenue coach Mark Knight after hearing about the school and was offered a spot.

Boatner said Knight had a personal connection with the coaching staff at Winthrop and a number of other college coaches.

"I'll still be trying to get in contact with schools while I'm there," Boatner said. "I'm just trying to go to the biggest school I can."

GreenJackets to play host to Chamber of Commerce Night

The Augusta GreenJackets on Friday will play host to Columbia County Chamber of Commerce Night.

Tickets start at $7, based on a minimum purchase of 10. For the cost of at least 10 tickets, companies receive seats to the game and a GreenJackets cap for each member of the group. The company's name also will be scrolled on the scoreboard and announced over the public address system.

The Columbia County Chamber member to purchase the most tickets will be given a baseball signed by Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr.

For information, call the GreenJackets box office or go to greenjacketsbaseball.com.