Athletes Beyond Bartow: Updates on local pro and collegiate athletes and their contributions for the week ending January 15

January 15, 2024 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com

This week’s ‘Athletes Beyond Bartow’ edition includes updates on 20 professional and college athletes with their contributions in basketball, wrestling, and track and field across the country.

NBA G LEAGUE

ASHTON HAGANS — Rip City Remix (4th yr. pro; Cartersville native; Kentucky; Newton HS) … in wins Sunday and Monday over the visiting Oklahoma City Blue Hagans averaged 16 points, 7.5 rebounds, and six assists. He also had three steals and one blocked shot. Next for Rip City (4-3) is a home game on Monday (Jan. 22) with the G League Ignite.

PRO BASKETBALL SUPER LEAGUE

AJ MOSBY — Sudbury Five (6th year pro; Alcorn State; Cartersville HS) … scored 23 points with three rebounds and two assists last Friday in a 115-112 loss to the London Lightning. Mosby then scored 12 points with six assists and three rebounds as The Five beat the Pontiac Pharaohs last Saturday night. Sudbury (4-2) hosts the Montreal Toundra on Saturday.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

BRAXTON BENHAM — Berry College (Jr., Cass HS) … scored 13 points with nine rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one blocked shot last Friday in a 94-45 blowout win at Centre College (Kentucky). He then scored nine points with four steals, three boards, and three assists in a 102-63 win at Sewanee-University of the South on Sunday. The Vikings (7-9, 4-1 Southern Athletic Association) host Birmingham-Southern College on Friday night and Millsaps College on Sunday afternoon.

ZAYLAN CHANEY — Tallahassee CC (So., Cartersville resident; Legacy Academy) … finished with 12 points and eight rebounds, three steals, and three assists last Wednesday in a 96-40 home win over TRC Academy. The Eagles (14-4) entertain Northwest Florida State CC on Wednesday and visit Pensacola State CC on Saturday.

CLAIRE DAVIS — Palm Beach Atlantic University (So., Cass HS) … scored 18 points and grabbed six rebounds last Wednesday in a 69-67 loss at Embry-Riddle University. She added two steals, one assist, and one block. The Sailfish (9-6, 3-4 Sunshine State Conference) host Lynn University on Wednesday and Eckerd College on Saturday in conference games.

JA’KA’YAH DRAUGHN — Chattanooga State CC (Fr., Cartersville HS) … totaled four points, two rebounds, three assists, and one steal in the Tigers’ two wins last week at Roane State CC last Wednesday and at home against Columbia State CC last Saturday. Chatt State (13-1, 5-1 TCCAA) visits Walters State on Wednesday and hosts Southwest Tennessee CC on Saturday.

JUSTICE HAYES — Point University (Jr., Cass HS) … totaled seven points, seven rebounds, and two assists in losses at home last Wednesday to Brewton-Parker and at Faulkner University (Alabama) this past Saturday. The Skyhawks (6-11, 0-9 Southern States Athletic Conference) visit New Orleans on Thursday to play at Loyola and play at the University of Mobile on Saturday.

DiANTHONY HEATHCOCK — Columbia International University (Sr., Woodland HS) … collected 10 rebounds, scored three points and added one steal and one blocked shot this past Saturday in a 76-66 loss at Montreat College (North Carolina). The Rams (10-7, 9-4 Appalachian Athletic Conference) host St. Andrews (North Carolina) on Tuesday and travel to Bryan College (Tennessee) on Saturday.

HALEY JOHNSON — Central Georgia Tech CC (So., Cass HS) … scored 13 points with four rebounds this past Saturday in an 84-47 home win over Southern Crescent Tech CC. Last Wednesday Johnson scored four points and had seven rebounds in a 74-59 home win over South Georgia Tech CC. She also totaled seven steals, four assists, and one blocked shot in those two wins.  The Titans (6-8, 4-0 GCAA) play at Albany Tech CC on Wednesday and host South Georgia Tech CC on Saturday.

KEARA McDANIEL — Toccoa Falls College (So., Cass HS) … scored five points and grabbed five rebounds with one assist and one steal this past Saturday in a 75-54 win at Trinity Baptist (Florida). McDaniel also scored two points with two boards and one assist last Thursday in a 72-47 victory at Warren Wilson College (North Carolina). The Screaming Eagles (11-2, 1-0 NCCAA) play at Bob Jones University (South Carolina) on Tuesday and host Pensacola Christian on Saturday.

T.J. PRINTUP, JR. — Tusculum University (R-Fr., Adairsville HS) … scored nine points and had six rebounds in the Pioneers’ 103-94 home win over Limestone University this past Saturday. Tusculum (5-8, 3-4 South Atlantic Conference) hosts Emory & Henry College on Wednesday and Catawba College on Saturday.

WRESTLING

COLTON BISHOP — Reinhardt University (Jr., Woodland HS) … the 125-pounder had one win by forfeit in the Eagles’ win over Johns Hopkins but lost to his opponents from Centenary University (New Jersey), Alvernia University (Pennsylvania) and Averett University (Virginia) at the Virginia American College Duals. Reinhardt went 2-2 at the tournament and placed fourth. The Eagles wrestle Tuesday at home against the University of Montavello.

EASTON BISHOP — Reinhardt University (Jr., Woodland HS) … wrestling at 133 pounds, Bishop was 2-2 at the Virginia American College Duals. He had wins over opponents from Johns Hopkins University and Averett University. His losses came in bouts against Centenary University and Alvernia University. Reinhardt went 2-2 at the tournament and placed fourth. The Eagles wrestle Tuesday at home against the University of Montavello.

CALEB HENSON — Virginia Tech (So., Woodland HS) … currently ranked No. 2 in the nation in the 149-pound weight class, Henson pinned his Appalachian State opponent last Friday night as the 13th-ranked Hokies beat the visiting 25th-ranked Mountaineers 28-10. Virginia Tech begins its Atlantic Coast Conference schedule on January 26 at home against 21st-ranked North Carolina.

TYLER McKNIGHT — Davidson College (Fr., Cass HS) … went 2-2 in his bouts but the Wildcats were 0-4 this past weekend hosting the Davidson Duals. McKnight, wrestling at 149 pounds, had individual wins in his bouts against Little Rock and Brown University. His losses came to opponents from Harvard and Lock Haven. Next for the Wildcats is a Southern Conference home match with Campbell University.

JAXON SMITH — University of Maryland (So., Woodland HS) … ranked No. 5 nationally in the 197-pound division, Smith had the Terrapins’ only bout win in a 38-7 team loss to 13th-ranked Michigan this past Friday. 21st-ranked Maryland bounced back on Sunday for a 29-15 victory over visiting Northwestern and Smith won by technical fall. Maryland will be back in action on Friday at 6th-ranked Ohio State and they will visit 29th-ranked Indiana on Sunday.

JABRIL WILLIAMS — Midway University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … lost his 165-pound bout as the Eagles lost to Cumberland University (Tennessee), 34-9, last Thursday. Midway will participate in the Missouri Valley Invitational on Friday and Saturday in Marshall, Missouri,.

TRACK & FIELD

BILL ARCHER — University of Montevallo (Jr., Cartersville HS) … was first in the mile (4:20.17) at the Emory Crossplex Showdown this past Sunday in Birmingham. The Falcons will run in the Samford Multi and the KMS Invitational on Friday through Sunday in Birmingham 

STEPHEN SMITH — Kennesaw State University (Sr., Cass HS) … cleared 4.70m / 15-5 to finish third in pole vault this past weekend at the Clemson Invitational. The Owls compete at the Samford Invitational in Birmingham this Friday and Saturday.

DREW THAYER — University of Montevallo (Fr., Woodland HS) … finished eighth this past Sunday in Birmingham in the 800 meters (2:04.30) at the Emory Crossplex Showdown. The Falcons will run in the Samford Multi and the KMS Invitational this weekend in Birmingham.