Demetrius KitchensChattanooga State sophomore Demetrius Kitchens from Brainerd High School has signed scholarship papers to take his basketball career to a new level at Life University in Marietta, Ga.
The 6-foot-2 wing player played more as a freshman than this past season because of some issues unrelated to basketball, but coach Jay Price said he's confident Kitchens can succeed at Life.
"There's no doubt he can play -- he has the talent -- and he's not a bad kid," Price said. "Last year he was in our top two or three scorers just about every game, and this year he played about the same when he was in the lineup. And he finished strong for us. He played really well in the [region] tournament."
Life went to the NAIA Division I tournament, and coach John Barrett has had previous success with Chattanooga State transfers.
"Coach Price is an old friend of mine, and I don't believe we would be where we are if not for Jay and the players we've had from Chattanooga State," Barrett said Friday night. "Every year before the season we play an exhibition game against them, and I told Jay in Kitchens' freshman year that we were going to be on him. I like strong, physical guards, and he has the build and mental makeup that fits the style we play.
"We're very excited to have him, and he's going to be a tremendous player for us."