Bledsoe County's Jamal Worthington plays in the game against Meigs County at Meigs County High School.CLEVELAND, Tenn. - The Lee University men's basketball program added to its recent collection of top area players by getting Bledsoe County's Jamal Worthington to commit Thursday to the future NCAA Division II school.
Worthington, a 6-foot-4 guard/forward, has averaged 18.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 5.4 assists for the Warriors, who are top-seeded in the District 7-AA tournament and faced Chattanooga Christian in a semifinal Friday night.
Lee, currently ranked No. 2 in NAIA Division I, made a scholarship offer to Worthington in November, and he said he "always kept them on top." He also had offers from NCAA Division I Tennessee Tech, Division II Limestone and NAIA Division II Top 25 member Tennessee Wesleyan.
"The [Flames] team is like a family. They made me feel welcomed there, and I feel good about the decision," Worthington said. "It feels good to finally have made this decision. There was a lot on my mind from it, but I didn't let it get to me or mess up my mindset on the court."
Bledsoe coach Mark Cagle couldn't remember the last time a Warrior was offered a college basketball scholarship but said Worthington was very deserving.
"He's become a lot more confident," Cagle said. "He's always been unselfish and a team guy, and he's developed into a leader with a better attitude. He's a special kind of player, and living in a small town, you don't get many of him.
"He makes others around him play better."
Worthington said he hasn't set expectations for his college career.
"I just want to try and get better every year. I want to work my way up into the rotation," he said. "Whatever it's going to be like, I'm ready."