Trey Suttles continuing basketball career at Armstrong Atlantic State University

photo Tyner's Trey Suttles (34) fights for possession of the ball with Howard's Anthony Smith (10) at Tyner Academy in 2012.

During his senior season at Tyner, Trey Suttles wasn't even sure that he wanted to play basketball in college.

But he's letting it pay for his education.

The former Rams standout recently signed to continue his career at Armstrong Atlantic State University, an NCAA Division II school in Savannah, Ga.

Suttles averaged 14.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per game in the 2012-13 season at Cleveland State Community College, earning the honor of Tennessee Community College Athletic Association freshman of the year. He transferred to Walters State in Morristown for his sophomore year and averaged 13.8 points and 8.1 rebounds per game, helping the Senators advance to the NJCAA Division I national tournament.

"My mama always said she spent over $20,000 on me during AAU and now look at her baby! Scholarship worth $28,000+," Suttles said on his Instagram page upon signing with AASU.

The Pirates finished 7-18 last season and lose five seniors.

Suttles played a game in the Rocky Top Basketball League in Knoxville on Monday.

In other signing news, Cleveland High School guard Kendrick Thompson will be attending Daytona State, a junior college in Florida. The 6-foot-2 guard and District 5-AAA co-player of the year averaged 23.3 points, six rebounds and 3.5 assists for the Blue Raiders.

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Former East Hamilton guard Tiffany Lewis is continuing her basketball career at Clemson University. The 5-9 shooting guard played for coach Derek Morris's Lady Hurricanes for three seasons but transferred to Riverdale for her senior year, helping the Murfreesboro school win the Class AAA state championship and earn the No. 1 national ranking from MaxPreps.

She played last season at Chipola Junior College, averaging 10.8 points and connecting on 86 3-pointers.

• Former Howard center Brandon Walters recently was offered a conditional basketball scholarship by the University of Tennessee.

The 6-9, 260-pound two-time all-stater is entering his sophomore season at Walters State. He averaged 14.3 points and 7.5 rebounds playing the first semester for the Senators last year.

Attempts to reach him were unsuccessful.

• Abdulhakim Ado had to cancel a weekend visit to Louisville. Hamilton Heights' 6-11 center, who is ranked No. 3 at the position in the class of 2016, has offers from Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Memphis.

• Former Walker Valley and Cleveland forward Jahmal Johnson has taken unofficial visits to UTC and Kennesaw State over the past two weekends. Johnson played his freshman season at Wabash Valley in Illinois but will play this season at Walters State. He played in 26 games with nine starts his freshman season, averaging 4.3 points and 2.6 rebounds in 11.9 minutes per game.

Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6311. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.

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