As high school seniors continue to make preparations for the future, another round of student-athletes recently made commitments to continue their athletic careers heading into college.
Hoggard
Brad Pennington, baseball, N.C. Wesleyan
Pennington hit .470 atop the Vikings lineup this season, helping guide Hoggard to the 4A East Regional. Primarily a shortstop, the righty had 29 runs, 39 hits, 19 RBI, 19 doubles and eight stolen bases. He has a .588 on-base percentage, with a 3-0 record on the mound and 1.91 ERA. Pennington is often used in late game situations for Hoggard. In 14.2 innings pitched, he has 28 strikeouts.
N.C. Wesleyan is an NCAA Division III member and part of USA South Athletic Conference. He will join former Wilmington Post 10 teammate and New Hanover High School alum Trey Croom at Wesleyan. Croom just wrapped up his freshman season for the Battling Bishops.
New Hanover
Helen Duffy, swimming, Davidson College
Duffy competed in three separate events as a senior at this year’s NCHSAA 4A Championships. She swam the second leg of the 200 yard medley relay for the Wildcats in addition to the 200 yard individual medley and 100 yard butterfly. The New Hanover girls also claimed the 2016 Mideastern Conference Championship and New Hanover County Championship.
Tyrek Speller, football, Guilford College
North Brunswick
Jaheed Cason, baseball, Belmont Abbey
Cason was a .318 hitter for the Scorpions this season. He scored 32 runs, with 12 runs batted in and 20 stolen bases. On the mound, the lefty fashioned a 3-1 mark and a 2.79 earned run average. North Brunswick went 8-2 in the East Central Conference and 15-11 overall. The Scorps grabbed a pair of wins in the 2A state playoffs.
Belmont Abbey is an NCAA Division II member school and part of the Conference Carolinas. He will join Topsail High School alum Sam Luchansky on the team. Luchansky was a freshman relief pitcher for the Crusader this past season.
Deangelo Walker, football, Greensboro College
Keondre Yeoman, track, UNCW
Yeoman ran one leg on the third-place 4X200 meter relay team for the North Brunswick boys at this year’s 4A state meet. He also placed sixth at state’s in 110 meter hurdles and eighth in 300 meter hurdles.
Coastal Christian
Brian Howell, basketball, Lynchburg College
Howell helped guide Coastal Christian to one of its best seasons in program history with a 9-2 mark in conference and 18-8 overall record.
Lynchburg College (Lynchburg, Virginia) competes in the Old Dominion Conference as part of NCAA Division III classification.
Wilmington Christian Academy
Austin Tart, basketball, Methodist College
