Malone’s Smith and Bryan Sign

June 5, 2008
By: Clint Cox

It was a big day in Malone last Friday as two of the Tiger’s standout athletes signed letters of intent to take their game to the next level. In girls basketball Mercedes Smith will head to Americus Georgia to play hoops at South Georgia Tech. Smith has been a four year starter for the Lady Tigers program that made it to the State Championship game last year. Smith helped lead this year’s squad to a district championship and second round playoff berth. During the past season Smith averaged 15.1 points a game and 7.3 rebounds per game.
Her coach, Vernette Skeete, was delighted to see Smith sign. "I am always happy when my kids get a chance to play at the next level. That’s one of the things we’ve tried to do at Malone is try and prepare our players so they have that opportunity," said Skeete, who departs Malone this year to become an assistant coach at Okaloosa Walton College. For her part Smith knows the challenge ahead of her will be demanding. "I’ve put in a lot of hard work here at Malone and there is a lot of hard work to be continued," said Smith. She is the daughter of Lee Smith, Sherry Smith and Anita Crawford. She is the granddaughter of Magalene Smith and Annie Pearl Jackson.
From the diamond the Tiger’s Justin Bryan will travel north to the state of Tennessee to play baseball for Jackson State Community College. Bryan played catcher, shortstop and pitcher for the Malone squad that captured a district championship this past season and finished 14-8. At the plate he batted .352 with 17 RBI and 4 home runs. He went 2-1 on the mound with 4 saves, striking out 32 batters and finishing with an impressive ERA of 1.94. Tiger Head Coach Max Harkrider said Bryan is well deserving of the chance to play at the next level. "He has got the talent and has been starting for our program since he was in the 7th grade," said Harkrider.
Bryan is looking forward to his chance to play college baseball, even if it is a long way from home (8 hours). "I’m happy to be going to Jackson State. Only a handful of players get to go to the next level so to just have the chance is great," said Bryan. He is the son of Doug and Sheila Bryan. His grandparents are Phillip and Shirley McMillan, Hellon Bryan and the late James W. Bryan.