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The LaGrange boys basketball team had not one, but two players sign to play in college starting next season. Jaquavious Hurston and Jaylen Young enjoyed very different high school careers, but both signed to play at community colleges starting in the fall.

“It’s always a joyous occasion when you have a couple guys get a great opportunity to go and play college ball,” LaGrange basketball coach Mark Veal said. “It is also sad too because we will be subtracting two really good players from our team. They are both hard-nosed competitive guys and they are both very passionate about the game.”

Hurston is a Granger lifer, spending all four seasons of his high school career in blue and white. Whether it was in a starting role or off the bench, Hurston made an impact. The gunslinging shooting guard was never shy of confidence.

“This feels so good,” Hurston said. “I have been dreaming of this day since I was a little kid. People have doubted me and said I would never make it, but I always knew this would be possible.”

Hurston will be traveling all the way to Nebraska to play basketball at Southeast Community College. 

“The coach came down and I had a trial with him, and it went really well,” Hurston said. “From there, I knew Southeast was for me.”

It will be a big change of scenery for Hurston, who has spent his entire life living in Troup County.

“It is very nerve-racking because I don’t do good far from home, but this will be good for me and push me out of my comfort zone.”

Young had a much different high school basketball career. He started his high school journey at Troup High before transferring to LaGrange during his sophomore season.

“When I came over to LaGrange, I didn’t know what to think at first,” Young said. “I broke my finger my first year here, but I was able to settle in and find a role on the team.”

He carved out a big role on the Grangers, starting occasionally but mainly serving as the sixth-man spark off the bench. Young put up more than his fair share of highlight-worthy plays at LaGrange with his ability to dunk second to none on the LaGrange team. 

Young will also be taking his talents up north as he is set to attend the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Fond du Lac.

“It is kind of scary, but I will always be a phone call from home,” Young said. “The coach told me that it gets a little cold up there, but it is a great place to play basketball.”

For both, it has been a lifelong dream to play college basketball. That is what made spending their signing day on Thursday with their family so special.

“There was a time where I was worried about whether I would be able to play (in college) or not,” Young said. “I’ve wanted this since about the third grade, so it feels like a dream come true.“