5 Big Bend athletes from Rickards, Leon, Lincoln sign National Letters of Intent

These seniors may have graduated over a month ago, but they were back at their respective high schools, and one at a restaurant, to extend their future athletic careers.

Five different Big Bend athletes signed National Letters of Intent to continue their athletic careers at the next level. It was all about ending one chapter and starting a new one for these athletes as many of them left a resounding impact on their teams.

Here is where you can find these five athletes this coming fall.

Lincoln: Cayden Bevis, Binghamton wrestling

The 2022 All-Big Bend Wrestler of the Year, Lincoln's Cayden Bevis, was planning on leaving his wrestling career in high school. He wasn't happy with the way his career at Lincoln ended, originally having plans to study at Florida State and stop competitively wrestling. 

However, as decision day came closer and closer, he realized just how important of a role wrestling played in his life and he didn't want to let that disappointment stop him from enjoying the sport. 

"After a while, I realized I can't let that disappointment hold me back," Bevis said. "I can't let that stop me from enjoying wrestling. That moment was the moment I realized I needed to keep wrestling in my life." 

The change-up is now sending Bevis to upstate New York, signing to wrestle with Binghamton University this coming fall. He is one of only three Big Bend wrestlers to compete at the Division I level. Bevis said that he's proud to be a part of that group as wrestling isn't as prevalent in the southeast as it is elsewhere in the United States. 

Bevis had a landmark senior season with Lincoln, going 46-2 to finish as state runner-up in the 195 weight class. He helped the Trojans to the best finish by any team in the Big Bend and had the highest individual finish in the Big Bend. 

"These four years have meant everything to me," Bevis said. "It's completely changed how I've thought about everything. My mental fortitude has been formed by wrestling and I think that will help me a lot in other aspects of my life." 

More:Lincoln's state runner-up Bevis named Wrestler of the Year, Crowder crowned Coach of the Year

Rickards: Kent Carroll, Tabor College basketball; Chase Hudson, Community Christian College basketball; Shareed Ross, Hillsborough College basketball

Rickards continued its legacy of sending its basketball players to the college level, seeing three seniors signing to play college hoops around Florida and in Kansas.

Carroll was the one outlander out of the bunch, signing with Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kansas, which is about 50 miles north of Witchita. Carroll said it felt like love when the coaches first contacted him and reminded him of a lot of home. They reminded him a lot of his high school coaches. 

Alongside playing basketball, Caroll is planning on studying criminal justice at Tabor. 

"I feel great," Caroll said. "All the work I've been putting in feels like it's finally paying off." 

Carroll started off his basketball career at Florida High before moving to Rickards in 2019. In his first season with the Raiders, he was a part of the 2020 state championship team and is one of the last members of that squad. He is a 2022 All-Big Bend first-team selection, posting  20.3 points per game, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists. 

"I really didn't like my journey at first, but now I've just got to embrace it," Carroll said. "I'm going to do big things when I get there, so I'm ready to be the underdog. I'm looking forward to the competition. They're bigger and faster, so I just want to see if I can take it."

While Carroll is making the long trip to Kanas, his teammates, Ross and Hudson are planning on staying close to home. Ross will be going to Hillsborough Community College, located in Tampa. The coaching staff had been in contact with Ross for a while and it felt right to him to sing with them.

"I get another opportunity to present myself on the floor and keep playing," Ross said. "I get another opportunity to extend my education too." 

Ross averaged 6.9 points per game this past season for the Raiders, standing as one of the top point-getters for the Raiders. When asked what his high school career meant to him, he said it was hard for him to put it into words. Ross is planning on studying a technology-based major.

The final signee of the day was Hudson, who will be attending Community Christian College in Fort Lauderdale. He said that CCC had the best opportunity for him athletically and academically, studying business. He's also looking forward to getting a little further away from Tallahassee.

Hudson averaged 6.2 points per game for the Raiders last season and has been a part of the Rickards program for all four years. His time at Rickards has meant a lot time him, on and off the court. Hudson is also thankful to have a mentor like his mother, Chariya Davis, who is the girls' basketball coach at Rickards.

"She's meant a lot to me," Hudson said. "She's really pushed me and expressed to me that I can do anything if I put my mind to it." 

Leon: Antrinesha Johnson, Lincoln Trail College basketball

Johnson ended a busy signing week in the Big Bend on Thursday at Leon, inking her basketball future with Lincoln Trail College in Illinois. This has been a long journey for Johnson as she originally planned on going into the military before things took a turn toward basketball. 

"Basketball is something I'd love to wake up every day to do," Johnson said. "I didn't want to fail in life, so I was just giving out my alternatives in life, but I know basketball is where my heart is at. This is what I want to get up every day and do."

More:Leon girls basketball trio ink letters of collegiate intent; all will play at Alabama junior college

Academically, Johnson has excelled at Leon too, graduating in three years. She planning on studying something related to business or accounting because she enjoys math. Not only is Johnson going to be playing at the college level, but she'll be attending Lincoln Trail on a full-ride scholarship. 

She's also taken value in having the opportunity to continue her career as not many people don't get a chance like this.

"Not everybody comes across opportunities like this," Johnson said. "It's basically like a full ride. Not a lot of people come across something like this." 

Johnson caps off an exciting month for the Leon girls basketball senior class. The Lions signed six different players to NLIs, standing as the only girls' basketball teams to sign that number of players in this cycle. Leon's girls' basketball singing period ranks with programs like Lincoln football, Gadsden County football, and others that have signed a large number of students this school year.

"Ever since I've come to Leon, it's just been amazing," Johnson said. "The culture, my teammates, and the chemistry that we all have. I'm the last one to sign, and it just feels amazing. I'm just so happy." 

Jack Williams covers prep sports for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at jwilliams@tallahassee.com or on Twitter @jackgwilliams.