MOULTRIE – One day, the Paul Quinn basketball lineup in Texas could look like it’s a Packer alumni game.

Faulkner University’s football defense is also getting more of an infusion of the Colquitt County High style.

On Friday, in the Colquitt County High cafeteria, three more senior student-athletes announced their intentions to play college sports. From the resurgent Packer boys basketball program, Jy Andrews signed to play at Paul Quinn College in Dallas just as his older brother Da’Nas and former teammate Tyrese King did one year ago. Nizarre Thompson, a sharp shooter from way outside the arc, also has intentions to join all those former Packers, but first he is going to play a bit more further away from Moultrie at Dakota College, a two-year program at Bottineau, N.D.

The third is Jarvis Christopher, who was a big part of Colquitt’s football and basketball success. On this day, he joined his hardwood teammates in the ceremony with his announcement of playing for Faulkner in Alabama. The football cornerback is the second Packer in the Class of 2018 to sign here, the other being defensive tackle Kyante Rivers.

“When you are part of a family, one thing’s not more important than the other,” said Colquitt head boys basketball coach Andy Harden. “That’s why we’re having a little crossover.

“Today’s a special day for me. Anytime you invest in your kids’ lives and care about them as much as I do … my pocketbook would feel better if (my own children) were up here, but my heart wouldn’t be filled any more than it is right now.”

Andrews was a two-year starter out of four years on Harden’s varsity basketball roster.

“Last year when Tyrese, Da’Nas and myself flew to Paul Quinn, they fell in love with Paul Quinn,” said Harden. “They don’t even want to come home sometimes because they love it so much. When you go to college, it’s more about falling in love with the school than just going and playing basketball. School is constant.”

Da’Nas Andrews and King were redshirts in the 2017-18 season, and both did come home to Moultrie and were part of Friday’s ceremony.

“To see everybody here, watching me sign, I love it,” said Jy Andrews. “I’m ready to play ball.”

He described Paul Quinn, which is a member of the NAIA, as a “gentleman’s school.” Every day, he said it’s dressing up nice, looking formal, and making the President’s List academically all four years. He plans on studying business management, and he would like to one day be a coach.

“I just hope to help the program out,” said Andrews. “I’ll bring defensive intensity, a little scoring off the bench, somebody for the other team to guard.”

About Thompson, Harden said he talks about this student-athlete’s student work more than anything.

“(Dakota) is a long way off, but I think that’s what’s best for Nizarre,” he said. “He’s going to have a job on campus. He’s going to get that plane ticket (home) out of the way. The following year he’ll go to summer school. We have a plan. Anytime in sports you don’t have a game plan, you’re preparing to lose.”

“It might be pretty cold,” said Thompson about this part of the country. “But it’s not about the distance. It’s about exploring the world. I never got the chance to explore growing up. I always wanted to get away.”

Thompson has yet to visit Dakota but has been in contact with their coaches. The Lumberjacks men had a 19-12 record last season, falling to Dakota County Technical College in the Region XIII championship game. Thompson expects to get into the starting lineup quickly.

“I got to hit the weight room,” he said. “I’m kind of thin right now. I just need to stay dedicated to my books. I’m going to major in business management.”

And he would like to, after two seasons with Dakota, transfer to Paul Quinn, giving that program four Packers.

“They’re like my brothers,” said Thompson. “Ever since sixth, seventh grade.”

In football last fall, Christopher made 40 tackles, intercepted one pass and broke up five others in the secondary.

“Everybody thought we were going to have a down year,” said Christopher. “Everybody counted us out, thought we were too small. Unfortunately we lost (the championship), but I wouldn’t trade my teammates for anything.”

“It doesn’t matter what you do. If you play for a state championship, you had a successful year,” said Harden about the Packers’ run to the Class 7A title game as a third seed out of their region.

“It’s a dream come true,” said Christopher. “Me and my mom have been through a lot together. She doesn’t have to pay for anything, so I’ve very grateful.

“I had a lot of options, but I fell in love with Faulkner University. It may not be the biggest school, but they care about you a lot. It’s a Christian university, so you get your Word of God. Anything is possible with God. You can do anything in this world.”

Christopher will also testify that he’s already been through the college football experience, for that’s how head coach Rush Propst has established the Packers. He knows what adversity is, and being a Packer prepares you for your downfalls and your come-ups. It was no adversity, though, to face his position coach, Dextra Polite, every day.

“Getting on me every day,” said Christopher with a smile and a shout out. “The stairs. He always put you in the stands when you do wrong. But if it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be the man I am today.”

Christopher’s plan at Faulkner is to compete for a starting role right away; in fact, he said the position coach there expects that from him. He also expects to go well with the training and conditioning in college football. Even playing basketball, he said, was a great way to improve on cardio and footwork.

“With Colquitt County, I promise you, if you play, you will go to the next level,” said Christopher, who will major in business and marketing to one day get into the real estate game.

As Colquitt girls basketball coach Rondesha Williams said about her seniors, Harden said all six of the boys basketball seniors are going to college. Cam Singletary (Tennessee Tech) and Kaleb Dawson (Appalachian State) have football scholarships. Forward Quinten Dopson, Harden said, is going to Hampton University to enter the pharmacy program.