High school athletes sign to play at colleges

It was an exciting Wednesday for a number of the area’s high school students who will be continuing their athletic careers at the college level.

More than a dozen players from area schools signed to play in college, led by Heights girls basketball star Gracelynn Alvarez signing with the University of Texas-El Paso. The Bulldogs also had Billy Thursland commit to the University of Tulsa football program as a preferred walk-on.

The full list of the area’s college signees is below.

HEIGHTS

Girls Basketball

Gracelynn Alvarez – UTEP

Football

Billy Thursland – Tulsa (preferred walk-on)

Brian Mayes – Incarnate Word

Kendric Rhymes – Kilgore Junior College

Patrick McDowell – Texas A&M Kingsville

Christopher Smith – Texas A&M Kingsville

Keyondrick Douglas – Blinn Junior College

Jonovan Foreman – Pittsburgh State

Byron McDaniel – McMurry

Zayan Primes – Howard Payne

Darius Howard – Gustavus Adolphus College

Baseball

Jovanny Garcia – University of St. Thomas

Softball

Bethany Davila – Briar Cliff University

Alexandria Hill – Jarvis Christian College

ST. PIUS X

Carson Rodgers – Texas Wesleyan (football, baseball)