Homewood-Flossmoor student athletes pose for a photo on national signing day Wednesday. (David P. Funk/H-F Chronicle)
Sports

Football, baseball highlight slate of college signings for H-F

Homewood-Flossmoor High School saw another crop of future college athletes sign to move on to the next level with a ceremony in the school’s auditorium on the NCAA’s national signing day, Dec. 21. 

“What a great way to start the holiday season,” Athletic Director Matthew Lyke told the student athletes and their families. “We know you will dedicate yourselves as you prepare for the next phase of your life. You will carry your Vikings memories with you forever. Congratulations.” 

Homewood-Flossmoor student athletes pose for a photo on national signing day Wednesday. (David P. Funk/H-F Chronicle)
Homewood-Flossmoor student athletes pose for a photo on national signing day Wednesday. (David P. Funk/H-F Chronicle)

The day was highlighted by football and baseball players. 

A gridiron trio of Christian McKinney, Christian Medlock and Tyson Wilkerson will all play Division I. 

Medlock signed his letter of intent to be a preferred walk-on at Northern Illinois. PWOs are players college coaches like but don’t currently have enough scholarship flexibility for. Medlock hopes to be able to earn a scholarship during his time in DeKalb.

“It’s the ultimate dream,” Medlock said. “NIU, when I first got there, it felt like home. The coaches are nice. I never felt like leaving.”

Medlock said he and his Vikings class of 2023 was proud to have put the team back where they believe it belongs, in the postseason after a two-year hiatus.

“We left a good legacy. It was a revenge season. We all had in the back of our minds that (missing the playoffs) wasn’t going to happen again,” he said. “Personally, I feel like I instilled some knowledge in the younger offensive linemen.”

McKinney was maybe the highest-profile signing of the day, inking to play linebacker with Miami of Ohio. 

Wilkerson will attend the Naval Academy and play football for the Midshipmen. 

Baseball quintet inks with next level

The Vikings baseball team saw five players sign during the ceremony. 

Breyan Brooks will play for Southern University, Jacob Gunn for Calumet College of St. Joseph, Alijah Rainey with Joliet Junior College, Terrence Stewart for Mountain View Community College and Robert Tate with Mississippi Valley State University.

Tate, an infielder, called signing with a Division I team a huge accomplishment and something he’s been looking forward to for a long time. 

“Playing at a (historically black university), playing in the SWAC is something I’ve been thinking about since maybe the sixth grade,” he said. “I always wanted to take my talents to a black school and really thrive.” 

Delta Devils coaches told Tate he’ll have the chance to work his way into the lineup immediately but nothing will be handed to him. 

Another appeal was the chance to go to school in the South.

“I’m still nervous. I’ve never been that far away from my parents,” he said. “I think it’ll be a great opportunity for me aside from baseball. I’ll be able to get away and grow up. It’s going to be great.” 

Tate to Claflin

Softball player Morgan Tate also saw the appeal of a historically black college. She’ll play for Claflin University in South Carolina.

“I’ve been playing since I was 8 years old. For me to get to the college level is what I’ve always wanted,” Tate said. “I have a really big family and (Claflin) felt like that. It’s close-knit, private school. Everybody knows each other.”

She’ll play her primary positions of first or third base. That was important. She’ll major in nursing or sports medicine. Tate has several nurses in her family, she said. 

“It’s official. I’m actually going to play softball in college,” Tate said. “I’m very proud of myself and proud of my family. I wouldn’t be here without them.” 

Curtis to dive close to home at UIC

Diver Christian Curtis will stay within about a 40-minute drive of home and dive at the University of Illinois Chicago. 

“College can be overwhelming so I want to have the help if anything goes wrong,” Curtis said. “I’m a big family person.” 

UIC Flames coaches tell Curtis he may be able to contribute on the lower board right away. It’ll take some getting used to the higher board. 

Curtis said he did club diving at UIC and has friends on the roster. That familiarity made it all fit together. Being on a city campus was also a big deal.

“I’ve always loved the city,” he said. “Just being in that environment makes me feel so good.” 

Kurns, Hernadez bring total to a dozen

The other signees at the ceremony were cheerleader Kameara Kurns, who will attend Morgan State, and soccer player Solana Hernandez, who signed with Queens College, City University of New York. 

News by email

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Name

Free weekly newsletter

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Name
Most read stories this week