By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director
CENTRE – Just looking at Cherokee County High School seniors Jack Amos and Jaden Wilson, one thing becomes apparent – their difference in size.
Amos is listed at 5-foot-8 while Wilson comes in at 6-5.
Both players, who both played football and basketball together, have utilized their frames to the best of their abilities for the Warriors throughout their careers. Now it’s paying dividends at the collegiate level.
They both signed their college letters of intent on Tuesday. Amos is heading for Thomas University in Thomasville, Ga., for football, while Wilson is taking his basketball talent to Shorter University in Rome.
As a defensive back, Amos posted 103 tackles, including four for loss, with seven interceptions (one for a TD) and eight passes batted down for the Warriors during their 12-3 Class 4A state runner-up season in 2022.
As a power forward, Wilson averaged 7.2 points, seven boards, 6.2 blocks, 1.6 assists and 1.3 steals for the Warrior basketball team last season.
“I feel like I’m ready for it,” Amos said of transitioning to Thomas. “I’ve just got to be ready for it and work hard and don’t look back.”
Amos’ work ethic was one of his biggest strengths with the Warrior football team, according to head coach Jacob Kelley.
“Nobody is more deserving, nobody’s worked more, nobody’s done more for our program. Just to see him have this opportunity is really, really exciting. I couldn’t be more proud of a kid, just from where he started in eighth grade when I first got here to where he is now, just to see him grow up and become a young man,” Kelley said.
“Jack is always down for a challenge. From going into the military service, which is a package in his deal, there’s nothing they’re going to throw at him that’s going to throw him off. He welcomes anything and everything, anytime, anyplace.
“He doesn’t have size, but he makes up for it in tenacity and in-your-face. If it’s not done a certain way he’ll let you know.”
Amos said it makes him smile when he looks at where he was his freshman year to now. He credits Kelley for a large part of his success on the football field.
“I never really thought of stuff like (championships) in eighth grade,” Amos said. “It was really in 10th grade when I started thinking about playing for a state championship and getting better in football.
“My freshman year, we didn’t make the playoffs, and Coach Kelley told us of we want to be good at football we need to trust him and trust his process. We did. My sophomore year we made it to round one. My 11th grade year we made it to round two. My senior year we came through and made it to the state championship. He’s one of the best coaches I’ve ever had.”
Wilson is also excited about his new endeavor. He said he’ll be moving from the post to a two-guard position at Shorter.
“That’ll make my ball-handling better, make me start shooting better, not relying on defense around the rim, start getting my hands on defense better and just work on my craft,” Wilson said. “Every athlete dreams of playing at the next level. This is just the next step forward. I’m blessed to have this opportunity to play at the next level.”
Wilson remembers the between his freshman and sophomore years when he hit his growth spurt.
“I came in maybe 5-11, 6-foot my freshman year. My ninth grade summer going into 10th grade I grew to about 6-4,” he said. “I moved up to varsity that year and did some good things there. I just started progressing in my role for two years.”
Warrior boys basketball coach Caleb Hays remembers Wilson’s growth spurt as well.
“When he hit his growth spurt, he had to adjust with his body a lot,” Hays said. “Jaden was going to do everything he could in the way he performed. He was more of a leader on how he played and what he brought and his presence overall. Just the things he could do on the court his leadership showed through.”
Kelley, who also coached Wilson in football, feels football helped Wilson develop his frame.
“He just worked tremendously hard just to get himself and his body to the level to that of everybody else who had been doing this thing for years and years,” Kelley said. “The biggest compliment I could give Jaden is some of the basketball coaches in the county just saw the change in his body before he was in football to when he started playing football, how muscular and physical he became.
“I don’t think Shorter knows what they have in Jaden, as far as what he’s capable of doing on the basketball court. I wouldn’t be surprised if he goes in there and eats that weight room up. I played at Shorter. I lifted in that weight room. I’ve seen what they do at the next level. There’s nothing they’re going to throw at him there he hasn’t already experienced.”
Hays also coached both players in basketball and football. He’s also proud to see they both have the opportunity to play at the next level.
“The kids respect them. The coaches respect them. What they bring is kind of different in their style of leadership, but definitely both of them affected us in positive ways,” Hays said.
“To see them being able to take that next step, going into being adults and college athletes, is exciting. Hopefully myself, Coach Kelley and the rest of the coaching staff has done something to help prepare them for the next level. Both of them are great kids from great families. They’ve had a lot of support in every aspect. It’s exciting to see what they can do at the next level.”
Special thanks to Kurt Duryea for contributing to this report.