Thomas Terrell of Brookhaven and Georgia StateUniversity was drafted by the United States Basketball League buthe has higher ambitions, meaning the NBA or a European league team.Terrell, a 6-foot-7, 240-pound power forward, was drafted as theeighth player overall in 11-team, 80-player USBL. He was picked bythe Florida Sea Dragons, a team based in Ft. Myers and coached byKevin Mackey.

After two years at Copiah-Lincoln Community College, Terrell wassigned by Coach Lefty Driesell and Georgia State.He led the GSU Panthers to back-to-back 20-win seasons plus NCAAand NIT postseason berths. He averaged 20.5 points as a senior,ranking him 28th in the nation. He was the Atlantic SunConference’s Most Valuable Player and two-time tournament MVP.

This year Georgia State was eliminated by Tennessee Tech in theopening round of the NIT, losing a last-minute heart-breaker atCookville, Tenn.

The USBL plays its games from late April through June and hassent more than 135 players to the NBA. GSU guard KevinMorris was drafted last year but opted not to play.

Terrell admitted his reluctance to sign with the USBLduring a Wednesday afternoon interview. He was considering hisoptions, including a college degree and various offers in theEuropean leagues.

“I’m still in school,” said Terrell. “I’ve gotten so farbehind. It’s really hard to catch up.” The spring term concludesMay 11.

“It’s hard to focus on school and me thinking aboutbasketball,” Terrell pointed out.

Terrell’s agent, Frank Catapano, is based in Boston,Mass. “He handles quite a few NBA players.”

Looking at the USBL, Terrell said, “It’s more like a leaguewhere I can stay in shape and see where the NBA Draft takes me.

“From what I know, they produce NBA players.” Terrelladded.”Some others go over seas. I’ve been offered some deals fromGreece, Korea and even the Harlem Globetrotters.”

In the USBL, league plays April 20. Practice starts Monday.

Terrell continues to consider his options.

Serious bicycle riders have an opportunity to race with some ofthe best next weekend, right here in Lincoln County. TheMississippi Grand Prix cycling circuit stops in Brookhaven onSaturday, April 20, for a road race.

Seniors at levels 1, 2 and 3 will run a 77-mile course startingat the Multipurpose Center, turning north and circling LakeLincoln. It will be four laps, at 18 3/4 miles per lap.

More acceptable for the inexperienced cyclers are a Masters35-plus division and a level 4-5 division covering 40 miles. Awomen’s and juniors division also will cover a distance of 40miles.

Frank Moak, Herring Gas team captain, said from150-200 riders will converge on Brookhaven next weekend. TheBrookhaven Rehab Center is the local race’s chief sponsor, plusBank of Brookhaven and The Daily Leader.

Registration is from 7-8:15 a.m. next Saturday. The racebegins at 8:30, with the Senior Level starts first and will featuresome of the top riders from the southeast, Colorado and Texas. Itis expected to conclude around 10:30-12 noon at the MultipurposeBuilding.

Bikers can preregister in advance at the Brookhaven Rehab,located at 208 Highway 51. For more information, call 833-7317 from6-10 p.m. Registration fee is $20.

All-Star review. Co-Lin’s three players made a strongshowing in the Mississippi Association of Community/Junior CollegeAll-Star Basketball Games. Co-Lin post players MindyLivaudais of New Orleans and Christy Brown of Zachary, La., scored10 and 12 points respectively as the South defeated the North97-70.

In the men’s game, post B.J. Black ofBrookhaven scored 12 points in the South’s 128-123 loss to theNorth. Black is being seriously recruited by Mississippi College.He would play for MC head coach Don Lofton, a Brookhavennative and long-time assistant with the Choctaws. Lofton was namedto replace Mike Jones who stepped down to assume full-time athleticdirector chores with the Baptist institution of higherlearning.

Jones, a New Hebron graduate, enjoyed several successfulcoaching years at Co-Lin before moving to MC in 1988 where theChocs became annual title contenders. His record at MC was animpressive 286 wins and 94 losses.

Speaking of Chocs, junior guard Rusti Smithenjoyed a good season playing for the MC women who are coached byPaul Allen Duke. Smith, a West Lincoln and Co-Lingrad, started all 25 games. She averaged 6.9 points and 2.8rebounds per game. She also had 59 steals.

Katie Newman, a freshman guard from BrookhavenAcademy, used her first year at MC as a learning experience. Sheaveraged 0.6 ppg.

Chastidy Sandifer, a 5-foot-9 Co-Lin grad by way ofCrystal Springs, led the Lady Chocs in scoring (18.3 ppg) andrebounding (8.8 rpg) her senior year.