Lanre Olatunji. a 6-foot-9 senior post player for Hamilton Heights Christian Academy, recently signed a national letter of intent with the University of North Georgia, an NCAA Division II school in Dahlonega. Olatunji is from Nigeria and in his second season in the Hawks' program. Last year in 23 games as a reserve he averaged 2.3 points and three rebounds per game. "We are very proud of Lanre and his signing a scholarship at the University of North Georgia," Hamilton Heights coach Zach Ferrell said in a school release. "Lanre is a very hard-working and intelligent young man that has tremendous potential. He works hard every day and has given himself an opportunity to be very successful. We are excited for the opportunity that Lanre has earned, and we know he is going to continue to improve under great leadership and coaching at UNG." Olatunji plans to major in international relations.
• Bryan College's Brandon Cole is a rare basketball player who can be his conference player of the week after averaging 10 points below his season average. Cole repeated as the Appalachian Athletic Conference men's honoree after scoring 27 and 29 points and grabbing nine and eight rebounds in league wins over Bluefield and Point for the the 7-0 Lions. That cut the 6-foot-2 Crossville resident's NAIA-leading scoring average to 37.2 points a game and his NAIA-third-best rebounds average to 11.7.
• Dalton State senior Preston Earle was named the first Southern States Athletic Conference men's basketball player of the week after averaging 20.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in the 5-0 Roadrunners' two double-digit victories last week. He had 27 points and eight rebounds against previously unbeaten Faulkner. The Charlotte, N.C., resident is averaging 17.6 points for the season.
• Cory Billingsley made 10 of 12 free throws and scored 23 points Monday night as the Lee University men's basketball team outscored previously undefeated Milligan 88-80 in Cleveland. The senior also had five assists for the Flames (5-0), who got 16 points and nine rebounds from Tyquan Roberts and 11 points and 10 rebounds from Jervon Johnson. Mickey Woods had 18 points and six assists for Milligan (8-1).
• The Georgia Northwestern men's basketball team will host the LaGrange College junior varsity tonight at 7 after winning twice this past weekend in the Welch College Invitational in Nashville. Cody Cochran hit four 3-point baskets and scored 18 points in an 81-44 win over St. Louis Christian, when Ricky Cardoza had 15 points with three 3s and eight rebounds, Cameron Sherlin had 12 points and four steals. Tyler Shropshire had 18 points with 4-for-5 3-point shooting, eight rebounds and six assists and Sherlin had 16 points and seven assists in a 91-42 defeat of Appalachian Bible, while Veshawn Bell scored 14 points and Cardoza had 11 points and nine rebounds. Devin Watkins had 10 points and Garrett McAllister had five assists in each game, and Dustin Stanley had 10 and eight rebounds.