Senior athletes commit to their future college

NICK SEBASTIAO | MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY

Since kindergarten, Nick Sebastiao has played basketball, and he will continue to play after committing to Montana State University Billings.

The 6-foot-3-inches forward chose MSUB because he “fell in love with the coaching staff” and felt like it was the best fit for him.

He looks forward to playing ball for four more years and getting to travel with the team. He works out each day in order to prepare for the upcoming college basketball season.

Sebastiao said “the caliber of players, the pace of the game and more competition” will be the biggest difference between high school basketball and basketball at the college level.

ANDREW SLATON | ANDERSON UNIVERSITY

Andrew Slaton started playing football the summer before his junior year, and now he will attend Anderson University to play. He chose Anderson University because of the family atmosphere that he feels will be similar to that of Scottsburg.

“I’m looking forward to getting to campus and meeting my new teammates and being able to practice on the field again,” Slaton said.

To prepare for this more demanding commitment, he has been lifting weights and working on technique.

“I think college sports will have an increased time commitment. Also, it will be much harder because you are competing against grown men,” Slaton said.

JEREMY BESWICK | KENTUCKY WESLEYAN COLLEGE

ANDREW FOSTER | U.S. MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY

Andrew Foster accepted an appointment to the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y., to further his academic and athletic career. He will study engineering and play for the Mariner football team. Foster said he chose this school because it will prepare him the best for his future. Out of the 2,000 applicants, Foster is one of 280 appointees selected to attend the Academy and will receive a fouryear scholarship totaling about $262,000.

Foster has been playing football since his freshman year of high school, and he is now looking forward to the new experiences.

Upon graduation from the Academy, Foster will earn a Bachelor of Science degree, a U.S. Coast Guard license and an officer’s commission in the U.S. Armed Forces.

BRANTLEY DEATON | KENTUCKY WESLEYAN COLLEGE

Brantley Deaton committed to Kentucky Wesleyan in Owensboro, Ky., to play football. He chose this school because of the campus and because of the opportunity to play National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II football.

Deaton played football since elementary school. “I am looking forward to starting a new chapter in my life,” Deaton said.

In the off-season, he prepared for this new chapter by doing receiver drills, one-onones and running. He anticipates a big difference in how practices will be run.

“Instead of doing offense then defense, which will take about an hour apiece, they will do them at the same time,” Deaton said.

MATTHEW JOURDEN | UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE

Matthew Jourden committed to the University of Louisville as the football team’s student manager. He played football since his sophomore year and looks forward to attending more games.

“I think the biggest difference will be the atmosphere. There will be thousands and thousands of fans at the games instead of a couple hundred like in high school,” Jourden said.

He chose the University of Louisville because he thought they had the best sports administration program locally.

“I am trying to stay in touch with the equipment managers to make sure that everything is still going smoothly, and I am also buying a ton of Louisville clothes so I have something to wear to practices,” Jourden said.