William Huff/The Thomasville Times-EnterpriseFROM A BULLDOG TO AN EAGLE: Laila Harvey sings her letter to play point guard at Trinity Baptist College.

THOMASVILLE — Bulldog basketball players AJ Dent and Laila Harvey signed their letters of intent to play college hoops on Friday morning. Surrounded by teammates and family, Dent and Harvey addressed the crowd in the Thomasville high school gymnasium thanking the school and their peers for their support.

Harvey signed with Trinity Baptist College in Jacksonville, Florida, where she will play point guard. Harvey cited her faith as a big reason she chose the Christian school.

“I chose it because it’s a Christian school and I came from a Christian family,” she said. “It’s good to still talk about God and other things with my teammates.”

When Harvey addressed her peers, emotions rose as she thanked the entire school for their support.

“I started coming to Thomasville High my ninth grade year,” she said. “They helped me along the way, and that’s a part of me since day one and I couldn’t ask for anything else.”

As a senior, Harvey took on a large leadership role with the Bulldogs. Head Girls Basketball Coach Jeray Randall praised Harvey’s character and leadership on and off the court.

“Laila’s been a great asset to especially the young ladies,” Randall said. “Teaching them how to not just only play basketball, but also she just shows good character and leadership and being a great captain for our team.”

Dent chose to continue his basketball journey in Fulton, Mississippi with Itawamba Community College. He has been with THS for all four years of his high school career and was extremely grateful for the support he has received.

“It’s just much support,” Dent said. “Everyone supports you, everyone loves you if your’re doing what your’re doing. The teachers support, the administrators support. Everyone loves you down here.”

Bulldogs Head Boys Basketball Coach Kiel Angry has known Dent since he was in middle school and watched his player grow from middle school to high school and now to college.

“For him, transitioning from middle school to high school and just watching his leadership, his work ethic and really understanding that basketball can be a ticket to his future, it was amazing,” Angry said. “His leadership and his ability to get in and get his teammates here early to work, it was amazing.”

With his move to JUCO basketball, Dent is hoping to make the jump to division one. First, though, he has to prove himself at Itawamba, something he is eager to do.

“I’m just ready to go,” he said. “Ready to go play and develop my game really.”

Trinity Baptist College and Itawamba Community College will be getting some special players from the Thomasville Bulldogs. Harvey and Dent have been examples to their fellow students on the court and in the classroom, something their coaches and families know they will continue to do in college.