Father, mother and coaches surrounded Whitewater High School senior Jabar Olusesi recently as he signed a basketball scholarship with Hiwassee College, located in Madisonville, Tenn.
Olusesi will trade in his Whitewater Wildcats uniform for one with the Hiwassee College Tigers in order to play for head coach, Hugh Watson. In an interview, Watson remarked, “Jabar will be a key addition to our team and really allow us to get bigger in the post and also add some additional length. He has a knack for rebounding on both ends and with his length does a great job of altering shots.”
Olusesi is looking forward to playing basketball at Hiwassee College. He stated, “I really like the vibe at Hiwassee and the current players were really welcoming to me and seem like great guys to be around. Coach Ivers talked to me for a long time and recruited my brother as well. He showed he really cares about me and I appreciate that, along with having a chance to play at a high level. Going to a small Christian college was something I was looking for. I want to help this program grow and eventually compete for what everyone else wants, a national championship.”
Olusesi was a school leader in blocked shots and rebounds for Whitewater High School. Standing 6 foot, 6 inches and weighing 225 pounds, Olusesi is a power forward who averaged 14.1 points per game, grabbed an average of 10.3 rebounds per game and blocked 2.9 shots per game. He was named AAAAA All-Region Team in the state of Georgia his senior year.
Hiwassee College Assistant Basketball Coach, Matt Ivers said, “Aside from basketball, Jabar is the type of kid that will be well-liked and his character will shine through on campus. He has a great head on his shoulders. We are very excited to have him as part of the team.”
Hiwassee College is a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), and plays in the Mid-East Region. Their motto is, “Play Loose, Play Fast, and Have Fun.
Founded in 1849 and associated with the United Methodist Church, Hiwassee College is a liberal arts, residential institution of higher education, providing quality education for all students in an atmosphere that promotes intellectual pursuit, spiritual growth, and social and personal responsibility.
