By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

Junior national team standout Deyton Albury is ready to take the next step on his basketball journey and will join the programme at Chipola Community College.

Albury officially announced his commitment to join the Indians roster in the upcoming Fall 2021 semester.

Located in Marianna, Florida, the Indians is a traditionally strong competitor in the Panhandle Conference of the Florida State College Activities Association, a body of the National Junior College Athletic Association Region 8.

“After evaluating all of my options, I’ve decided to begin my college education and continue my basketball journey at Chipola College,” Albury posted to social media, “The opportunity to join one of the best JuCo’s in the US and to be coached by Donnie Tyndall and his staff is a golden one that couldn’t be passed up.

“I look forward to helping my new team reach the greatest heights of success on the court and being a proud member of the Chipola Community.”

Albury spent the last season at Believe Prep Academy in Rock Hill, South Carolina. He competed locally for the Temple Christian Suns before he relocated to Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kansas where he lettered in both basketball and football.

“With God all things are possible. To my parents, thank you for everything you’ve sacrificed for me to have the opportunity to play the game of basketball. The countless hours that you’ve invested has put me in this position, so thank you for believing in me that I can get to this point and I will continue to make you proud,” Albury said, “Thank you to all of my coaches who have played a part in molding my game on and off the court, from Coach Smith, Coach Davis, and especially Coach Jackson and Coach Saint for pushing me to be the best version of myself.”

He had an active fall 2020 period on the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) circuit with the Carolina Defenders.

“Basketball wise, I just have to get stronger and wiser. Once you reach college, the sky is the limit from there,” Albury previously told the Tribune, “The ultimate goal is to go on and play in the NBA (National Basketball Association).”

Last season, Chipola College finished 23-5 and won the Panhandle Conference and FCSAA State Tournament Championships in Coach Donnie Tyndall’s first season.

The team reached the semifinals of the NJCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship Tournament before a 66-63 loss to Coffeyville.

Albury will be the second national team standout to attend Chipola in recent series.

Valerie Nesbitt spent two years with the women’s programme before she joined Yolett McPhee-McCuin at Ole Miss.

As a sophomore, Nesbitt averaged 17.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game and was a two time Panhandle Conference first team selection.