Felix Uadiale of McDonough said he looks forward to building on his skills on the basketball court at the college level.

  Uadiale, a senior at Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy in McDonough, recently committed to play at Maryville College in Tennessee.

  “It’s a winning environment,” he said. “I went to basketball camp at Oglethorpe University last year. They stuck with me the most and were constantly recruiting.”

  Uadiale, a 6-foot-5 forward, began to develop his love of basketball while living in California as a child. He moved to Georgia in 2008, and said he later “got serious” about the sport during his sophomore year.

  As a senior, Uadiale nearly averaged a double-double for his team at ELCA, with nine points and 9.4 rebounds per game. He considers rebounding his biggest strength and said he is excited to bring those skills to the team at Maryville, while improving his offensive ability.

  He also shot 66 percent from the floor and 45 percent from three-point range.

  During the 2018-19 season, Uadiale helped to lead his team to the Georgia High School Association’s Private 1A State Championship. He scored 16 points and racked up nine rebounds in the title game.

  Uadiale will join a successful basketball program at Maryville College. During the 2018-19 season, the team captured its second consecutive USA South Athletic Conference regular tournament championship, and went to the NCAA Tournament for the 20th time in school history.

  Maryville Head Coach Raul Placeres said he is excited about adding Uadiale to his team.

  “I have been recruiting at the college for eight years and I have never recruited a better rebounder than Felix,” said Placeres. “He set the record for rebounds in game at his high school with 28 rebounds in a game. Felix plays with the right motor and is an exceptional athlete. As he gains more confidence in his offensive game, Felix will provide some added depth for us at either post positions. Our staff is thrilled to add Felix to our 2019 class.”

  Uadiale added that Placeres’ passion for the game of basketball was a factor in his decision to join the team at Maryville. Uadiale reacted with appreciation at Placeres’ confidence in him.

  “I was very pleased to hear that, that someone noticed my ability,” said Uadiale. “I hope to bring my energy and work ethic to help the team.”

  Uadiale’s mother, Penny Williams of McDonough, said she is proud of her son’s accomplishments and his perseverance.

“One of the things I’m most proud of about Felix is his stick-to-it-iveness,” said Williams. “He never gives up on himself, and he has had a lot of people supporting him.”

  Williams, during her college years, played basketball and ran track at Boise State University and Arizona State University. She acknowledged that Uadiale went through a period of adjustment in recent years, en route to his current success on the basketball court.

  “Once he was able to regain his focus, he was able to showcase his ability and help contribute to the success of the team,” said Williams. “Personally, I think he was the glue that held everything together. I always say, there’s no offense without a good defense.”   Uadiale has a 3.3 grade-point average and plans to study business management. His athletic achievements are not limited to the basketball court. He recently qualified to compete in the one-mile relay during the GHSA State Championships this week at Berry College in Rome, Ga.