McArthur Signs with Truett-McConnell

Another Gilmer High School Bobcat athlete put his name on the dotted line Tuesday, as Samuel McArthur signed a scholarship to join the basketball program at Truett-McConnell University.

McArthur will join the Bears this fall, which is a moment he never thought was possible.

“It’s kind of a weird feeling, because for a long time I was never really considered athletic,” McArthur said. “It’s strange, because I never thought it would happen, but it’s also sweet because it’s something I’ve worked hard for.”

A baseball injury at the age of 12 curbed McArthur’s pursuit of a career on the diamond. Also a basketball player during the winter months, he put his focus on the court after the baseball injury and the correlation with the loss of a family member helped drive him to take up basketball full-time.

“After my grandpa passed away, I learned that he was really good at basketball and swimming,” McArthur explained. “He was a really good athlete all around. He played those two sports because he always said they were the two hardest. So, I wanted to do it to make him proud, but also to show that I could stick with something that was difficult. It’s a fun game.”

McArthur made the decision to attend the Christian-based Truett-McConnell to keep his faith strong throughout college.

“I had a couple of other colleges look at me, but ultimately, I want to grow in my relationship with Christ,” McArthur admitted. “I’m not saying it’s going to be any easier if you’re up there (at Truett-McConnell), but  talking to the coach and finding out what the program is truly all about … it just showed that I was called to go there.”

McArthur also wanted to thank a special group of people that have helped him along his journey to a college scholarship.

“I want to thank my family, in general,” McArthur said. “There were multiple times throughout the last three seasons that I honestly wanted to quit, for various reasons. But they always pushed me and told me I needed to stick with it and never quit. Now, I’m reaping the rewards.”

 

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