Ware County senior sharp-shooter Jarvis Wright is no longer worried about recruiting.
The 6-foot-2 shooting guard is an early commit so now he can focus on helping second-year head coach Lenny Williams and his Gator teammates improve on last year’s season mark of 16-11 and a first round exit in the Class 5A state tournament.
Wright, who transferred to Ware County in November 2023, accepted an offer from Morehead State University in Morehead, Ky., following a visit August 29-30 to the campus with his head coach.
“I chose Morehead State University because it felt like I was home, just in another state in the mountains,” said Wright. “I love the system they play. It matches ours 100 percent. The coaching staff is amazing there and it's just very basketball oriented.
“I can really tell that they have a winning environment from the past years which meant a lot to me on where I wanted to go to college.”
Coach Williams said he talked with Wright about making his decision early and being comfortable with his choice.
“The transfer portal is really a big issue for high school players,” said Williams. “Coaches reach out to high school players showing their interest, then go into the portal to fill some spots and what spot(s) are left on the roster go to the high school players. It’s a waiting game.
“I gave Jarvis my recommendation, but it was ultimately his and his mom’s decision as to where he was going. I just told him he needed to be comfortable as to what program he chose. Being a Division I signee is huge. He’s the first from south Georgia to commit early.” Williams said the visit to Morehead State was excellent. Wright met with the coaching staff and some professors.
“They all made him feel welcome,” said the head coach.
Morehead State was one of nine schools showing interest. Wright was being courted by the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tenn., University of North Georgia in Dahlonega, College of Coastal Georgia in Brunswick, Iona University in New Rochelle, N.Y., University of Tennessee-Chattanooga in Chattanooga, Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley, Ga., and Edward Waters University in Jacksonville, Fla.
Wright helped the Gators to a 16-11 record during the 2023-24 campaign, the first winning mark for the program since the 17-14 record posted in 2015-16 season and a first round appearance in the 5A state tournament. Wright averaged 24 points and four rebounds a game last season earning Region 1-AAAAA Offensive Player of the Year.
Wright, who has 1,760 career points between Charlton County and Ware County, poured in a career-high 47 points last season at Greenbrier making 12 threes. He finished the year draining 110 treys (a shade over four per game) converting at least one in 25 of the 27 games played while shooting 42 percent from behind the arc.
Ware County senior Jarvis Wright dons a Morehead State University uniform after committing to the Morehead, Ky. school. SPECIAL PHOTO
Wright will be the “hunted” during the season as teams focus on stopping him.
“Now he can just relax and play with this behind him,” said Williams. “I want him to be a better leader on the court by being more vocal. He needs to work on his ball handling, but the biggest thing is making his teammates better.
“He can shoot the ball with anybody and is in the top two I’ve coached in my career. But, he needs to be in position to make us better.”
Wright agreed with his coach.
“I’m working on everything with my game,” he said. “I’m going to have my teammates very much involved with everything that goes on when we are on the court. When we are in the weight room some try to skip. I get on to them and tell them if they skip in the weightroom they’ll skip a possession when we’re on the court.
“I’m also very much working on being very vocal. When I’m locked in I’m very quite and I find that very selfish of me because they see me as one of the leaders. I’m getting better on being very vocal with my teammates to where they can understand me when something is wrong.
“This year is going to be a big year for us. Coach Williams has been working us pretty good in getting us prepared for the season. This is going to be the year all eyes are going to be on us.”
Ware County officially begins practice Monday, October 21. The Gators will scrimmage Tuesday November 5 against visiting Vidalia and tip the season off Saturday, November 16 at home against Charlton County.
Jarvis Wright (1) shoots a three in a home game against Greenbrier last season. FILE PHOTO
