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By Carey Reeder | Staff Writer

Two Chilton County High School basketball players signed their national letters of intent to play college basketball on April 20 in front of friends and family. Trinity Pulliam signed with Bishop State Community College in Mobile, and Latavion Floyd signed with Calhoun Community College in Tanner.

Floyd, a massive presence down low for the Tigers for the last three years, had multiple offers to look into, and CCHS boy’s basketball coach Austin Moncus helped him navigate the recruiting waters. Moncus said to pray about it, he met with the coach from Calhoun, and he spoke highly of Floyd and what he could bring to their program.

Floyd took his visit to Calhoun and knew it was the right place. Moncus said to take the day to think more about it, pray about it and see where he stood. The next day, Floyd’s decision was still Calhoun.

“It is big for the program, and he has put in a lot of work, and I am glad it is paying off for him,” Moncus said. “He ended the year playing really well, and I hope he can continue that at Calhoun.”

Floyd averaged 11.4 points, 10.6 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game in the 2022-2023 season for CCHS. He said the things he learned in both the Tigers’ football and basketball programs such as life lessons is what he wants to take to Calhoun.

“All the hard work I put in finally paid off, and I am happy this day could come and (I could) move on to the next level in college,” Floyd said. “Hopefully do big things there, and then move on to the next level.”

Trinity Pulliam was an automatic double-double for CCHS during the 2022-2023 season recording 29 in 33 games last season. She averaged 14.5 points, 17.4 rebounds and 10.1 blocks per game last season, but her work ethic is what drew head coach Adria Harris and Bishop State to her.

Harris also said the fundamentals that Trinity Pulliam already had instilled in her having been coached by her father, Rickey Pulliam, virtually her whole career was another reason she wanted her at Bishop State.

“As a father, it has been amazing (to coach her) … I am proud of her, and she has excelled,” Rickey Pulliam said. “We have been on this journey together through different schools, different places and she made me a better coach. My wife would say ‘You cannot bring basketball home, and you have to be a dad at home.’ She made me a better coach and father, and it is going to be different for me not having her on the sidelines for the first time since I have been coaching.”

For Harris, she is excited to get the record-breaking forward into her program.

“For someone to stick with something for that long you have to have dedication, and that is something else that really drew me to her,” Harris said. “She gives maximum effort, she is going to bring a lot to the table and her future is super bright as far as her being able to leave us and going on to a four-year (university). We are really excited about the possibilities.”

“It feels surreal, and I am still in shock, but at the same time I am happy I am moving on to the next chapter and start something new,” Trinity Pulliam said. “I liked coach (Harris), and her vibe was different from every other coach, and when I went on my visit, it just felt like home. I feel comfortable there.”

Trinity Pulliam said she wants to see her work ethic continue to grow at Bishop, so she can move on to a four-year university. She had multiple offers to weigh, and even had a school call the night before her signing to make a last-minute attempt to get her. However, she stuck with Bishop State.

“It is a great feeling, and we have been waiting on this day, but we have not been waiting on this day, too,” Rickey Pulliam said. “We really hate to see her leave, but she has been working on this since she was five or six years old. To see this moment come true and for her to make a big decision … She knew what she had, and coach Harris is going to get the best out of Trinity.”

Both Floyd and Trinity Pulliam will begin their college careers at their respective colleges in the fall.