By Eric Sprott
Courtesy The Journal

news@thepccourier.com

CENTRAL — Before a parade of football players and their families made their way to be honored Wednesday morning, two other Daniel High School student-athletes enjoyed their moments by signing to continue their athletic careers at the next level.

Rex Brown/Courtesy The Journal
Joined by family and coaches, Daniel senior Jacob Slann signs with Clemson on Wednesday during a ceremony at the school’s gym.

First up was Taylour Hunter, who will continue her basketball career at Limestone, while Jacob Slann will stay considerably closer to home at Clemson, joining the Tigers’ cross-country and track and field teams.

Hunter’s signing was particularly poignant, as she’s coached at Daniel by her mother, Cosandar Griffin, who was overcome with emotion while addressing a large crowd in the school’s

Rex Brown/Courtesy The Journal
Daniel High School senior Taylour Hunter looks at her mother and girls’ basketball coach, Cosandar Griffin, while surrounded by family during Hunter’s signing on Wednesday at the school in Central.

gym to the point she had to stop to compose herself on multiple occasions.

“It was a very emotional day,” Griffin said. “I want what’s best for all of my players, but to have my daughter go on knowing her dream was to play at the next level, I’m glad she accomplished that.”

Hunter accomplished that thanks to her consistent level of play for the Lady Lions dating back to the eighth grade. Earning Western 3A all-region honors last season, she averaged 11 points, four assists, four rebounds, two steals and a block per game, and she’s putting up comparable numbers so far this season.

The senior standout said she immediately realized that Limestone was the right fit for her after taking a visit to the Gaffney campus.

“I had to choose between Anderson and Limestone,” Hunter said. “I went to Anderson, and I liked it, but I felt like I needed more competition. When I went to Limestone, I saw the girls and the way they play, and I just fell in love with it and the coaches. I knew it was right for me.”

And like her mother, Hunter, too, was overcome with emotion Wednesday.

“It was very emotional,” she said. “She had me in tears, because she’s the only coach I’ve ever had and ever known, but today is very special, and I’m very excited and happy about it.”

In choosing to attend Limestone, Hunter will be playing for her mother’s college rival, as Griffin said during her playing days at Central Wesleyan College — now Southern Wesleyan University — that Limestone was a heated rival.

But while that’ll be a bit strange for Griffin, she’s just happy to see her daughter continue her playing career.

“I’m just extremely proud of Taylour,” she said. “It’s hard playing for your parent, because they’re under a lot of scrutiny. But she balanced it well all the way up to now.

“All she wants to do is just win as a team, so I’m proud of her for that.”

Meanwhile, Slann couldn’t be happier to continue running for his hometown school.

The reigning Class 3A cross-country champion — he captured the title with a time of 15:35.59 in November — said he considered a few other schools, but the hometown Tigers offered the best overall package.

“It’s just an amazing feeling,” Slann said. “I’ve lived here my whole life, so I’ve gotten to go to a great school like Daniel. Now going right down the road at Clemson is cool, because it’s not too far away at all, really, and it’s just really great.”

In addition to his cross-country championship, Slann is also a decorated member of the Lions’ track and field team, as he’s the reigning state champion in the 1600m run. As a sophomore, he was part of Daniel’s first-place 4x800m relay team that helped lift the Lions to the team championship as well.

And while participating with both squads at Clemson will be a challenge, it’s one Slann is looking forward to.

“In general, it’s just going to be a really big step up with the training and racing,” he said. “It’ll take some adjusting, but they make sure to not burn out athletes when they first arrive.”

Slann is the third straight Daniel runner to win the individual cross-country championship, following on the heels of Gabe Haughey and Andre Ivankovic in 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Those runners also make splashes with major college signings — Haughey signed with Portland, while Ivankovic inked with Yale — and Slann made sure to make tribute to them Wednesday.

“They were nothing but a great help, and to be able to follow in their footsteps means a lot,” Slann said. “Without them, I probably would even be here, because they were such great teammates the past couple of years.”