Princeton grad Whitley headed to MACU

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on August 7, 2014 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

PRINCETON -- One door closed.

Another opened.

Alex Whitley is glad he stepped inside.

The recent Princeton High graduate had intended to attend Liberty (Va.) University and study general ministry. The situation didn't pan out and Whitley's future remained in limbo until he spoke with some local youth pastors.

They told him about Mid-Atlantic Christian University.

"I went to the website, saw they had basketball and said 'what the heck,' and put in an application," Whitley said. "The coach emailed me. We scheduled a day to try out and I made the team. I prayed a lot about it because I didn't want to make a decision off of what I wanted, but what God thinks is best for me."

Whitley helped guide Princeton to a 17-win season and runner-up finish in Carolina 1-A Conference regular-season play this past winter. The Bulldogs defeated league champ Neuse Charter twice and endured a season-ending, second-round loss to Wallace-Rose Hill in the playoffs.

An unselfish leader on the court, Whitley averaged nearly 32 minutes, 10 points and six assists a game. He emerged as the team leader in steals and assists.

But Whitley almost didn't reach this point.

During his eighth-grade year, he played on an AAU team and came to the realization that the level of competition constantly changed and got better. Eight-hour days of ball-handling drills and shooting jump shots in his backyard left an emptiness in him.

He wondered if he'd ever find a balance.

Whitley immersed himself in the Bible, eager to devour the right words that would help him understand why he didn't feel "whole" inside. He found it in Timothy 4:4: For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.

"If I knew what I know now going into high school, I could have made better decisions," Whitley said. "I was putting that (basketball) way before my relationship with God and church. I learned you can do all that, but you're never going to reach a point where you're satisfied unless you're LeBron James.

"You're never going to get everyone's approval, you're always going to disappoint someone. The emptiness is always there. The only thing that really feels that gap is Jesus."

Whitley put the Giver before the gift.

He found he became a better teammate and stronger leader, two characteristics he hopes to further develop at MACU. Head coach Neal Alligood anticipates starting Whitley at point guard for the Mustangs, who logged an 11-15 worksheet that included a 5-5 record at home.

"I have always played (point), more comfortable leading a team and trying to orchestrate the offense," Whitley said. "This past season I had to get rid of a lot of selfishness on my part, get my teammates more involved. Pride and insecurity, God crushed that in me, humbled me and made me realize it's not all about me, but more about having fun and getting your teammates the ball."

Whitley hopes to carry that message with him to MACU.

Until he officially reports for his first collegiate practice, he'll share his experiences about peer pressure and how Jesus ultimately satisfies the soul during his youth ministry internship at Temple Baptist.

"Alex is an asset to our student body and community," PHS head coach Jeff Davis said. "He is a role model to other students, and is active with his church in a very visible way. The Princeton community, not just the basketball program, will miss him.

"He has put in a great deal of time and effort in the gym to improve his skills. I am glad that his hard work has paid off and he will be able to not only get a college degree, but continue playing a game he loves very much."