Graceville's Kirkland signs with Coastal Carolina

PANAMA CITY — Willie Kirkland Jr. and Travis Nichols appreciated more than most picking up their blue pens and signing their names to the National Letters of Intent on Thursday.
    When they joined three teammates and Andrea and Andrell Smith from the Lady Commodores in signing to play college basketball at the NCAA level, Kirkland and Nichols agreed to play for their third team since graduating high school.
    The Commodores (2-0), led by their five signees, including Paul Cooper, Brad Reese and Patrick Davis, will play in the Americus (Ga.) Tournament this weekend against Albany Tech at 5 p.m. CST today and South Georgia Tech at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
    Kirkland, a Graceville grad who played at Chattahoochee Valley Community College before moving to Gulf Coast this season, signed with Coastal Carolina, coached by Chipley native Cliff Ellis. Nichols, who transferred from American International College, will play for Troy next season.
    “It was hard to sit out last year because I like playing basketball a lot,” Kirkland said.