Men’s basketball players Hopkins, Pierce sign LOI with Point University

MARIETTA—Chattahoochee Tech men’s basketball players Brannon Hopkins and Devonn Pierce signed with Point University on Tuesday, April 17 at CTC’s Marietta campus. Hopkins, a part-time starter on this season’s Golden Eagles squad, and Pierce, a redshirt during the 2011-12 season, will join Point’s program this fall.

Stephan Hyppolite, who also redshirted this season for Chatt Tech, will join Point as a preferred walk-on next season. Hyppolite is a product of Paulding County High School in Dallas, Ga.

“I’m super-proud of them,” said CTC head basketball coach David Archer. “For Brannon, who was with us for two years, to move on to a four-year school is great. And for Devonn to sign a scholarship after redshirting this past season is huge.”

Chattahoochee Tech recently completed its second season as an NJCAA member competing in Division I. Point University, formerly Atlanta Christian College, will be moving this summer from East Point, Ga., south of Atlanta, to West Point, Ga., in Troup County with a new campus and athletic facilities. Point is completing a transition to NAIA Division II in the Appalachian Athletic Conference after competing as a longtime member of the National Christian College Athletic Association.

Hopkins is a 5-foot-7 lefty point guard and two-year contributor for Chattahoochee Tech. A rising junior out of Northgate High School in Newnan, Ga., Hopkins will have two seasons of eligibility remaining for Point’s team.

Pierce, a product of Pebblebrook High School in Austell, Ga., redshirted this season after competing for the Golden Eagles during the 2010-11 season. The 5-9 point guard will have three seasons of eligibility for the Skyhawks.

Hopkins averaged 10.4 points per game this season, fourth-best on the team. He also finished the year third in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association in 3-point percentage at 39 percent, behind teammates Sean Tate at 40 percent and Coleco Kidd at 52.5 percent. Hopkins averaged 3.6 assists per game and 2.2 steals.

Point is led by head coach Alan Wilson, who is entering his seventh season as men’s basketball coach at the college and 16th season overall with the school.

“We knew we wanted these guys as soon as we worked them out,” Wilson said of Hopkins, Pierce and Hyppolite. “Brannon is just quick as lightning and he’s going to be hard to stop. He’s going to be fighting for a starting job this year. Devonn is a leader. He’s a very solid player and we’re really excited to have him this year.”

Chattahoochee Tech finished 19-12 this past season and made the GCAA conference tournament for the second year in a row.