Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Zion Chapel High School held a signing ceremony for basketball player Slade Grantham and baseball player Wes Braisted, who will be continuing their athletic careers at the college level.

Grantham will play college basketball not too far away, at Enterprise State Community College.

“I just think it was the best financial decision for me and it’s close to home,” Grantham said of signing with ESCC. “I didn’t really want to go far. I really like (Head Coach Jeremaine Williams), he’s a great guy and a great coach and I’m ready to see what he has in store for me.”

Grantham scored more than 1,000 points during his high school career at ZCHS. In 2023-2024 he earned All-State, All-Messenger and Dothan Eagle Super 12 honors. He was also The Messenger’s Male Basketball Player of the Year after averaging 19.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.3 steals per game.

Grantham is already thinking about continuing his career even past ESCC.

“I want to play two years at ESCC, develop as a good player and then transfer to a Division I school,” he said. “I know I need to work on my catch-and-shoot threes, that’s my main thing and I need to work on attacking the basket.”

Braisted will be playing baseball at Marion Military Institute in Central Alabama.

“Their coach was really cool and I went on a tour of the campus and they have a really good baseball team and the campus was really nice,” Braisted said of MMI. “I thought it was the best fit for me.”

Braisted plays pitcher and shortstop for the Rebels, earning All-Messenger honors as a junior. As a senior, he boasted a .455 batting average with six doubles, three triples, a home run, 26 RBIs and 26 runs. As a pitcher, he held a 2.70 ERA with 60 strikeouts in 44 and 1/3 innings pitched. In the field, he held a .920 fielding percentage, as well.

Like Grantham, Braisted hopes to continue his college career past the junior college level.

“I want to keep producing on the field, keep practicing and working out and playing well and help the team out and win some ballgames,” Braisted said of his goals. “Getting to a Division I team is also a goal for me.”