A new post‑graduate basketball program called Flight 88 Elite is taking shape in south Georgia, offering recent high school graduates a chance to sharpen their game while earning college credits at South Georgia State College.
Honoring a Legacy
The initiative was launched by Paul Williams and Roger Whitehouse, who first crossed paths with the late NFL star Demaryius Thomas when Williams was just nine years old. Inspired by Thomas’s own journey, the program bears his number 88 as a tribute and seeks to provide a structured pathway for aspiring athletes.
A Year of Structured Development
Participants live together in provided housing, receive meals, and follow a regimented daily routine that begins with predawn runs and calisthenics, moves into a gym session of 100‑200 shots, proceeds to classroom work, and culminates in a three‑hour practice in the afternoon. This blend of athletics and academics is designed to preserve NCAA eligibility while granting college credit.
A Talent Pipeline
The inaugural roster features three local standouts — Jeffery Hicks from Fitzgerald, CJ Hammonds from Cairo, and A.J. Franklin from Mitchell County — who will host tournaments at the Coffee Douglas Rec‑Center and travel to compete elsewhere. Organizers say the first season kicks off on August 14, with the ultimate goal of placing every player into a collegiate program within a year.
Backed by donations and partnered with South Georgia State College, Flight 88 Elite exemplifies how community‑driven sport initiatives can merge personal legacy with measurable educational outcomes.