A large crowd gathered in the Learning Commons this past Wednesday to watch Conner Beth Ball, Conley Chinn, Wilson Furr, and Meredith Roberts make official their intent to play college sports. Students, coaches, parents, grandparents, relatives, faculty/staff, and members of the media were on hand to celebrate with the student athletes on National Signing Day.
Conner Beth Ball signed with the University of Mississippi in golf; Conley Chinn signed with Belmont University for basketball; Wilson Furr will join the golf team at the University of Alabama; and Meredith Roberts will play tennis at Texas Christian University.
Conner Beth Ball, Madison, Miss.
Daughter of Bill and Kameron Ball
Golf | Signing with University of Mississippi
- Ranked 40th in the Polo Junior Golf worldwide rankings for her graduating class
- Two-time Mississippi Junior Amateur Champion, one of the state’s youngest players to capture the title with her first win at 13 years old.
- 2016 USGA Junior Girls Championship – finished T-17th in stroke play and advanced to match play this summer in Paramus, New Jersey.
- 37th Girl Junior North & South Amateur – finished T-3rd place in Pinehurst, NC.
- Runner-up in 2015 AJGA Junior at Owensboro and Top 5 2016 AJGA St. Francesville Area Foundation Junior.
- Won three SJGT tournaments and has two Top 5 finishes
- Shot a career best 6- under par in two-day competition to capture the medalist honor at the SJGT Timber Creek Junior Classic.
- Played in the Big I National Championship in 2012, 2015.
Conley Chinn, Jackson, Miss.
Daughter of Mark and Cathy Chinn
Grandaughter of Elsie Hawkinson and the late Marshall Hawkinson
and Ann Chinn and the late Rollin Chinn
Basketball | Signing with Belmont University
- Named to the 2016-17 Clarion-Ledger Dandy Dozen
- Helped her team to a 32-1 record and district, state, and overall MAIS basketball titles in 2016
- MAIS Class AAAA Division I Player of the Year in 2016
- MAIS AAAA All-Tournament team for district, state and overall teams
- Most versatile player in the 2016 season
- Member and starter of the Lady Raiders basketball team since her freshman year
- Listed by the Clarion-Ledger among the Underclassmen to Watch
- All conference MAIS AAAA in 9th, 10th, and 11th grade
For the Lady Raiders, received Jackson Heart Clinic’s Player with the Most Heart her 9th, 10th, and 11th grade seasons - Awarded the Rebound and Block Award, along with Best Offensive Player in 10th grade
- Awarded Best Defensive Player and Most Versatile Player in 11th grade.
- Player for the Alabama Starz AAU team for two years
- Part of the JA volleyball team since its inception in 2011
- 2015-16 Gatorade Mississippi Volleyball Player of the Year, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field
- One of 22 juniors in the nation selected by MaxPreps as a Junior All American
- Member of MAIS State Championship Volleyball Team three years in a row: 2014, 2015, 2016
- In 2016, JA was ranked No. 1 in the state in volleyball and Conley was named by the Clarion-Ledger to the First Team All State Team
- Clarion-Ledger Honorable Mention honors in soccer in 2014
- Medaled in four events to help JA win the MAIS state track title in 2014
- JA academic honor roll since seventh grade
- Member of the National Honor Society, Chi Alpha Mu, and Mu Alpha Theta
- Selected Best All-Around Student at JA in 2014
- Awarded the Jackson Academy Cain Scholarship
- Selected by Portico Magazine in 2016 as “One of 25 Students Who Will Change the World.”
- Member of Christ United Methodist Church
- Plans to study pre-med at Belmont University
Wilson Furr, Jackson, Miss.
Son of Bill and Denise Furr
Golf | Signing with The University of Alabama
- Currently ranked 6th overall worldwide; 3rd in 2017 graduating class for junior golfers by Golfweek.
- Named to the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Rolex All-American Team for 3rd consecutive year
- Had Top 10 finishes 2015-16 at Rolex Tournament of Champions, Thunderbird International, Haas Family Invitational, Polo Junior Classic, Junior Players, and PGA Junior.
- Won the 2015 Mississippi State Amateur—youngest winner in 100-year history.
- Competed as a member of the East Squad in the AJGA Wyndham Cup (4-0).
- One of only six American boys on the Junior Ryder Cup (2-1) team in 2016. USA won.
- Played in the United States Golf Association USGA Amateur Championship
Meredith Roberts, Jackson, Miss.
Daughter of Stan and Colleen Roberts
Tennis | Signing with TCU
- #1 ranked player in MS in every age group
- Top 10 in the Southern section in every age group
- Ranked as high as top 10 in the US
- Represented MS in the #1 position for Southern Cup 2012-2016
- Clarion-Ledger Max Preps Player of the Year – Tennis 2015
- Dorothy Vest female player of the year for MS 2016
- MAIS 3-time State Champion Girls tennis 2013, 2014, 2015
