By Staff
Nick Johnston, Hartselle Enquirer
Brad Spivey made his reputation on the football field.
The hard-hitting, speedy defensive back/wide receiver got attention from several different college football teams, so it seems only logical he stay on the gridiron in college.
However, the Hartselle High senior had a surprise up his sleeve just before graduation.
Spivey signed a basketball scholarship with Martin Methodist College (Pulaski, Tenn.) last week, deciding more money and a better education outweighed getting the chance to play football any more.
"They offered more money then I would have gotten if I wanted to play football," Spivey said. "Martin is a four-year school, and I'll get a good education."
Martin, an NAIA Division I school, plays in the Transouth Conference.
Spivey did not play for the Hartselle High School team his junior and senior years. He played for the Hartselle City League, averaging close to 40 points per game.
He was invited to a tryout at Martin and was impressive enough to get a call at home.
"The coaches up there were really interested in me after my tryout," Spivey said. "They kept calling me and I decided that's where I needed to be. I like the campus, it's a private school and it's close to home."
Hartselle head coach Johnny Berry said he wishes nothing but the best for Spivey.
"Brad was a really good player for us when he was here," he said. "He decided he wanted to do something else. It was a decision he had to make. Brad is a great athlete and I think he will do really well up there."
Spivey said he was not getting as many minutes as he liked for HHS, so opted for the city league.
He plans on majoring both in business and sports management while at Martin.