Gibson now going to Florida CC at Jacksonville

Seminole outfielder/first baseman Bryant Gibson initially signed with North Florida Community College before playing his senior season for the Warhawks. Those plans changed when North Florida CC cancelled all of its athletic programs due to funding in May.

Left scrambling for options, an anxious couple of months came to an end for Gibson as he signed with Florida Community College at Jacksonville last week.

"There weren't that many colleges looking for players," said Gibson, who led Seminole with 16 stolen bases in his senior year. "A lot of coaches were telling me they had their roster set."

Seminole teammate Shaun Starnes, who had already signed with Florida CC at Jacksonville, alerted his college coaches about Gibson's predicament. Gibson also got some help from Seminole coach Greg Olsen, who helped Gibson get a workout at the school.

I went up there and worked out again and they liked what they saw," Gibson said. "The coach knew he was going to lose a scholarship player to the draft. Once that guy signed, I took his scholarship."

Bryant will leave this weekend to begin his freshman year. Florida Community College at Jacksonville plays in the Mid-Florida Conference of the NJCAA.

-- BRYAN BURNS, Times Staff Writer