Former Salisbury basketball guard Samron “Buster” Hillie has been out of school for a year, but he spent that time working on his game.
“My mom allowed me to do that,” Hillie said. “I wanted to improve and get to the point where I could go to school somewhere where I really wanted to go.”
Hillie has signed with Globe Institute of Technology, also known as Globe Tech.
The school is in New York City. Hillie, who has some family ties to New York, said it’s just a few blocks from Madison Square Garden.
Hillie initiated contact with the school’s basketball program — the Knights —— by email and followed up later with a phone call. The point guard said he was offered “on the spot” by the Division I junior college after a tryout.
Hillie isn’t big, but he’s quick. He averaged 10.2 points as a Salisbury senior, including a 21-point effort against Lexington and a 20-point outing against North Rowan.
“Globe Tech plays in a good league with other schools in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania,” Hillie said. “The goal is to move on to a Division I school in two years.”
Hillie will head to New York on Saturday.
Match play begins Saturday in the Labor Day Four-Ball Tournament at the Country Club of Salisbury.
Mallard Creek, a consensus No. 1 team in the state, lost 28-27 to Butler on Friday.
• Mooresville rolled to a 38-7 win over Hough, another highly regarded 4A team.

Davie County scored three fourth-quarter TDs and beat West Rowan 21-0 on Thursday.
Martavio Rankin rushed for 112 yards for the Falcons. Tyler Wheeler and Devin Turner led the defense for West Rowan. Malcolm Ingram picked off a pass.
South Rowan lost 21-25, 25-14, 25-15 and 25-17 to Cox Mill in SPC volleyball on Thursday.
Caroline Hubbard had seven kills and 19 digs. Kylie Labbe had 28 assists. Abbi Fields had 35 digs. Kadi Samples had nine kills, while Avery Locklear had seven.
• Earlier in the week, South Rowan won 25-20, 25-16 and 25-15 against A.L. Brown out of conference and won 25-20, 23-25, 25-10 and 25-17 against West Rowan in the SPC.
Olympic silver medalist Eddy Alvarez proved golden again for the Intimidators in Thursday’s 7-5 win over the Rome Braves at CMC-NorthEast Stadium. The short-track speed-skater drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning as the Intimidators overcame a late blown lead for a series-clinching win over Rome.
• On Friday, Greensboro shortstop J.T. Riddle drove in the game’s first runs in the fourth inning, and the Grasshoppers went on to beat the Kannapolis Intimidators7-2.
CMC-NorthEast Stadium. Riddle finished 2-for-5 with a pair of RBIs to lead the playoff-bound Grasshoppers to a victory in the series opener.
This is the final series for the Intimidators.
Daniel Wagner (South Rowan) has been promoted to Triple-A Charlotte by the Chicago White Sox organization.
Wagner went 0-for-4 in his first game with the Knights.
Wagner, 26, batted .203 with two homers and 21 RBIs in 80 games at Double-A Birmingham this season.
He’s been in the White Sox organization since 2009 and played a full season with the Kannapolis Intimidators in 2010.

Salisbury Academy’s soccer team lost 2-1 to Concordia Chrisian.
The goal for the Jaguars was scored off a corner kick by Will Fowler.
• Salisbury Academy’s varsity and jayvee volleyball teams lost to Concordia.
The South Rowan YMCA is registering for Mighty Kickers soccer (coed, ages 3-5), and Fall Soccer, (coed for grades K-8).
Registration is open through Sept. 10. Volunteer coaches are needed.
Register at South Rowan Y or online at www.rowanymca.org. Contact Carvie Kepley at 704-857-7011 or ckepley@rowanymca.org.