PANTEGO — Tyler Hendrix traded in one shade of green for another. The Terra Ceia phenom signed his letter of intent Thursday to play basketball for Mid-Atlantic Christian University in Elizabeth City.

For Hendrix, who played five years of varsity basketball for the Knights, this marks the end of a long journey. He knew he was going to continue his basketball career one way or another, whether it was at Barton, N.C. Wesleyan or East Carolina.

“I could have played at some of them, but I had a chance to play at MAC-U,” he said. “I just felt like God was leading me to MAC-U instead of the bigger schools, I guess, to learn more about him and maybe go into the ministry.”

Hendrix remembers when his father, Mark, asked him how bad he wanted to play college basketball. Mark passed away during the 2015 season. Whether it was helping with AAU or assisting Terra Ceia head coach Roger Klaassen, Hendrix said his father helped him get this opportunity.

It’s an opportunity Klaassen, who coached Hendrix for all five of his varsity season, knew Hendrix would get even before he got Hendrix on his varsity squad. Hendrix’s father was watching over him as he signed on the dotted line. Klaassen, who was close with Hendrix’s father, knows he’s proud.

“I actually started watching these kids play up in Plymouth in a rec gym,” Klaassen said. “A group of them played up there. Some of them played in Belhaven. I guess that’s where it started. I thought to myself, watching them play, ‘This might be a special opportunity coming along here.’ They just continued to grow.

“… His dad and myself, that was a special bond we had. Seeing the final step, it means a lot.”

Hendrix said he hadn’t been in contact with the Mustangs for long before signing on. The impressions made by the coaching staff and the players he met played into his decision.

“They were very welcoming, very loving people. I already felt like (coach Allan Harris) was my coach when I met him,” Hendrix said. “I met two players, and they were exactly the same way. They were loving people. They showed a lot of interest in me.”

The first time he saw Hendrix play, Harris liked the intelligence he displayed on the hardwood. He also liked Hendrix’s ball handling and shot selection. He said that Hendrix, as a freshman, should get plenty of playing time at either the shooting guard or small forward positions.

Moreover, Harris stressed that the focus will first be on Hendrix, his academics, and his faith.

“We want to try and focus on student-athletes growing spiritually first, then academically, then athletically,” Harris said. “Student-athletes. Student first, then athlete.”
Hendrix has the remainder of the Knights’ baseball season, then graduation before he embarks on the next chapter of his life. Even when he moves on to Elizabeth City, the impact he made as part of an incredible five-year stretch will not soon be forgotten.