Rondell Cole and Leyton Owens Celebrate Late Scholarship Signings

MADISON– Former Sparkman High football player Rondell Cole and former St. John Paul II standout basketball player Leyton Owens recently signed athletic scholarships and celebrated their accomplishments at a gathering held at the Madison YMCA.

Cole, a four-year wide receiver for the Class 7A Senators, chose to sign with Mississippi College of Clinton, Miss., while Owens signed with William-Penn University located in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Both student-athletes were recruited by numerous schools.

“The coaches at Mississippi College showed me a lot of attention during the recruiting process, which included offers from West Alabama, Harding College with additional looks from UTC, Alabama State and Alabama A&M,” said Cole. “The coaches seemed to care more than just about football. Signing was exciting, especially since it took me a long time to pick a school to sign with.”

Carrying a 3.2 grade point average into college where he plans on studying physical therapy, Owens played three years for the Class 4A St. John Paull II Falcons here in the immediate area before transferring to a Grace Baptist Academy prep school in Mississippi for his senior year of classes and athletics. He was named the team’s Most Valuable Player in the most recent season averaging 10 points and seven assists per game. Through his three seasons with the Falcons, Owens averaged 23 points per outing as a point guard.

“I’m aggressive, demanding, quick, and shifty and I feel I see the court better than most players,” said the 6-foot, 170-pound Owens who signed his scholarship May 23. “I believe my defensive play is up to par and I can play defense full court when needed.”

Going into his junior season at St. John Paull II, Owens felt he had a chance to become something special in basketball as he gained the attention of numerous schools across the state. He was ranked among the top three point guards in Alabama before making his move to the Mississippi prep school where he improved his grades and sharpened his skills for college preparation.

Cole signed his necessary scholarship papers on May 17 and wants to someday work in the area of cyber security after earning a degree in computer science. He will carry a 3.9 grade point average to the Choctaws, a NCAA Div. II school and member of the Gulf South Conference.

At Sparkman, the 6-foot-3, 185-pound speedster was clocked at 4.6 seconds in the 40-meter distance and also participated in the high jump for the Senators’ track program and guard/forward on the basketball team. He was a running back in middle school before becoming a wide receiver upon his arrival at Sparkman. Cole, the son of Tim and Angie Cole, was team captain on both the football and basketball teams.

“I’m not the fastest, but I’m good at running routes and can be very physical,” said Cole. “I’ll be working on my blocking skills as that was one of my strong areas as a wide receiver as I did a lot of that at Sparkman.”

Both Cole and Owens participated in the Play MARTT Sports Academy for several years. The local youth programs are headed up by longtime local basketball coach David Smartt and offers more than just instructions in basketball. “I was with Mr. Smartt for nine years and everything I know came from my time with the program and through my father,” said Owens, son of Charles and Courtney Owens. “The program teaches more than basketball skills and concentrates on communication in sports and in life. You learn how to respect others.”

Cole thanks his parents and his two siblings for all of the support they gave him through his journey towards college. He played AAU Basketball under Smartt from fifth to eighth grades.

Owens is a self-claimed jokester and added, “You will hear about me again, soon. I thank God for all his blessings.”