Former Bainbridge High School Bearcats and Florida State University Seminoles basketball center Raleigh Choice led his teams to state and national tournaments.
Choice played for the late coach Charles Bess’ Bearcats from 1978 to 1982. They won the South Regional Championship and advanced to the semifinals of the state Class AAA Tournament in 1982.
He played for former Florida State coach Pat Kennedy’s Seminoles from 1985 to 1987 and helped them advance to the National Invitation Tournament in 1987.
Choice went on to play professionally with the Federal International Basketball Association in France, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Greece, South America, Italy and Japan from 1987 to 1997. He was the leading scorer for the Racing Club of Toulouse France in the 1987-1988 season. In the 1988-1989 seasons he led the Dyc Bregaon team of Lugo, Spain, in scoring.
From 1992 to 1995 Choice led the Sporting Basketball Club of Lisbon Portugal in scoring.
A 1982 Bainbridge High School graduate, Choice graduated from Florida State University in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in criminology and business administration. Guard LaRae Davis was his friend and teammate with the Bearcats and Seminoles. They were roommates at Florida State.
Choice, who is a native of Climax, and Maribel, his wife of 20 years, live in Tallahassee with their 11-year-old daughter Isabella. He is president of Choice Investment Properties, Inc. He is also a licensed Florida building contractor and owner of Golden Green Builders, LLC.
Editor’s Note-This is the second of four articles on people who will be inducted into the Decatur County Sports Hall of Fame Saturday, March 1, at the Bainbridge State College Kirbo Center. Tickets are $20 and are available at the Kirbo Center, Grimsley Pharmacy Center, Parker Paint and Decorating Center and Action GMC.