Devon Baulkman, a former Bainbridge Bearcat basketball player and Gulf Coast State College Commodore, has signed to the University of Tennessee, head coach Donnie Tyndal announced Tuesday.
Baulkman is one of four members of the Volunteers 2014 signing class, joining Jabari McGhee, Derick Mostella and Kevin Punter.
A recent grad of GC, the 6-foot-5, 200-pound guard plans to enroll this summer at Tennessee. He will be a junior with two years of eligibility remaining.
GC coach Jay Powell said he was proud of the work Baulkman did not only on the court, but also in the classroom to gain eligibility to play at a Division 1 university.
“We knew with proper weight lifting, getting in the gym twice a day, working on his skill set and working on his ball handling, we knew he would have a chance to play at a very high level of college basketball,” Powell said. “I expect him to work hard and compete every day.”
Last season, Baulkman averaged 15.5 points per game, 4.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.8 steals and led the Commodores to a 20-9 record. He also earned the All-Panhandle Conference award two years in a row.
While at BHS, he led the Bearcats to two Final Four games and was a two-time Region 1-AAAA Player of the Year. As a senior, he led the Bearcats to a Region Championship and a second round berth in the GHSA AAAAA state tournament. He was also named first-team All-State his by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution before graduating in 2011.
“He was a great player,” Bainbridge coach Rickey McCullough said. “I’m always glad to see my kids go on and play at the highest level. He had the size and the talent and the love of the game. He’s put the work into it to play at this level.”