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DELRAY BEACH — Three Atlantic Eagles are set to be mountain men next fall after signing to Western Carolina University on National Signing Day.
In January, Marquis Lymon, Corey Reddick, and Jhamari Pierre-Louis took an official visit to the Cullowhee, North Carolina, affectionately known to the Catamounts as "The Whee."
However, their visit didn't go as planned in one fateful way.
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The group of South Florida athletes found themselves snowed in at their hotel before even setting foot on campus.
Having grown up in the blanket of South Florida's sticky heat, the harsh cold weather of the Appalachian Mountains seemed sure to sway the Sunshine State recruits away.
"It was their first time seeing snow – all three of them – and their parents as well," Atlantic coach Jamael Stewart said.
Thanks to the efforts of offensive coordinator Kade Bell and the rest of Western Carolina's coaching staff, it was also the first time they felt they found their home away from home.
"They couldn't leave their hotel room. They're in this valley area and the coaches are trying to get to the hotel to the boys, and they're in this van that gets stuck in the snow and couldn't get up the hill," Stewart said.
In Southern tradition, the coaches were determined to be good hosts and sought to ensure that their prospects and families wouldn't be hungry in addition to the less than desirable circumstances.
The coaches found a nearby gas station and bought it out of all of the snacks and food they could find and proceeded to trek two hours up the mountainside, seeing that their guests were taken care of.
"That's what really ignited them to fall in love with the school," Stewart said.
"I had the kids calling me and the parents calling me and they were just wowed by that experience from the forefront. The way that the staff and everyone treated them while they were there – they really rolled out the red carpet for them," Stewart said.
Prior to signing with the Catamounts, all three players had a multitude of options to weigh.
Reddick, a running back, touted offers from Army, Navy, along with a preferred walk-on at Florida State University. Pierre-Louis was deciding if he would play defensive back at Keiser or St. Thomas University.
Lymon, one of the most highly-recruited safeties in the state and the Post's top player of last season's Super 11, had Deion Sanders' Jackson State and Utah State in his top three alongside Western Carolina.
Finally having something concrete after experiencing two consecutive seasons of adversity and uncertainty, it was an emotional ceremony, with Reddick and Lymon shedding tears as they struggled to find the words to describe how it feels to have finally sealed the deal.
"It was a good experience for those kids and very memorable," Stewart said.
See where the rest of Palm Beach County football's star seniors landed as National Signing Day comes to a close by taking a peek at the roundup below.
If your athlete isn't listed, be sure to file commitments and signings with Emilee Smarr, esmarr@gannett.com, or Eric Wallace, ewallace@gannett.com.
National Signing Day Roundup: Football
Atlantic
Lemarcus Bonner - St. Thomas University
Omari Mitchell - St. Thomas University
Dezmond Penn - St. Thomas University
Jekkaven Smith - Kansas Wesleyan
Corey Reddick - Western Carolina
Marquis Lymon - Western Carolina
Jhamari Pierre-Louis - Western Carolina
Benjamin
C.J. Bowens - Army West Point
Danny Gonzalez - University of South Florida
Dalton Lyons - Grambling State
Mason Thomason - Stetson
Boca Raton
John Harrison - St. Thomas University
Trey Rainey - Lafayette
Dwyer
Xavier Scott - Illinois
Glades Central
Alcivial Henrisme - Valdosta State
Wansley Jeanty - Valdosta State
Inlet Grove
Gabriel Gerig - Harvard
Silas Hinson - Lake Erie
Tyler Kelly - Keiser
Jupiter Christian
Brian LaFrance - American International College
Pahokee
Anthony Anderson - Lake Erie
Tyreek McPherson - Allen
Omari Mitchell - Lake Erie
Lamar Powell - St. Thomas University
Sam Tarver - Lance Butler
Palm Beach Central
Markel King - Ferris State
Denzel Williams - Minot State
Palm Beach Gardens
Naivyan Cargill - Illinois
Vincent Dubose - Fort Hays State
Peter Lubin - Fort Hays State
Palm Beach Lakes
Kahlil Bradford - Florida Memorial
Trevon Cooper - Keiser
Gary Fields - St. Thomas University
Blake Hillard - Tennessee State
Donald Lockett - Edinboro University
Noah McKenzie - Speights Academy
Silko Price - Fort Hays State
Park Vista
Julian Mountcastle - Missouri S&T
Seminole Ridge
Hayden Gray - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Somerset Academy-Canyons
Benson Barnes - St. Thomas University
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Source: https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/sports/high-school/football/2022/02/02/national-signing-day-western-carolina-impressed-recruits-snow-day-aid/6637884001/