Local Scholar-Athlete Scores $34K Morehouse Academic Award

They told him to wait. They told him to keep his options open. But Ernest "Trey" Harris had already seen his future walking the historic grounds of Morehouse College. Today, the Hutchins Academy senior and East Hamilton High varsity basketball standout proves that greatness follows when you bet on yourself. Harris has been accepted Early Decision to Morehouse College, earning a $34,000 Academic Award recognizing his scholarly dedication and athletic skill.

"Many things in life will catch your eye, but only a few will catch your heart. Pursue those," says Harris, whose quiet determination in the classroom matches his fierce presence on the basketball court. While others see a young athlete, Hutchins Academy saw a king in the making.

Marie Mott, founder and CEO of Hutchins Academy, bristles at the memory of those who discouraged Harris from applying Early Decision. "I was very displeased that Trey was discouraged to commit to his dream school," she states. After speaking with Trey and his mother, we watched him boldly bet on himself. When we raise the bar for our young people, particularly our Black boys, they don't just meet our expectations - they soar beyond them."

"Sometimes in our community, there is an overemphasis on sports while we allow a student's grades to suffer. That's not the expectation of Hutchins Academy," Mott declares. Her words cut through the familiar narrative of athletics over academics, challenging Chattanooga to see what she sees – young Black men capable of dominating in every arena they enter.

While Trey will return to the East Hamilton court, his future is already secured among the storied halls of Morehouse College. His journey reminds us that sometimes the biggest plays happen far from the buzzer, in quiet moments of choosing oneself, choosing excellence, choosing legacy.