A&T-bound Moss is 'the' example for Eagles
Mar. 29—WARRENTON — If ever there was a shining example of the culmination of hard work paying off, it was Warren County's signing celebration on Friday for senior Jamari Moss, a standout in softball, volleyball and academics.
Each of Warren County's student-athletes gathered in the school cafeteria to watch Jamari unzip her jacket, revealing the blue and gold N.C. A&T T-shirt she was wearing underneath.
Shortly after disclosing her choice, Jamari signed a letter of intent to join the Aggies' softball program as her travel softball coach Bruce Cozart, a N.C. A&T alumnus, shouted, "Aggie Pride!"
"What I hope is that if you really have a dream, you can be up here," Warren County Athletic Director V.J. Hunt told the Eagle student-athletes. "She is the example... starting with her grades and her character and then the hard work she puts in. Everybody that knows Jamari knows that her work ethic is second to none. Her father is not going to allow her not to work, but she has become one of the hardest workers I've ever seen."
Hunt was referencing Jamari's status as the top student in her class as well as her father, longtime Warren County softball coach Herley Moss, who just last year watched his son Jamel sign to play baseball with Mid-Atlantic Christian University.
"I'm proud of them," Herley said. "A lot of hard work, working with them since they were little kids. And still work with them. My son still calls me... 'Hey Dad, I need your help. Can you help me with this?' So I'm pretty sure she'll be the same way."
Instances of Tri-County student-athletes suiting up at the NCAA Division I level haven't been abundant, and that's not lost on the Moss family. The last Eagles softball player to sign with a DI program was Jamari's former travel teammate Nicky Heisler, who played at N.C. A&T before transferring to St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, Florida.
"I've always dreamed of going DI," said Jamari, a catcher who led the state in batting average (.816) last year, "so the opportunity's here and I'm just excited to be able to see what I can do within the opportunity."
Led by interim head coach Diego Ibarra, N.C. A&T is in its first in the Colonial Athletic Association, which includes instate opponents Elon and UNC Wilmington, as well as the Aggies' former Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference rival Hampton.
Ricky Holden represents another local connection to N.C. A&T — The 2006 Southern Vance graduate is an assistant on Ibarra's coaching staff.
The Aggies play a tough non-conference schedule, which this season has included matchups against Nevada, Illinois, South Carolina, and N.C. State.
"I'm really excited to be able to take my talents to that team," Jamari said, "and be able to show I can do just as well at the college level as I am right now."
Jamari had a monster season last year, earning MaxPreps/National Fastpitch Coaches Association High School Player of the Week honors early in the season before leading the Eagles to the state playoffs.
She'll leave Warren County, which is off to a 5-2 start this spring as of Wednesday, having been named a softball player of the year in two different conferences, along with landing top league volleyball honors and being a member of the National Honor Society.
"The thing I'm most excited about? Actually playing college softball," Jamari said. "That's the mind-blowing part, that I'm actually being able to follow my dreams and continue playing. I don't have to hang up the cleats. I don't have to lay the jersey down just yet."
