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Southwest DeKalb’s Jordan Price, seated in center, is joined by family members and coach Dwayne McKinney as the senior prepares to sign a scholarship to Auburn University. Photo by Robert Naddra

Five basketball players from DeKalb County signed scholarships during the first week of the NCAA early signing period, which began Nov. 9.

Two players from Columbia, which has won two straight Class AAA state championships and four in the past six seasons, signed scholarships. Jarmal Reid, a 6-foot-7 forward, signed with Oregon State and Chris Horton, a 6-8 post player, signed with Austin Peay in Tennessee.

Reid had narrowed his choices to Oregon State, Tennessee-Chattanooga and UNC-Charlotte, but also had offers from Florida, Wake Forest, Nebraska and several others. Horton, whose father Eddie played briefly at Austin Peay before transferring to Alabama-Huntsville, also had several other offers, including, Georgia State, Georgia Southern and Tennessee Tech.

Reid, the younger bother of former Georgia standout Jeremy Price, averaged 11 points and eight rebounds as a junior while Horton averaged eight points and seven rebounds a year ago.

“These guys are not only good student-athletes, but they are good people,” said Columbia boys basketball coach Phil McCrary.

Brandon Morris, a 6-8 forward from Miller Grove, signed with Georgia over more than a dozen other scholarship offers, including Alabama, Florida, Kansas State and Memphis. Miller Grove has won four Class AAAA state championships in a row. Morris scored 11 points in the second half of the title game against Rockdale County to help the Wolverines pull away.

Also, Southwest DeKalb’s Jordan Price, a 6-5 guard, signed with Auburn over offers from Georgia Tech, Memphis and Mississippi. Price averaged 19.8 points and shot 76 percent from the free throw line as a junior.

All three schools are expected to have several more players sign scholarships throughout the season.

“We have four more that are going to sign, but theywanted to wait,” McCrary said.

The only girls’ player to sign during the first week was Miller Grove’s Tabitha Fudge, who chose High Point University in North Carolina. Fudge averaged 9.8 rebounds as a junior.