FRANKLIN – It was worth the wait for Franklin-Simpson graduate Tavin Lovan, who officially signed to play college basketball at the University of Alabama-Birmingham on Wednesday at Franklin-Simpson High School.

The 2017 graduate, who reclassified to the Class of 2018 and spent a postgraduate year at Hargrave Military Academy, a military preparatory school in Chatham, Va., said he is excited about the next chapter of his basketball career and he couldn’t think of a better place to start that journey than UAB.

“When I went on the visit, from the time I got there, I just knew,” Lovan said. “I felt very welcomed. For me, going through this recruiting process has been about loyalty and I felt that from day one (from UAB). The last three or four months they have been on me. As soon as he offered me they have talked to me every week. I knew I wanted to go there. The visit made it even better.”

The 6-foot-4 Lovan rewrote the record books in his five years at Franklin-Simpson. He is the school’s all-time leading scorer with 2,657 points and is also the program’s all-time leader in rebounds and steals.

Lovan was a finalist for Mr. Basketball in 2017, averaging 26.3 points and nine rebounds, but opted to reclassify and spend a year at Hargrave – a decision he said will benefit him as he prepares to begin his career at UAB.

“It was better competition, a lot of big-time games on big-time stages against big-time players,” Lovan said. “That is what it is about, honestly. It was a new challenge that I took on.

“Some things I never had to go through – like getting up early or being on time all the time or wearing a uniform. It was little things like that to help you get to that next level.”

The recruiting process also provided motivation for Lovan, who admits he has a little chip on his shoulder and is eager to prove detractors wrong at UAB.

“A lot of people don’t think I can do this and a lot of people don’t think I can do that,” Lovan said. “Honestly, I know what I can do. UAB knows what I can do. Now I just have to go there and show it.”

Lovan said he expects to be a two-guard at UAB but is open to playing anywhere that is the right fit.

UAB finished 20-13 last season, losing to Western Kentucky in the Conference USA Tournament. The Blazers’ depth took a hit earlier this month when starters Nate Darling and Nick Norton announced they were transferring. With Darling and Norton gone, UAB returns one starter next season.

Lovan said he is looking forward to the opportunity to make an impact and perhaps fill the void from the departures.

“I have to go in there every day and work hard,” Lovan said. “Just because it is open doesn’t mean it’s mine automatically. We still have four guys coming in and still have guys there, so everybody has to work for their position.”

He added he is eager to get started with the next chapter in his basketball career.

“I worked hard for this and it’s a new journey now,” Lovan said.{&end}