SANFORD - Julian Bailey, the 6"5" high-scoring center for the Central Carolina Community College men's basketball team, is headed to Milligan College on a full athletic scholarship.

Bailey, the son of Ronald and Jennifer Bailey, of Fayetteville, racked up impressive statistics during his two seasons with the Cougars. He was CCCC's MVP and made the All-Conference first team, averaging 13.4 points per game and shooting 55.2 percent from the floor.

Bailey was the top rebounder in Division III of the National Junior College Athletic Association and fourth in the nation with 12.2 rebounds per game. He registered numerous double-doubles, including a standout 18-point, 22-rebound night against Cape Fear C.C. in his sophomore season. Additionally, Bailey scored 26 points against nationally ranked Davidson C.C.

"Milligan has a great player coming in Julian," said CCCC head basketball coach Doug Connor. "He's a good student, does all the right things all the time, works hard, and practices every day. He'll be on the varsity team and has a good shot at a lot of playing for them."

Bailey graduated in May with an Associate in Arts degree and was recruited by the Milligan College Buffaloes. Milligan is a Christian liberal arts college in Johnson City, Tenn., that U.S. News and World Report has recognized as one of top 10 colleges in the South. Its basketball teams were named 2013-14 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Scholar-Teams. In 2014, its men's basketball team was the NAIA Division I National Champion.

"I will attend Milligan College to further my education and have another chance to play basketball," Bailey said. "I don't know where I am going, but I do know God is staying first with hard work following afterwards. Thank you God! Thank you teachers! Thank you family!"

Bailey said he is grateful for this opportunity and for the challenges at CCCC, both academic and as a basketball player, which prepared him for success.

"I've realized it's not easy and requires hard work to make it where I would like to go," he said. "I was coached by some of the most caring coaches in our conference and I am grateful. Academically I was pushed in the classroom by some of the best teachers North Carolina had to offer."

Brian Hurd, CCCC assistant men's basketball coach, said Bailey is a great example of what a community college student athlete is supposed to be.

"He's a kid that takes great pride in his work in the classroom and on the basketball court," Hurd said. "He was a lead-by-example kid that would rather put up big numbers every game than talk about what he could do. It was a joy to coach Julian and I wish him the best of luck next year as he goes and plays at Milligan College."

Central Carolina Community College is part of Region X in the NJCAA's Division III. Region X includes North and South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. Nationwide, 77 community colleges are part of Division III.

For more information about athletics at CCCC, visit www.cccc.edu/sports.