Global Pipeline Fuels Athens Christian Athletics

With a one-way plane ticket to Atlanta and dreams to fulfill, Success Nwabude’s journey began over 5,000 miles away in his home country of Nigeria at age 15. About three years later and finishing out his junior year, Nwabude now has more than 10 offers from Division I programs across the country.

At Athens Christian School, athletes with international backgrounds have become increasingly common. When Tim Early was hired as athletic director in 2024, he revived Athens Christian’s international efforts, a strategy he says aligns with the school’s mission and helps elevate its athletic program.

“We’re about developing the whole student, mind, body and spirit,” Early said.

Bringing in students from different parts of the world gives us a chance to live that out in a broader way.”

While the school has experimented with international recruiting since the early 2010s, according to Early, Athens Christian has continued to expand its global reach under his leadership. From Europe to Africa and, more recently, South America, the athletic program is scouting athletes from across the globe.

The process itself operates without a formal structure according to Early. When a roster spot opens, coaches connect with scouts abroad, who provide film for evaluation.

Financial considerations, including what Athens Christian can offer and what families are able to afford, also play a role, with Early and his staff fostering constant communication with athletes, parents and coaches as well.

Athens Christian pairs international athletes with host families and supports them both academically and socially by coaches, teams and student leaders as they transition into their new life in Athens. Early said the school is “intentional” about making sure students are “not just here, but that they’re connected.”

Early and the varsity boys basketball coach, Dan Lampe, first scouted Nwabude with a plan for him to become a star on the basketball team as a six-foot-six power forward. Last April, following the suggestion of his coaches, Nwabude began training in football, a sport he had never played before.

His introduction to the sport came with a wake-up call. At one of his first camps, Nwabude quickly realized how much work was ahead of him.

“I got thrown into the fire with the five-star offensive linemen. It was a horrible experience for me that day,” Nwabude said. “When we got back to the car, I told him, ‘I’m taking this super serious now.’ It pissed me off. I didn’t want that to happen again.”

After standout performances at showcase camps as an edge rusher, Nwabude quickly lived up to his first name. He is now a top prospect in the 2027 class with offers from Division I programs across the country, including Georgia, Kentucky and Tennessee.

Nwabude attributes much of his development to his host parent Lampe, crediting him since the day he arrived. Both described driving countless hours across Georgia for Nwabude’s camps and training.

“You know, right now, with people that don’t know me, I don’t even say that’s my host family. That’s my dad,” Nwabude said.

Lampe echoed that sentiment, describing family vacations and milestones shared with Nwabude and fellow athlete Cherish Eric, who also came from Nigeria to play basketball at Athens Christian.

“Now, you don’t even think about it,” Lampe said. “They’re just part of the family.”

International recruiting has also elevated several Athens Christian programs. Early pointed to track and basketball as two in particular that have benefited the most.

In March, the girls basketball team won its first state championship. The team was led by two seniors from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Voldie Basana and Marlene Mbilima. Both earned Division I scholarships.

On the track, Kenyan native Jane Wangari has dominated for Athens Christian. Nationally ranked and a cross-country state champion, Wangari’s success further reflects the impact of the school’s international recruiting efforts.

Athens Christian is not the only school implementing this strategy as a growing number of private schools across the state have turned to international talent to bolster their programs. Chad Liddle, the founding director of the Darlington School Soccer Academy in Rome, said the economics of private school enrollment often play a major role in recruiting overseas as they’re able to address enrollment challenges.

“It’s all about tuition dollars and you gotta think about a day school,” Liddle said. “Let’s say Athens, there’s a finite amount of people in the Athens area that can afford it.”

But beyond financial gain and on-field success, coaches say the impact of international recruiting reaches into the school’s culture and broader community. At Athens Christian, that influence has helped form a more diverse and connected environment, according to Early.

This isn’t about stacking a roster,” Early said. “It’s about providing opportunities and building something meaningful.”

What began as a leap of faith for many and a decisive recruiting decision by the school, has turned into something beyond athletics. For Early, the work is only beginning.

“We’ll continue to grow intentionally,” Early said. “We’re not trying to be the biggest; we’re trying to be the best fit for the right kids, and to keep building programs that reflect who we are.”

Gracie Fisher is a student in the undergraduate certificate program at the John Huland Carmical Sports Media Institute at UGA.