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BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR SPORTS EDITOR
ivan.sanders@elizabethton.com 
When Andrew Clawson arrived at Happy Valley High School two years ago and joined Coach Jeremy Maddox’s basketball team, he came with the intention of leaving everything he had on the court to help the Warriors win basketball games.

That grit and determination that Clawson came to Warrior Hill paid off for the recent graduate as he signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball for the Milligan University Buffs in the school’s library recently with family, friends, and teammates all present for his big day.

For Clawson, the connection made was an instantaneous one with Milligan University.

I”t was an instant connection with the coaching staff,” Clawson said. “They have a very good coaching staff and it’s close to home. It’s a local boy’s dream to play for a local college especially coming from a small school like Happy Valley.

“I fell in love with the school as soon as I walked through the gym doors.”

Clawson has plans to study business administration and pursue a minor in sports management.

The former Warrior knows the challenges that lie ahead and is ready to tackle them head-on.

“Definitely the pace of the game is going to be way quicker than what I have played. I am ready for the challenge,” Clawson stated.

“The skill level is going to be an insane jump but I am ready to put in the work and shoot the ball the way I have been for years. I am ready to play at the next level.”

Clawson has only been a Warrior for two years transferring in from David Crockett but felt pride in putting on the maroon and white of the Warriors and taking the court alongside his teammates no matter who they may have been facing.

“It meant a lot. Coach Maddox welcomed me in with open arms and I went to work every night out there and put it on the line,” Clawson added about first joining the team. “The name Warriors really means a lot and to me to be a Warrior means to me to be a fighter and I would go out there every night with my family regardless of who it was.”

Clawson’s father, Teddy Clawson, has been along for the basketball ride with his son since Andrew was seven years old. The young Clawson said it will be special to look up in the stands and seeing his father right where he has always been cheering him on.

“It’s always second nature to look up in the stands and see my dad. He has coached me all my life and it will be really nice in the stands still doing what he has done since I was seven years old,” commented Clawson.

He will be following some family members who also attended Milligan University including a cousin who played baseball at Milligan a couple of years ago.

Clawson feels that the choice he made is the right one and he looks forward to pursuing his collegiate basketball close

I have had family members go to Milligan – my cousin played at Milligan a couple of years ago and it was a good choice for me to go and it’s special to play close to home.