NJ鈥檚 fastest Shamali Whittle seals deal by signing with Georgia
TRENTON, N.J. (BVM) — Nottingham High School senior sprinter Shamali Whittle waited until his signing day last Thursday to announce for the first time that he chose the University of Georgia men’s T&F program over dozens of other offers.听
鈥淚鈥檓 excited about being part of something new, something special, something big with the Georgia Bulldogs,鈥� said Whittle. 鈥淏eing coach Caryl Smith Gilbert鈥檚 first out-of-state signed recruit for the men鈥檚 team at Georgia adds to my excitement too.鈥�
Whittle hasn鈥檛 even started his senior track season yet, but he鈥檚 already proven why he鈥檚 an impressive signee for Smith Gilbert and the Bulldogs. His 200-meter time from the 2021 season is the No. 2 fastest in the world for U18 sprinters (20.75). He trails less than a second behind tough competition Erriyon Knighton, who just months ago broke Usain Bolt鈥檚 U18 200m world record. Whittle himself is within the for fastest 200m times in U18 world history.
鈥淚 chose UGA because Coach Caryl has a tradition of building champions on the women鈥檚 side and also on the men鈥檚 side,鈥� Whittle said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 very analytical and it reminds me of my dad: numbers everywhere and detail within details all around. I believe her coaching style is a natural next step from how my dad has coached me over the years and she has the resources at UGA to bring her skills to an even higher level.鈥澛�
Smith Gilbert, who was hired as the Director of Men鈥檚 and Women鈥檚 Track and Field at UGA this past June, is the first female head coach of any men鈥檚 sports program in the school鈥檚 history. Previously, she led as Director of Track and Field for the USC Trojans for eight seasons. Under her guidance for the 2021 season alone, the USC women won the NCAA Track and Field Outdoor Championship title and the men made it to a top-five finish.
Whittle actually had USC in his top three along with Florida and of course Georgia. But, the Trojans and the Bulldogs were actually not in his top five that he announced in early August. His original top picks were Florida, Clemson, Miami, Texas and Florida State.听
鈥淚 was in talks with USC & UGA, but already had a top five in mind,鈥� Whittle said. 鈥淭o be honest, Clemson was top of my list for a long time due to my familiarity with Coach Graham who鈥檚 like an uncle to me and he鈥檚 a close friend of my dad. But, I just decided I wanted to chart my own path a little bit. Both UGA and USC offered that. Just a change of direction impacted the change from my top five to my top three.鈥�
Whittle noted that the journey to narrowing down the list of programs to his final decision was an 鈥�incredibly difficult鈥� one. But, after over a year of decision making, Whittle knew that Georgia was it for him. Now, he鈥檚 the first out-of-state male athlete in Bulldog history to sign after being recruited by the first female head coach of a male sport.
鈥淚鈥檒l always remember the fact that Coach Flo [Texas] was the first one to contact me in June of 2020. 鈥淸I did my official visit to UGA in early October] and I knew at that moment that I wanted to join Coach Caryl鈥檚 team. I called Texas and told them I wasn鈥檛 doing the official visit as a result.
鈥淐oaches Ricky [FSU], Randy [Auburn], Taylor [Oregon], Diego [Miami], Holloway [UF], Anderson & Morgan [TCU] were all great fit for me. Coach Morgan even gave me some great advice even when the program was out of the equation. I even thought about Texas A&M for my top five. My hometown team, Rutgers, I thought about too. By the time it got down to my top three, it really could鈥檝e been a coin tossup. Coach Watts & coach Jet [USC], man, I thought I might鈥檝e committed while I was there.鈥澛�
But, head coach Caryl and the rest of the squad ultimately had the biggest lasting impact on Whittle.听
鈥淯GA, wow, they are committed to spending in order to build winning programs,鈥� Whittle said. 鈥淣ot just football — the athletic director is as big a track fan as he is a football guy. He is 100% committed to investing in the T&F program. He reminds me of the AD at my high school now. Many ADs talk, but you never see them. It鈥檚 football and/or basketball for many of them. AD Josh Brooks, he鈥檚 different. He鈥檒l be at the track meets, I can just literally visualize him.鈥澛�
The 2022 high school track season officially starts on Dec. 18 for Whittle and now that he’s signed, he can put full-focus into another record-breaking season. Last season–when he was just 16 years old–Whittle became New Jersey鈥檚 fastest high schooler after winning gold in both the 100-meter and 200m dashes at the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Meet of Champions.
鈥淚鈥檝e always had big goals for my senior season and signing at UGA doesn鈥檛 change the level of pressure that鈥檚 already before me,鈥� Whittle said. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited going into my senior season because it鈥檚 my final year with my teammates so we want to do some special things together. I definitely want to cement a legacy for my school both in New Jersey and internationally, so let鈥檚 see.鈥澛�
