Stephen Davis will graduate from South Effingham High School on Friday night. But there was one little matter of unfinished business to take care of before getting his diploma.

Monday afternoon, the senior center for the Mustangs basketball team signed a letter of intent with North Greenville College in Tigerville, S.C.

“It means a lot,” Davis said. “All the hard work I put in and being able to go play college basketball, it’s really emotional.”

At 6-foot-5, the lanky Davis often found himself in the post against either much taller or much wider foes from Calvary, Liberty County and Burke County. He also displayed a shooting touch from outside and an ability to handle the ball.

“He’s a man of many hats,” Mustangs coach Chris Wolski said.

Wolski said Davis’ scoring totals could have been higher this year had the team not relied on him so much defensively.

“That takes a lot out of you,” Wolski said. “To do what he did on the defensive end and to turn around and score is a big thing. We knew at the next level he would have to be a wing. But for us, he had to play the post and play a little bit of everything. He never complained and did what he had to do to help the team.”

What appealed to Davis about North Greenville is the kind of school it is — it’s a Christian-based school — and the style of the play the Tigers have on the court.

“It’s a Christian school, and they put Christ above all,” he said. “I fit in really well with their program. They play the style I played here this year, up and down, let everybody handle the basketball. They don’t have any set positions because everybody can handle the ball.”

The Crusaders finished the 2006-07 season 16-13.

Wolski also sees Davis having no problem adapting to the Crusaders’ style. The tallest returning players are each 6-6, though the Crusaders also signed a 6-7 player from the junior college ranks last week.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for him,” he said. “It’s a perfect fit for the way they play and what he can do. It’s a good fit athletically, but academically and socially as well.”

Davis had 20 points against Class AAAAA Camden County this year and 18 against Region 3-AAA rival Richmond Hill while sitting out the fourth quarter.

Until it’s time to report to North Greenville, Davis will be hard at work on the Crusaders’ workout program, “and getting stronger and getting mentally tougher on my game,” he said.