MACON, Ga. – With the opening of the 2010-11 basketball season just hours away, Mercer University head coach Bob Hoffman has announced his first signee to a National Letter of Intent for the 2011-12 season by inking Tim "T.J." Hallice of Fishburne Military School in Waynesboro, Va.

Hallice is a 6-foot-9 forward – but has played all five positions as a prep – and is currently doing a post-graduate year at Fishburne, after matriculating from Metrolina Christian Academy in Indian Trail, N.C. in 2010, where he played for two seasons.  His first two years as a prep was spent at Tabernacle Christian School in Gardendale, Ala.

 "I think that T.J. is a terrific kid for Mercer," said Fishburne head coach Ed Huckaby, Jr. "(Mercer's) program is going to be a good fit for his talents. The Mercer coaches did an outstanding job recruiting him.

"(Hallice) is very skilled and can really shoot the ball. He's very quick and athletic. He's going to be very, very good."

At Metrolina, he was a two-time All-Metro Athletic Conference selection, earning team MVP honors as a junior for head coach Dennis Brown. In his two campaigns for MCA, Hallice averaged 19.3 points, 9.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game.  As a senior, he was named all-tournament at the 19^th Annual Charlotte All-Star Classic (as was current Mercer freshman Paul Larsen).

As a sophomore at Tabernacle, he led his team to a state title under head coach David Corbett. Averaging 14.1 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game during the regular season, Hallice exploded in the state tournament by averaging more than 21 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 blocks per game on his way to all-tournament accolades. He was a first team All-ACEA Conference selection, as well.  As a freshman, he earned his team's "sixth man" award as a back-up point guard.

Hallice played AAU ball with both QCAA Force and the Charlotte Jayhawks.  With a wingspan of 6-foot-11, Hallice selected Mercer over Winthrop, Georgia State, Alabama- Birmingham, The Citadel, Tennessee Tech, Western Kentucky and Bucknell.

"T.J. is exactly the type of player we like to see at Mercer," said Hoffman. "Not only is he an obviously gifted basketball player, but he is disciplined, has proven he is versatile and a 'team player' and is a solid student, first-and-foremost."