Chris Cokley was looking for an opportunity to play college basketball. He thought it would be at his dream school. Instead he is getting the opportunity to live out his dream.

On Saturday, Cokely did not wait to leave Alabama before telling the UAB coaching staff he was committing to be a Blazer. The Savannah High senior selected the Conference USA school over his favorite school growing up Georgia.

“I just felt like I was at home,” said Cokley, who was still on his official visit. “The atmosphere with the players and coaches I just felt like I was at home.”

The comfort of home, which is actually five hours away from Savannah, is not hard to understand. Currently on the Blazers roster there are four players from the Peach State. Cokley sees there is an opportunity to compete for playing time and look to fill the void down the road by former 6-foot-5 forward Elbert County High product Rod Rucker, which his game resembles that of any player on the Blazers roster.

“He is versatile and athletic,” Cokley said. “I like the way he plays.”

While being around the players and walking around campus, Cokley was convinced Birmingham needed to be his home because of the way head coach Jerod Haase interacted with him during the visit and the players.

“His attitude toward everything was basically good,” Cokley said. “He just made everything easier.”

Earlier in the summer, Cokley committed to Mississippi but it was not reciprocated by the Southeastern Conference school. Georgia inquired about the 6-foot-8 power forwards services, but Cokley just felt UAB was the better option.

“It really didn’t matter (which school) as long as I had a chance to play big time Division I basketball,” he said. “Either way it went I was still going to be happy. This is a great school.”

Now that this decision is behind Cokley the only two things on his mind are graduation and the high school season.

“This is a weight off of my shoulders,” he said. “I can now concentrate on winning a state championship now.”