Being a hardcore basketball player is difficult when you grow up in the mountains.

College coaches rarely get outside of Metro Atlanta looking for any talent. So, when a player from that region of the state feels overlooked they are motivated to prove some people wrong.

This has always been JB Charles motivation from the time he has been playing ball. Now he can start his senior season with one less chip to carry on his shoulder as the 6-foot-5 guard has signed to play basketball next season for Young Harris on Monday.

“I just wanted to get it out of my mind,” Charles said. “I don’t have to worry about it any more.”

Charles selected the Mountain Lions over Columbus State.

The Gilmer High product was getting some interest from other school for his academics and for his performance this summer on the travel circuit. He also was part of The Preview in the fall.

Everything about Young Harris made sense to Charles.

“They told me they were behind me with everything,” he said. “They were coming on the strongest. There is also a good chance at playing as a freshman.”

While the thought of playing right away was intriguing but having head coach Pete Herrmann, as his next coach was the selling point. Charles was impressed with the veteran coaches previous coaching experience. Also, having his parents come to games made signing with Young Harris easy.

“Just knowing his background and knowing that he has been an assistant at big universities he knows contacts,” he said. “Having my parents being able to watch me play college basketball is nice. Having Young Harris so close they can come and watch me play.”

Before Charles signed with the Mountain Lions he weighed his options looking to see if there were other opportunities available. He had interests from Alabama-Huntsville, Millsap, West Point, Princeton and a few others schools checked in on the 3.5 student-athlete.

However, at the time, Charles felt slighted and overlooked because there were people with multiple Division I offers to his zero. He just felt that he could play with all of them. Charles does realize why some programs didn’t notice him.

“It’s because of where I’m from, a small town, I guess,” he said. “No good players come from where I’m from. They see where I’m from and the competition is not at tough.”

Living is the mountains, however, has not stopped pushing Charles. He has been putting in work any chance he can. His routine throughout the summer was to run bleachers, lift, get shots up three to four times a week. This was to put forth a strong showing on the travel circuit with the Georgia Stars.

He knows elite athletes surround his counterparts in Metro Atlanta, and they can call each other to play open gym. Charles does not have that luxury.

“I am just trying to show everyone that it does not matter where you are from but it does matter what your work ethic is,” he said. “I’m just trying to go as far as basketball is going to take me.”