Pursuing Excellence, One Call at a Time
By Samantha DePriest
Spending time catching up with former Trinity Christian School students is always a gift. Now that Class of 2024 Thomas Akey has returned from a summer trip with his family to Switzerland, he is looking ahead to his next season and not as a player, but as a basketball official with dreams of one day stepping onto the court in the NBA or WNBA.
Thomas's journey began long before college officiating camps and NCAA opportunities. After moving from California to Georgia in the 5th grade, he was introduced to basketball through Upward Sports at Heatherwood Baptist Church in Newnan, where he played alongside fellow TCS students athletes. Those early experiences sparked a passion for the game that has continued to shape his life. "I started shooting 100 shots a day," Thomas recalled. "I decided I was going to work as hard as I could so I could make the sixth-grade basketball team at Trinity."
Having been homeschooled before enrolling at Trinity Christian School, making the team became his first major goal at his new school. His dedication paid off, and he earned a spot on the team, spending the next three years playing under the direction of Coach Brian Long. "Coach Long helped us all mature and develop," Thomas said. "There was something really special about having the same coach for three years. He invested in us as individuals, not just as players."
While athletics played an important role in his Trinity experience, the teachers and mentors he encountered left an equally lasting impact. One of those mentors was Mr. Ryan Tipton, who coached Thomas in Cross Country during sixth, seventh, and ninth grades. "Mr. Tipton's encouragement meant so much," Thomas shared. "He genuinely cared about his students. He remembered the little details about our lives, and you could tell he loved what he did. That set him apart."
Thomas also fondly remembers Mrs. Hasty's eighth-grade science class as one of his favorites. "She made science fun," he said. "The labs and experiments made every class engaging." Today, those school connections continue beyond graduation as his father, Matt Akey, even plays doubles tennis with Mrs. Hasty's husband, Josh. Other teachers who made an impact include Mrs. Whitaker, whose class he greatly enjoyed, along with Mrs. Faircloth and Mrs. Rinkenberger, who encouraged and challenged him throughout his freshman and sophomore years.
Beyond the classroom, Trinity gave Thomas opportunities to discover who he was becoming. "I learned so much about myself during my years at TCS," he said. "I really developed my personality there." Thomas participated in Academic Bowl under the guidance of Mrs. Sarah Scott and Mr. Higgins, was introduced to Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), and also explored the performing arts. Under the director of former Theatre Director Kelsie Adams, he performed in Alice in Wonderland and the One Act production of Madam Defarge, experiences that stretched him in new ways and helped to build lasting friendships.
After high school, Thomas began college at Anderson University before transferring to Biola University in California, where he is majoring in marketing. His days are busy attending classes in the mornings and officiating basketball games in the afternoons.
His officiating journey began at just 16 years old, working recreational league games in Peachtree City before moving on to junior varsity basketball. Determined to improve, he attended officiating camps that certified him to work junior college and NAIA games. This summer, he took another significant step by attending NCAA Division II, Division III, junior college, and NAIA officiating camps.
That hard work has already opened new doors. Thomas was recently hired to officiate at the NCAA Division III level, his first NCAA assignment, and hopes to move up to Division II in the coming year. During this past season alone, he officiated more than 100 regular-season games along with two playoff contests. "I love it," Thomas said. "It's a great opportunity with strong Christian influences and incredible friendships."
His long-term goal is to eventually reach the WNBA or NBA. He appreciates the developmental path available to officials, where experience at the junior college level can lead to NCAA opportunities and, eventually, officiating professional basketball.
Looking back, Thomas sees Trinity Christian School as a place that helped shape not only his future but also his character. From shooting 100 basketballs a day as a determined sixth grader to earning his first NCAA officiating assignment, his story is one of steady growth, perseverance, and faithfully pursuing each opportunity. Those lessons and the mentors who invested in him continue to influence every step of his journey.
