For most of his life, Hunter Gilliam has had goals he has been seeking to achieve, and Wednesday’s signing ceremony at Fuqua School signified an outstanding success in that endeavor. With his family, friends, coaches and teammates on hand, the Falcons’ star shortstop formalized his commitment to play NCAA Division I baseball for Longwood University.

“I feel like it’s just a long time of hard work just all coming up to this one moment that is going to last four years in Farmville,” Gilliam said.

He noted that his goal of becoming a Lancer was born when he visited Longwood as a 7-year-old.

“I went to a camp, and it all started from there,” he said. “That had been the place in my mind where I wanted to end up, and God was good, and it worked out.”

He said that Longwood has felt like home from the beginning.

The college selection process did involve other schools at first, though.

“I was taking visits to other places,” he said. “I was looking at a lot of schools around the area, but I was kind of just waiting for the offer to come up at Longwood, and when the offer was made, I jumped right on it and took it.”

Explaining what gave Longwood the clear edge over other schools for him, Gilliam said it’s “just a great place in general. I love the area. I love being able to play in front of people I know. I feel like my mom and dad can come watch me play all the time. There’s nothing like that. And then just playing in front of Farmville — there’s nothing better.”

Wednesday’s ceremony was an emotional moment for Hunter’s family, including his father, Cameron Gilliam, evoking memories of the long journey to this point.

“From coaching Hunter to hauling him back and forth to travel ball practice just about two or three times a week, we actually lived in the car with McDonald’s bags and the dome light on doing homework coming up the road back to Buckingham so we could have homework done the next morning,” Cameron Gilliam said. “He made me very proud.”

Cameron noted that Hunter has demonstrated a resolute determination since an early age, and his success is a testament to what is possible when you put your heart and mind into something.

“It’s pretty amazing,” Hunter’s mother, Lisha Robinson, said of seeing him officially sign with Longwood. “Since he verbally committed last August, it’s just been waiting for this moment. So, it’s finally here, and his dad and I are very excited and very proud of him and the accomplishments and the devotion that he has given 100 percent. And this was his goal to (play) D1 baseball, and he worked his behind off until he reached that goal.”

Fuqua Head Varsity Baseball Coach John Adams, who has coached Hunter for four years, said Wednesday’s ceremony was a great moment for the senior, who helped the Falcons reach the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division III state championship game during the 2017 season. He emphasized Hunter’s dedication to the sport.

“He loves it — sleeps, eats and breathes it,” Adams said. “He has probably had some of the best work ethic that I’ve ever seen, 24/7, going after this level. … Hunter definitely deserves what he just received.”

The coach also said Gilliam’s signing with a D1 team is a great thing for Fuqua.

“I hope it says something about the program,” Adams said.

Though Gilliam has primarily played at shortstop for the Falcons, Adams highlighted Gilliam’s versatility, adding that “he can play everywhere.”

The coach expects Gilliam will probably play in the corners for the Lancers, either as a third or first baseman.

Playing little league baseball in Buckingham when he was younger, Gilliam later played for a couple of different travel ball organizations, eventually becoming established with Rise Baseball.

He expressed gratitude to a variety of people for helping him reach his present level of achievement.

“First, I’ve got to thank God for the ability to play and the talents that I have,” he said, “and then definitely my mom and dad, because they’ve carried me up and down the road countless hours since (I was) a little kid … going to travel ball, and then definitely the coaches, because they not only helped me, but they shaped me into the person that I am today. So, I definitely want to thank Rise Baseball, out of Richmond, and Chris Martin and all he does and just everybody who’s played into it.”

Gilliam said he wants to major in kinesiology “and go into some kind of physical therapy program after that, but that’s subject to change. We’ll see how that happens.”