The former American League MVP signed a five-year, $125 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels after several seasons with the Texas Rangers.

The Raleigh native played in 148 games this season for the Rangers. In 562 at-bats, Hamilton finished with a .285 batting average, 128 RBIs, a career-high 43 home runs and 60 walks.

Hamilton is coming off his fifth All-Star appearance.

Johnson commits to Kansas

Former Panther Creek football player Isaiah Johnson (2011) wrapped up a season as one of the best safeties in the junior college ranks.

Johnson had 41 tackles and a nation-leading eight interceptions for national champion Iowa Western Community College.

Johnson’s success earned him scholarship offers from Division I programs, and he committed to the University of Kansas shortly after his season.

Johnson started the 2010 season opener for Western Carolina as a kick returner, but tore his knee in that game. He received a medical redshirt for that season but transferred to Iowa Western, making him a redshirt freshmen this past season.

He will have three years of eligibility at Kansas, starting next season as a redshirt sophomore.

Gravley, Steber make all-freshman teams

Apex graduate Megan Gravley (2011) was named to the Southern Conference’s all-freshman team in volleyball.

Gravley had a team-high 350 kills and added 173 digs for Elon this past season. Her former Apex teammate Kris Harris (2010) had 254 kills to finish second on the team.

Also making the all-freshman team in the Southern Conference, but this time for men’s soccer, was Cary graduate Eric Steber (2011).

Steber started 15 games for Furman as a defender.

Big South honors Hall, Oliver

Two Campbell men’s soccer teammates and former Tri-9 Conference foes were honored by the Big South Conference.

Athens Drive graduate Ethan Hall (2010) was selected as the league’s second-team goalkeeper, while midfielder Scooter Oliver of Panther Creek (2011) was named to the Big South all-academic team.

Thomas Graham runs with Cardinal

After dominating North Carolina’s private high schools for four years, Cary Academy graduate Thomas Graham (2012) took on a different challenge when he decided to run for powerhouse Stanford – trying to crack the lineup.

His season-best team finish was sixth, and he averaged out to be the team’s eighth-fastest runner. Teams take seven runners to conference and national competitions, so Graham was just out of the lineup.

Two of the runners Graham was behind were seniors, however, and he’s likely to be in the lineup next year.