North Carolina High School State T&F Champions who later
became Pros in other sports

People who have won a North Carolina state title in track, but went on to star in other sports:

Updated Aug. 29, 2024

(Added Tyrek Funderburk)

NBA:

Bob Gantt, Durham High, BAA
The BAA (Basketball Association of America) was a professional basketball league
in North America, founded in 1946. Following its third season, 1948-49, the BAA
absorbed most of National Basketball League (NBL) and rebranded as the
National Basketball Association (NBA).
*interesting note: played for Red Auerbach
*** 7-time NCHSAA State T&F Champion: ***
1938, 1939, 1940 Shot Put champion (48-4.75; 51-4 7/8; 52-2.75)
1938, 1939, 1940 Discus champion (121-5; 126-0.5; 133-4)
1940 Javelin champion (162-9)
Basketball-Reference.com page
Story mentioning Bob Gantt

Bobby Jones, South Mecklenburg, NBA more   NC Hall of Fame entry
1968 & 1970 NCHSAA 3A/4A High Jump Champion (6-2.75 & 6-6). photo

Bob McAdoo, Greensboro Ben L. Smith, NBA more   NC Hall of Fame entry
1969 NCHSAA 3A/4A High Jump Champion (6-7.75 Meet Record). more

David Thompson, Crest HS, NBA more   NC Hall of Fame entry
1971 WNCHSAA Triple Jump Champion (45-5.75 Meet Record). video more

John Wall, Raleigh Word of God, NBA more
2007 & 2008 NCISAA Long Jump Champion (22-10.5 NWI 1A/2A Meet Record 2008)

Jalen Lecque, Arden Christ School, NBA. more
2018 NCISAA 3A High Jump Champion (6-2).

NFL:

Rupert Pate, Goldsboro, NFL
1935 NCHSAA Shot Put Champion (45-7 7/8)

Earnest Barnes, Durham Hillside, NFL more   NC Hall of Fame entry
1956 NCHSAC SP (43-5.75) & DT (121-4) Champion. 44-5 PR in '56.

Robert McAdams, Durham Hillside, NFL
1957 NCHSAC State Shot Put Champion (44-7)

Carl Eller, Winston-Salem Atkins, NFL more
1959 NCHSAC State Champion, Shot Put 44-8
(Eller was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004)

Bob Matheson, Boone Appalachian, NFL more   NC Hall of Fame entry
1963 NCHSAA All-Classification Shot Put Champion (51-10)
Note: Matheson played on the legendary 1972 undefeated Miami Dolphins team.

Dave Dunaway, Jacksonville, NFL
5-time NCHSAA Champion
1962 NCHSAA 100-Yard Champion (10.1, equaled state meet record)
1962 NCHSAA 220-Yard Champion (21.6, equaled state meet record)
1963 NCHSAA 100-Yard Champion (10.0, broke a 37-year-old state meet record)
1963 NCHSAA 220-Yard Champion (21.5, state meet record)
1963 NCHSAA High Jump Champion (6-2, state meet record)

Mike Richey, Charlotte Myers Park, NFL
1964 NCHSAA Shot Put Champion (55-9.25, state meet record)

Doug Wilkerson, Fayetteville E.E. Smith, NFL
1965 NCHSAC Shot Put Record 51-8
more

Billy McKoy, Winston-Salem Atkins, NFL more   Atkins Hall of Fame entry
1966 NCHSAC 4A Champion 100 yards (10.0), 220y (22.5), and 4x220y

Jerome Gantt, Greensboro Dudley, NFL
1966 NCHSAC Shot Put Champion (51-11, NCHSAC state meet record)

Danny Medlin, Thomasville, NFL
1967 WNCHSAA Shot Put Champion (49-11.25)

Haskel Stanback, Kannapolis A.L. Brown, NFL more
1968 WNCHSAA 4x110y Relay (45.55)

Dave Taylor, Chapel Hill, NFL
1967 NCHSAA Shot Put Champion (55-0)
1968 NCHSAA 3A/4A Shot Put (58-2.75, state meet record) and
Discus (171-8, state meet record) Champion

Carlester Crumpler Sr., Wilson Fike, NFL/CFL NC Hall of Fame entry
1969 & 1970 NCHSAA 3A/4A Champion in 120y Hurdles (14.5 NWI & 14.3 NWI =Rec),
+ 1970 180-yard Low Hurdles (20.3)

Charles Romes, Durham Hillside, NFL
4-time NCHSAA State Champion
1971 180-Yard Low Hurdles (20.3)
1972 220-Yard Dash (21.9)
1972 120-Yard High Hurdles (13.6, State Meet Record)
1972 180-Yard Low Hurdles (20.3)

Kelvin Bryant, Tarboro HS, NFL more
Won the 1978 NCHSAA All-Classification 100-yard Dash (9.80 NWI),
& the 1979 220y (21.6 NWI) + LJ (24-0 NWI)

Delton Hall (Greensboro Grimsley), NFL more
1983 NCHSAA State Meet Record (All-Classification), 400 46.41.
Hall went on Clemson where he was first
team All-ACC in football and later played five
years in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Reuben Davis, Greensboro Grimsley, NFL more
1983 NCHSAA All-Classification Discus Champion 165-1

Izel Jenkins, Wilson Fike, NFL more
1st 1983 NCHSAA All-Classification 300H Champion (37.33)

Ellis Dillahunt, Jacksonville, NFL
1983 NCHSAA 110-Meter High Hurdles Champion (14.61)

Danny Peebles, Raleigh Broughton, NFL more
1984 NCHSAA all-class long jump state champion

Tim Worley, Lumberton, NFL more
1985 NCHSAA all-class 100 & 200-meter state champion

Michael Brooks, Greensboro Page, NFL
1985 NCHSAA 400-Meter Champion (47.56)

Carl Pickens, Murphy, NFL more
3-time NCHSAA 1A/2A high jump champion (1986, 1987, 1988)

Chucky Johnson, Fayetteville 71st, NFL
1988 NCHSAA 4A Shot Put Champion (57-11)

Leon Johnson, Morganton Freedom, NFL more
1991 & 1992 NCHSAA 4A Long Jump Champion (23-8.75, 24-7.75, record)

Alvis Whitted, Orange Co., NFL more
1993 NCHSAA 4A Champion 100 (10.67 NWI), 200 (21.21 NWI)

Reggie Love, Durham Hillside, CFL
1993 NCHSAA 4A 400m champion (48.34)
1994 NCHSAA 4A Long jump Champion (22-2.25)

John Avery, Asheville, NFL, CFL
1994 NCHSAA Indoor State Meet MVP
1994 NCHSAA Indoor 60-Yard Dash (6.34, all-class state meet record)
1994 NCHSAA Indoor Long Jump (23-8.75)
1994 NCHSAA 3A 100-Meter Champion (10.77)

Tony Horne, Richmond County, NFL
1994 NCHSAA 4A 110-Meter High Hurdles (14.43)

Jeremy McDaniel, New Bern, NFL
1994 NCHSAA 4A Triple Jump Champion (47-3)

Alge Crumpler, Wilmington New Hanover, NFL more
1996 NCHSAA 4A Champion in Shot (57-8.5) & Discus (161-7),
Also won DT in '94 (168-5) & '95 (159-11).
Son of Carlester Crumpler Sr.(see above)

Antwan Harris, Raleigh Ravenscroft, NFL more
1996 NCISAA Champion 100m (10.7; 10.6 rec prelims)
200m (22.2; 21.8 in prelims)

Lamont Reid, Central Cabarrus, NFL
2000 NCHSAA 3A 100-Meter Champion (10.94)

A.J. Davis, Northern Durham, NFL
2-time NCHSAA State Indoor Championship MVP (2001, 2002)
10-time NCHSAA State Champion
1999 NCHSAA 4A Outdoor High Jump Champion (6-6)
2000 NCHSAA Indoor Triple Jump Champion (46-0)
2001 NCHSAA Indoor High Jump (6-6), Long Jump (23-1) & Triple Jump (47-1.5) Champion
2001 NCHSAA Outdoor Long Jump (24-10.5) & Triple Jump (48-6.5) Champion
2002 NCHSAA Indoor Long Jump (24-0.5) & Triple Jump (48-1) Champion
2002 NCHSAA Outdoor Long Jump (24-7) & Triple Jump (48-0) Champion

Alvin Pearman, Charlotte Country Day, NFL more
2-time NCISAA all-class state champion (2000: 100 & 200 meters)

Josh Gattis, Northern Durham, NFL
2002 NCHSAA 4A 300-meter hurdles Champion (38.60)

Jeremy Thompson, Charlotte Christian, NFL
4-time NCISAA 3A State Champion
2002 NCISAA 3A Triple Jump Champion (42-8.5)
2003 NCISAA 3A Triple Jump Champion (42-10)
2004 NCISAA 3A Long Jump Champion (22-4.25)
2004 NCISAA 3A Discus Champion (131-10)

Crezdon Butler, Asheville, NFL
2005 NCHSAA 3A 4x100-Meter Relay Champion (42.65)

Brandon Banks, Garner, NFL
2006 NCHSAA 4A 200-Meter Champion (21.55)
2006 NCHSAA 4A Long Jump Champion (22-6)

TJ Graham, Raleigh Wakefield, NFL more
2008 NCHSAA 4A Champion in 100m (10.44 NWI) & 200 (20.82 NWI).

Ross Cockrell, Charlotte Latin, NFL
5-time NCISAA 3A State Champion
2008 NCISAA 3A 100-Meter Champion (11.23)
2008 NCISAA 3A 200-Meter Champion (22.45)
2008 NCISAA 3A 400-Meter Champion (48.42, NCISAA all-class record)
2007 & 2008 NCISAA 3A 4x400-Meter Relay Champion (3:30.16 & 3:35.68)

Tyler Shatley, East Burke, NFL
2008 NCHSAA 4A Shot Put Champion (55-11)
2009 NCHSAA 4A Shot Put Champion (59-9)

Walter Aikens, Charlotte Harding, NFL
2009 NCHSAA 4A Long Jump Champion (23-8.25)

Matthias Farley, Charlotte Christian, NFL
2010 NCISAA 3A 100-Meter Champion (11.18)
2010 NCISAA 3A 4x100-Meter Relay (43.77) and
4x200-Meter Relay (1:29.60, state meet record) Champion

NyHeim Hines, Garner HS, NFL more
1st in 2015 4A Indoor Championships in 55m (6.28)

Tyrek Funderburk, Metrolina Christian, NFL
2016 NCISAA 3A Triple Jump Champion (44-0.75)

Emanuel Wilson, North Mecklenburg, NFL
2018 NCHSAA 4A 4x100-Meter Relay Champion (41.84)

WNBA/WOMEN'S PRO BASKETBALL:

Wendy Palmer, Roxboro Person, WNBA
2-time NCHSAA High Jump Champion:
1990 NCHSAA 4A Outdoor HJ Champion (5-6)
1992 NCHSAA 4A Outdoor HJ Champion (5-8)

Leah Metcalf, Charlotte Christian, WNBA/European & Australian Basketball more
6-time NCISAA 3A State Champion: 2000 NCISAA 3A 4x100 relay (50.48, record);
2001 NCISAA 3A 100m Champion (13.10, );
2000 & 2001 NCISAA 3A Long Jump (17-0.25 & 17-8.5)
& Triple Jump Champion (34-11 & 36-6.5)

Cierra Burdick, South Mecklenburg/Matthews Butler, WNBA
2-time NCHSAA High Jump Champion:
2008 NCHSAA 4A Outdoor HJ Champion (5-5, w/South Mecklenburg);
2010 NCHSAA 4A Indoor High Jump Champion (5-4, w/Matthews Butler)

Olympic Sports:

Randy Jones, Kernersville Glenn, Bobsled (2002 Olympic silver medalist) more   2018 story
1987 NCHSAA 4A 100m & 200m Champion (10.4, 21.55 NWI). Also won 200 in '86 (21.3). more

Naya Tapper, West Mecklenburg, Rugby (2017 World Cup; 2020 Olympics) more
Ran on NCHSAA 4A Champion 4x100 Relays in 2010 & 2011, and 4x200 in 2011.

Several athletes from the historic 1983 NCHSAA State Track Meet who did NOT win
state titles DID go on to major athletic success:
Results: 1983 NCHSAA Meet

Last updated Aug. 29, 2024.
Thanks to Brett Honeycutt for creating this page.
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