Does Dionte Neal have the best athletic resume in NC high school history?
- Thread starter Deana_King
- Start date
Dionte Neal was just named the
25-26 NC Gatorade Basketball Player of the Year
and also selected by USA Today to the ALL-USA 2025-2026 EAST Basketball Team!!!
Congratulations Dionte!!!
Reidsville Rams Nation is Super Proud of You!!!
25-26 NC Gatorade Basketball Player of the Year
and also selected by USA Today to the ALL-USA 2025-2026 EAST Basketball Team!!!
Congratulations Dionte!!!
Reidsville Rams Nation is Super Proud of You!!!
Kendre won it in football. That's crazy we got both awards in Reidsville
Thanks, now Shelby has lots to be proud of. I, also mean it.
One poster wrote about Danny Talbot. Rocky Mount won the 4A state titles in football, basketball, and baseball. He was the star player on each team. Pretty sure he was all state in all three. At UNC he was the leader at QB and ion the CWS baseball team.
Mark Maye at Independece/UNC and Mike Eppley at Harding/Clemson both had terrific three sport careers. Maye was a Morehead scholar. Injuries limited him a bit at UNC. Eppley started at QB and on the basketball team.
Steve Streater, as noted above, was unique. Great do it all footballer in state title teams and crazy pitching stats in baseball. His football play at UNC was top shelf as a safety and punter.
Another Harding athlete was Ray Durham. Terrific two way and specialty team player on the 4A state tuneup and star player on the state baseball champion. Thirteen years and two all star in the majors.
Trot Nixon in football and a second sport that is not track & field would be probably the most elite individual player. Highly recruited QB and a first round draft pick by the Red Sox. He slow played the Sox until the last minute on signing day with the Wolfpack waiting by their fax.
Two most impressive three sport stars would be Mark Maye and EJ Abrams Ward from Thomasville. Maye did it at the 4A level in the early 1980’s but would be less likely now with specialization being the trend, especially at the larger schools, the last several years.
Surprised an old timer did not mention Al Long of Durham High from the 1950’s. For years he was often considered the best all around NC high school athlete and at UNC. Four sport letter winner.
Charles Waddell of Pinecrest and UNC, All American in football, solid backup for Dean Smith, and a state runner up in shot/discus. That was when there were no classes in track.
I am sure there are many more but just a few off the top of my head and saw all play multiple sports in high school.
I listed college accomplishments for a few only to show how proficient they were as an athlete.
What Neal has accomplished is what makes high school sports, especially at small town schools, great!! Regardless what he does in college, I would take his high school years over all others. He’s the kid in the letter jacket with all the patches that everyone in town is proud of.
Mark Maye at Independece/UNC and Mike Eppley at Harding/Clemson both had terrific three sport careers. Maye was a Morehead scholar. Injuries limited him a bit at UNC. Eppley started at QB and on the basketball team.
Steve Streater, as noted above, was unique. Great do it all footballer in state title teams and crazy pitching stats in baseball. His football play at UNC was top shelf as a safety and punter.
Another Harding athlete was Ray Durham. Terrific two way and specialty team player on the 4A state tuneup and star player on the state baseball champion. Thirteen years and two all star in the majors.
Trot Nixon in football and a second sport that is not track & field would be probably the most elite individual player. Highly recruited QB and a first round draft pick by the Red Sox. He slow played the Sox until the last minute on signing day with the Wolfpack waiting by their fax.
Two most impressive three sport stars would be Mark Maye and EJ Abrams Ward from Thomasville. Maye did it at the 4A level in the early 1980’s but would be less likely now with specialization being the trend, especially at the larger schools, the last several years.
Surprised an old timer did not mention Al Long of Durham High from the 1950’s. For years he was often considered the best all around NC high school athlete and at UNC. Four sport letter winner.
Charles Waddell of Pinecrest and UNC, All American in football, solid backup for Dean Smith, and a state runner up in shot/discus. That was when there were no classes in track.
I am sure there are many more but just a few off the top of my head and saw all play multiple sports in high school.
I listed college accomplishments for a few only to show how proficient they were as an athlete.
What Neal has accomplished is what makes high school sports, especially at small town schools, great!! Regardless what he does in college, I would take his high school years over all others. He’s the kid in the letter jacket with all the patches that everyone in town is proud of.
Last edited:
Albert Long, UNC athletic great, passes away :: WRALSportsFan.com
Albert Long, considered one of the greatest athletes in the University of North Carolina at Chape Hill history, has died.
www.wralsportsfan.com
Add baseball to Dionte's resume. He got off to a late start due to basketball, but he's suiting up for Reidsville this spring for the first time ever. The Rams are only 4-8 overall but they upended Morehead Friday (April 3) 6-4, knocking the Panthers out of first place in the conference. Unofficially, Dionte had a hit, RBI and three stolen bases. I'm not sure what position he played.
I think rockingham and mcmichael are the top teams in the league. But morehead is a solid team.