For you that played ball in high school ...

[Alphadog]

Either Pig Prather (Faulkner) or LP Spence (Corinth). Spence was unbelieve before his injury in prep school.

I played against both of those guys also. Pig was probably the best I have played against. There were a couple of other Prathers on that team that could play too. Bradley Prather went to Marshall I believe for a year. I also played against Romero at Shannon and the great teams from Amory. I had a pick against Romero. I guarded Rufus French pretty much one on one an entire game. He didn't do a whole lot in that game but he didn't have to because they were beating us so bad.

 

[L4Dawg]

Yep, he was a freshman when I was a senior and played in the second half.

He was an 8th grader when you played against him. He started as a 9th grader when I played against him. I sacked him. It was a total fluke. The center pulled when he shouldn't have and I got a clear shot at him playing nose guard. I was two feet away when he saw me. I barely got his shirt tail. They beat us something like 54-0.

 

[PineGroveBully]

Played hs basketball against Pig Prather. He was a beast on the hardwood. His style of play reminds me of Woodard. He could have stared in Juco and probably D2. Probably could have played D1 but wouldn’t have been anything special.

 

[jethreauxdawg]

I beat Harris English in high school

On one hole.

 

[mstateglfr]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/vault.si.com/.amp/vault/2013/04/01/the-best-player-you-never-saw

Any time I see Cole mentioned I have to post this article.

Long, but fantastic actor. Thanks for posting it.

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

He was an 8th grader when you played against him. He started as a 9th grader when I played against him. I sacked him. It was a total fluke. The center pulled when he shouldn't have and I got a clear shot at him playing nose guard. I was two feet away when he saw me. I barely got his shirt tail. They beat us something like 54-0.

Thanks for the correction. Memory = Age/Liters of Alcohol x .017

 

[Cooterpoot]

Not the best athlete, but Pete Young. MFer threw aspirin tablets. Totally unhittable.

Pete would be high on my list too. Completely dominated HS ball.

 

[Cooterpoot]

Didn't compete directly against him, but the most accomplished athlete was Calvin Smith from Sumner Hill. Ran in south state and state track meets with him. Fastest human i ever observed personally. Incredible how he ran the curve in the 220yd dash.

As far as played against, Jackie Moffett from Taylorsville (USM).

Moffett's brother Tim (OM) was a helluva player too.

 

[Avelso]

Dude. That’s the best post ever. I played with Jay at WL and we played Tuscaloosa Central twice and Neal Lamb was nasty. He went to Ms Delta and I think fizzled out at Bama.

The best I played against/with was obviously Jay Powell. However, I saw Sam Hence from Stone County rip Jays best stuff. Shane Pullen from Kosy also ripped Jay and Dennis Hobson in the 89 90 playoffs. He played at MCC and USM.

Lastly and only Meridian guys know the greatness I’ll list. ALL of these guys should have played in the show.

Marcus Portis
Marcus McCoy
Brian Cole!!!! Google him. RIP
Antonio Thedford (Football)
Shandrick Glass

 

[mcain31]

Jerious Norwood and Chris Spencer. I'll never forget that Chris Spencer was the first person that I saw squat 700 lbs at the state powerlifting meet.

 

[HomeBoyDawg]

Yeah, Hornback was pretty special at OS. A year or two latter ('79 I think), Harrison Central had an incredible QB/RB duo. I don't remember the RB's name but the QB was Kent Jones. They beat us like 7 - 3 at our homecoming so we considered that a victory. I played OLB and covered both Kent Jones and the RB tackling for a loss on a very poorly executed option. I think Kent Jones went on to play in the SWAC.

 

[Junction John]

Second David Fair. He was Christian Okoye with speed before the knee.

 

[Villagedawg]

Tim Jumper

... who was the best athlete that you actually played against in a game?

Did you ever have to tackle or guard or hit or block or pitch to him?

How did it go?

Jumper jumped dang near OVER me on a fast break in a playoff game at Baldwyn in I think 1987. Best teammates were probably Mike Montgomery and Tim Bowens. Mike used to just touch me in practice ( I was a bench warmer scout team player) to keep from exploding every bone in my body. Thanks, Mike!

 

[NIGHTDOG]

Bevo Gandy (sp)

 

[Drebin]

I don’t think deGrom started pitching until his last year at a Stetson. Was a shortstop before that.

Yeah, deGrom was actually drafted as a shortstop.

 

[Kickflip]

Kirk Presley

Was extremely happy to ground out to the shortstop... after 2 previous K's.