I have probably talked to over 100 high school athletes this year, and overall it has been full of great memories. But each year, I have a few kids that stick out. I am sure that I am forgetting a few, but when I came up with a topic for this blog, these are the ones that immediately came to my mind.
Marquez Sanford- Westside High School- This two way threat on the football field is also a threat when speaking about Westside football or anything else. He smiles when he speaks and he was not cocky at all and he just is a very confident young man, Lets face it, if Mercer is interested in you, then you are probably doing things right. Sanford is a great football player, and don't be surprised if he starts for Murray State as a freshman
Quintez Cephus- The dude has had so much hype on him since he was in the 8th grade and he has handled it almost flawlessly. When he got to Stratford he had no idea what he was getting into. The the interest from colleges started and he had to grow up in a hurry.
The difference between three years ago and now is shocking. He is relaxed now and he knows how to handle himself, and gives confident answers to the questions. He gives answers to questions that shows that he is more interested in team than himself. Every time I see him now, he will come up to me and speak, although he knows that I am going to ask him the same question that everyone else is asking him. "So wheres it gonna be QT ? He just smiles and gives the "Well Im not sure but I'm getting closer" answer. He has great people around him to help him through all of this, and if he doesn't sign with a SEC school, I for one would sure like to see him playing at Mercer. What a boom that would be around town. He will be a much better college player because the talent around him will be just as good as him.
Derrick Evans Jr- I don't know what Derrick is going to do next year without his sidekick Bobby Cummings, who has left to play college football at Benedict.. Evans is all smiles all the time, and he is the main reason why the sports program are having success. This kid is a leader, he has been brought up right, and he is one of my favorites. He talks to you like he has been your friend for years. I remember seeing him at a Northeast basketball game last year, and he was giving me grief because I had ranked him as the 5th best player in Macon. I asked him who he thought should be number one. I was sure he would say himself, but he didn't. He said Cephus. A humble kid who will do well in life with or without sports
Torrez Finney- When I was given the wrestler of the year award story, I was not really looking forward to driving to Gray to interview Torrez Finney. I texted his football coach Justin Rogers and told him I needed to talk to Finney and that I may just do it on the phone. Coach Rogers texted me back and said that I had to meet this kid. And now, I can see why.
Torrez is every bit of 5'5 or so and he weights over 200 pounds and is built as solidly as anyone I have ever seen. He was a star on the football team as a defensive lineman and won state as a wrestler.But his personality shines way brighter. Big smile, eloquent speaker, loves his coaches, loves his school , and loves god. I got all of this out of a 30 minute interview. He knows that if he were 5-10 he or taller he would be a major college football recruit. He has big hands and gig feet, and he is still hoping for a growth spurt.
Don't worry Torrez, you are already a damn giant.. But I am praying for a few inches for you.
Haley Gordon- I have said everything I could possibly say about Haley Gordon. She is the best interview I have ever done, and I think , the only one that cried during the interview(which in turn had me tearing up) She has now graduated from Tattnall and I believe she will be heading to Bora Bora sometime soon. If this girl asked me to walk across hot coals in bare feet I would do it, because that is just how awesome she is. The love that she showed towards her family and her school was amazing, and she has a great handle on life. The biggest compliment I can give her is that I have probably done close to a 1000 stories for the telegraph over the last seven years, and I only kept one. Haley 1, Cystic Fibrosis 0, the greatest headline I have ever seen. Keep winning Haley. You have your own cheering section forever.
Happy Birthday John
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