Hidden Gems: Central Virginia’s Outstanding Athletes

Storyline: Central Virginia has a rich athletic history. Some players are well known, while others are not. This article focuses on largely undocumented triumphs of this area’s superb athletes. Written by Waddell Howard, Jr.  

While glancing through recruiting databases for the Old Dominion State you’ll see the well-known recruiting hotbeds of Norfolk, Hampton, Portsmouth, Newport News, and Virginia Beach. These areas have turned out some of Virginia’s most prolific talents of the day, names such as Michael Vick, Allen Iverson, Deangelo Hall, MLB’s Upton brothers (BJ and Justin), and Alonzo Mourning. 

Those players are proof of the great talent produced over the years, showing that Virginia is more than just “For Lovers.” And the beat goes on: 5-Star Defensive End recruit Josh Sweat is an example. He’s one of the most sought after football recruits in the country.

Legends of the Piedmont Area

Now let’s look at one of the often overlooked areas of the state, a place where talent abounded at one point in time. That area is the area in which I am from, Central Virginia, also known as the Piedmont area. And one location is the Shenandoah Valley.

Del Curry, Fort Defiance High of Grottoes VA, with John Wooden

The Shenandoah Valley produced pros, such as Dell Curry (Fort Defiance High School 16 year NBA veteran), Cory Alexander, Waynesboro High School and former Denver Nuggets and San Antonio Spurs guard; Ralph Sampson, Harrisonburg High School, UVA basketball legend, and Houston Rockets center; baseball player, Justin Bowman, of  Turner Ashby High School, drafted by Texas Rangers 2008 and the Cincinnati Reds in 2011; and former NFL defensive back, Ricky Ray, Waynesboro High School.

Another area that’s often overshadowed is the Lynchburg, Danville, and Campbell County areas. This area produced great talents in the NFL, MLB, and NBA. There’s Charles Haley, William Campbell High School, NFL Hall of Fame linebacker and defensive end, and 5-time Super Bowl Champion; Johnny Newman, Danville, 16-year NBA veteran; and Herman Moore, George Washington High School and 11-year NFL career.

The Richmond area (on up into the heart of the Piedmont area) has its greats, too. Super Bowl champion quarterback Russell Wilson, Collegiate High School,  was reared in the central part of the state, as was former Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins linebacker, Eric Wilson (Charlottesville, Virginia), and current NFL defensive end, Chris Long (St. Anne’s Belfield High School, Charlottesville, Virginia). As we move up geographically we see that Nelson County High School produced H.B. Awkard, a Boston Red Sox draftee (1989).

Why Don’t We Hear About More About Central Virginia Athletes?

​With celebrated names that span nearly three decades back, why has this former hotbed of talent been overshadowed for so many years? The question lies in the realms of exposure and playing after high school or college. In years past–prior to the technological explosion with its recruiting services using television, internet, and social media–many of the great players weren’t widely seen until state playoffs or, perhaps, until they played in state- or national all-star games.

Charles Haley, William Campbell High School

For every highly publicized prospect, such as Dell Curry or Ralph Sampson, there were many “Diamonds in the Rough,” players flew under the radar. Take, for example, a player who was featured in Sports Illustrated, “Faces in the Crowd” (1978: Volume 49. Issue 21).” He’s a star running back and stellar talent who racked up an astounding number of yards in about 2 years. He finalized his career with a monster game that left him among the top running backs in the state and nation. That running back was Tracy Blair who, today, would be a 4- or 5-star recruit. Blair continued his career at North Carolina State, but he never went on to the pro ranks–despite having the God-given abilities and talents to do so.

​​​​Infamous Greats

Three of the top 10 career rushing leaders in the state of Virginia hail from the Central Virginia area. In the company of NFL standouts Terry Kirby and Thomas Jones, who are the number 2 and 3 all-time rushing leaders from the state of Virginia, there are two other all-time greats. One is the son of Tracy Blair, Lee, with 6,681 rushing yards and, the other, is former Stuarts Draft High School All-America, Brock Johnson, with 6,669 rushing yards. Though they rank 7th and 8th on the list they’re still on par with athletes who hailed from more densely populated and recognized regions of the state. Despite great achievements in high school neither Blair nor Johnson played extensively in college. They’re left out of conversations about the great running backs in the state’s history–even though they should be included, just as are Kirby and Jones.

Norwood “Peewee” Barber, Harrisonburg, VA High

Their fate is similar to what happened in basketball to one of the greatest point guards never to grace the NBA. This player hailed from Harrisonburg, Virginia, and his name is Norwood “Peewee” Barber Jr. Just how good was Barber? To find out just go to Harrisonburg and ask about basketball. The first name you’ll hear is “Peewee.” After two seasons at Ferrum Junior College (now Ferrum College) Barber burst onto the then-Metro Conference scene, playing for Florida State (FSU now competes in the ACC). He took the league by force.

In two years at FSU he averaged 16.6 and 19.2 p.p.g., respectively, including a 40-point game against The University of Miami. During the 1986-1987 season Barber led the Seminoles in points, assists, and steals and he ranks 11th all-time in school history for scoring average in a career (17.9 p.p.g.). Barber is also in Florida State’s 1,000 point club, which includes former pros Sam Cassell, Mitchell Wiggins (father of 2014-15 NBA Rookie of the Year, Andrew Wiggins), Bob Sura, and Dave Cowens. During his career Barber shot 44.7 percent from beyond the arc.

Barber’s astounding achievements in just two years of major college ball showed he was a special talent. But after being drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers (1987) Barber was released shortly after reportedly making the team. He never played professionally again. Despite that ending, Barber is still regarded as one of the greatest guards to play high school and college ranks in the state, a player who’s mentioned in the same breath as legends Kevin Madden, former All-America and UNC basketball standout from Robert E. Lee High School in Staunton, Virginia; Grant Hill, and all-time NBA great, Moses Malone, of Petersburg High School, who was the very first player to be drafted directly out of high school.

​​​What Happened to the Glory Days of Central VA Sports?

There’s a long list of Central Virginia’s standout athletes who triumphed in the pros or in college. The list includes athletes I know personally, such as Hayes Page, my high school classmate and teammate. Page, who is our school’s all-time leading rusher with 5,036 yards, broke Thomas Jones’ single-game rushing record of 491 yards from scrimmage. And there are opponents that I played against, such as current NFL running back Cedric Peerman (William Campbell High School), the man who still holds Virginia state records for points scored in a season with 712 and touchdowns with 113.

Corey Alexander, Waynesboro High

In comparison to the “757” area, as many call the Tidewater area, the 3-, 4-, and 5-star athletes have dwindled in number. The Tidewater region has better training programs in place for kids early-on in their development process. Children who play Pee Wee football, Little League baseball, and Youth League basketball have a head start on the competition because they’re learning fundamentals from former college and pro players and high school standouts who are back in the community.

But many of our area star athletes and coaches of yesteryear have moved out of the community and aren’t involved with youth and high school athletic programs. Lack of participation is another reason for the lower number of high-quality athletes. You can’t be a D1 recruit unless you’re playing! Relatively few central Virginia teams are in the top of state rankings…and it has been that way since the 1990s. Many schools struggle to field teams, let alone field a team that can compete at the regional and state levels. From the day when athletes in Central Virginia played for regional pride and bragging rights, today we have coaches who are trying to recruit enough players to field decent teams, not dominant ones.

Waddell Howard, Sr.

But every region, high school, and town brings forward great stories of the stars who once “Ruled the Roost.” Waynesboro natives may say that my father, Waddell Howard Sr., was the best catcher and as a 5-tool type of baseball player. Marshall Howard, former Norfolk State fullback (and a dual-sport athlete who also was a star in basketball for Waynesboro High School) was also a force to be reckoned with.

Waynesboro, a small city once filled with talent, pays homage to athletes who were drafted out of high school, players like Reggie Harris, former 1st round pick of the Boston Red Sox and 9-year MLB veteran; Michael Dillard, drafted into the MLB 1987; Jeff “Juice” Howard, a speedy Waynesboro High halfback and track star whose life was cut short in 1987 by a car wreck; and his brother, Ernest “Wood” Howard, a dynamic shortstop and point guard for Waynesboro High–a player once courted by a number of LB teams.

People from Madison, Virginia will say that running back Carlton Johnson, who holds the Virginia state record for touchdowns in a game with 8, was one of the greatest to ever set foot on a field. Others may argue that it was Raymond Kirkley, who had 5,290 career rushing yards.

Rival towns have their own version of “gridiron truth.” Charlottesville natives may say that Terrell Mulford had a better running style; or that Western Albermarle’s J.J. Sims was faster ;or that Western Albermarle power-back, Matt White, was stronger. Many may say that former Nelson County High’s flying guard/forward and former UVA receiver, T.T. Vaughn, was one of the most athletically-gifted athletes in school history. Others may say that Billy Wells, a quarterback, infielder, and basketball guard in the late 1980s, was the best all-around athlete they’ve seen at Nelson High School. But other Nelsonian natives will say different names: Chad Giles, former highly-touted football recruit; Skeet Spencer, high-flying guard and forward; or William Napper, former UVA basketball talent. Amherst natives may say that Cam Jackson, former All-America running back and linebacker and Virginia Tech commit, was the greatest player in their school’s history.

Adding it all Up

Central Virginia is full of rich, enduring history. The players I’ve named are only a few of the great athletes who’ve graced the area. Each athlete has his own story of triumph, struggle, and, sometimes, tragedy. This article focuses on the largely undocumented triumphs of those superb athletesc.

Whatever the case or sport may be, every town has had athletes who’ve wowed the populous, making a lasting impression.

So who’ll be the next crop of greats to etch their names in greatness?