Famous High School Opponents
If you played HS football or basketball, who were some of the more famous athletes that lined up across the field or court from you? In my HS football career, the only person of substance I played against was Tyrone Wheatley. He was an absolute man among boys. The thing I remember most was that he kicked off for Robichaud also (boy, did he alot that day too), and one of our kick return team guys was to go and hit Wheatley after he kicked the ball...all day long our guy bounced off Wheatley like he was a rubber ball banging against a brick wall, hilarious.
November 16th, 2009 at 1:46 PM ^
Chad Henne. Dude beat us pretty badly. As a safety I was on the receiving end of his awesomeness. I remember seeing Michigan coaches at the game watching him.
November 16th, 2009 at 1:40 PM ^
Not sure if he meets the "famous" qualifier because his NFL career never really panned out, but he was one of the better ones for the Maize & Blue. In my senior year of high school football, I played against him. I recall that he played a lot better than his freshman status might otherwise have suggested.
November 16th, 2009 at 1:41 PM ^
While he was at Bay City Central. He averaged over 30 a game, but their game plan was really simple. Their coach would hold up 2 fingers if he wanted Devedorf to drive, and 3 if he wanted him to shoot a 3. The other guys were there for rebounds and assists. He was young but still pretty amazing.
November 16th, 2009 at 1:41 PM ^
Shonn Greene. Absolute stud. Phil Trautwein (Captain of 2008 Florida Gators/ Cleveland Brown backup) was big, but not incredibly dominant. Dwayne Hendricks (Miami Hurricane, US Army All American, now on the NYG practice squad) was big, strong and fast.
November 16th, 2009 at 2:14 PM ^
Football was a scrimmage and Basketball we played them twice when he was a sophomore...he was excellent. Very good Basketball player - hung 20+ on me (i had the misfortune to guard him both games) twice. Football scrimmage I remember him being good, but nothing special...but his coaches were probably just keeping him safe - again scrimmage.
Funny side note as a FRESHMAN - he hit (estimated by media) the longest home run in MHSAA history off my buddy in baseball...there were a few media members there since Henson was already a baseball prodigy at 15 years old.
November 16th, 2009 at 1:47 PM ^
One of my buddies played high school football in Northern Virginia. His junior year, one of their opponents was Westfield H.S. (Fairfax, VA) whose offense featured Sean Glennon, Evan Royster and Eddie Royal. Needless to say they got destroyed.
November 16th, 2009 at 3:18 PM ^
I go to Westfield right now (senior) and I remember those days. We were good, real good and it's amazing to see them turn out the way they did. We also had Brent Bowden on the team (punter for Virginia Tech).
November 16th, 2009 at 1:47 PM ^
Wheatly was the most famous opponent I played against. One man team, which made Robichaud easy to beat, but the guy was awesome. Also played with Ron Rice, former Lions safety. Awesome player, too bad his NFL career was cut short.
November 16th, 2009 at 1:51 PM ^
Ken Higgins/BC Lakeview. Future Michigan receiver. Who played with my quarterback (mine because he handed me the ball), Mike Gillette. Higgins and Yaw beat my St. Joe Bears two years in a row. I later worked with Ken at a large law firm; he's an investment banker in Minnesota today. Yaw went onto MSU but I don't recall anything noteworthy about him once he was there. I'm sure there were others if I had time to revisit memory lane.
November 16th, 2009 at 1:52 PM ^
but played against jerome dyson (UCONN) and Folorin Campbell (George Mason's Cinderella team)...dyson pretty much put his nuts in my face and dunked on me during summer ball, and campbell dropped like 40 on us when i was a freshman during the playoffs
November 16th, 2009 at 1:56 PM ^
I went to Lakeland HS out in White Lake and played against Drew in basketball and baseball. (i didn't play football) He threw me out while on his butt (he was playing 3rd) on a shot I hit down the line. I was thinking easy double when I hit it, never saw him field it, but remember very clearly our first base coach yelling "get here get here get here" while pointing to first base. I didn't make it.
November 16th, 2009 at 2:12 PM ^
I wasn't on this team, but played with a lot of kids that were. My HS played Jake Longs team when he was a SR. They were actually winning until the lapeer coaches started running Long out of the backfield, and everyone we had just bounced off of him. Oddly enough, he wasn't a great d-lineman, he played end and our tackle routinely crushed him. Almost got to play Graham my Jr year, his sr. He was a MLB back then, and as the guard who would have been responsible for blocking him, I'm not all that sad I missed out on that experience, as I may not be here today.
Saw a TON of good talent in wrestling though, although I never wrestled them. Jon Reader, Anthony Biondo, Eddie Phillips, All of the Zeerips, and Rendinas. Even Mike Martin, who wrestled for 2 years and was a state champ both years. He was technically rough, but such a physical specimen he just crushed everyone.
November 16th, 2009 at 2:02 PM ^
basketball against oshiomogho atogwe, who is the starting safety for the st. louis rams. he was a sophmore when we played against each other and i was a senior. the school he played for was loaded so he didn't play much. he might be the most famous person that has ever come out of windsor right now, pushing aside bob probert and tie domi.
November 16th, 2009 at 2:04 PM ^
Beat him both times we played him.
November 16th, 2009 at 2:24 PM ^
An absolute metric fuckton of bullshit to come out of this thread.
November 16th, 2009 at 2:33 PM ^
We got crushed by Desmond and Elvis my Jr. year.
Coached against Roethlisberger. I still remember watching him warm-up. Hitting 50 yard passes like they were 10. Little to no effort at all. We contained him for a half and then he woke up and went to work.
November 16th, 2009 at 2:39 PM ^
Drew Henson
Lorenzo Guess (MSU)
Fred Russell (Iowa, Miami Dolphins)
Ian Gold
That's all I can think of off the top of my head.
November 16th, 2009 at 3:09 PM ^
Not really famous but I played against Chris Kramer from Purdue in a summer camp.
November 16th, 2009 at 3:32 PM ^
But I played baseball against Dan Fields, who was committed to Michigan this year but signed with the Tigers. Guy has the prettiest swing I've ever seen in person. He's going to be a very solid player one day.
November 16th, 2009 at 3:39 PM ^
When I was in high school I played against Charles Rogers. He was the man back then. He was about twice as fast as anyone on my team.
November 16th, 2009 at 5:38 PM ^
Played High School Football with Jairus Byrd (Buffalo Bills). Other than Charles Woodson, I have never seen a DB with better ball skills than him!
November 16th, 2009 at 6:24 PM ^
We must all be around the same age, because it's Tyrone Wheatly for me, too. Besides being their kickoff guy, he was their FG/XP kicker, and their punter, if I remember correctly.
He was also a monster on the track. I think it was his junior year - he pulled a hammy half way through the 110m hurdles and still won.
JeffB
November 16th, 2009 at 10:13 PM ^
JIm Abbott, Flint Central Baseball/Football
Demetrius Calip, Flint Northern Hoops
Andre Rison, Flint Northwester Baseball, Hoops, Football
among other Flint Stones
November 16th, 2009 at 10:14 PM ^
Maurice Clarrett, High School Quiz Bowl
November 16th, 2009 at 10:31 PM ^
The fact that you can write in coherent sentences means you won right? If not, you are a sad, sad man.
November 16th, 2009 at 10:33 PM ^
He played for Saline / MSU / Patriots. I don't remember him being that noteworthy in high school, but maybe that's because tight end isn't an exciting position.