I enjoy writing the “13 things” athlete spotlight feature for each midweek edition. The question-and-answer format helps me get to know more about athletes I cover, and it’s fun to learn about their goals.
Over the years, a number of young athletes have said they dream of playing their sport professionally. (I can identify; as a kid, my dream was to play right field for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Realistically, I’d be willing to play right field for the Toronto Blue Jays, Cleveland Indians or any other Big League team.)
I hope they realize the odds of them playing professional ball.
In the 15-plus years I’ve covered Okaloosa County sports, I can think of three North Okaloosa baseball players — Laurel Hill School’s Nate Moore and Crestview High teammates Blake Dean and Anthony Brown — who have played professional baseball, and none of them advanced to the Major Leagues. Only Dean, who was a star at Louisiana State, played at what is considered a major Division I college program.
LHS’s Brad Reese is the only men’s basketball player to play at a high Division I level, having spent two years at Texas Tech University. Reese also is the only local basketball player I recall playing professionally, and he’s doing that in Europe.
LHS lacks a football team, and nobody from Baker or Crestview has made it to the National Football League, although former Bulldog Chris Pickett, who played football at Troy University, tried out for the NFL.
Former Crestview stars Matt Sanders, Clemson and Denzel Ware signed with Power Five conference teams. Sanders, a 2009 CHS grad, was a backup offensive lineman. Ware, who graduated in 2014, redshirted his first year at Kentucky and was a starting linebacker last season for the Wildcats.
Bulldog receiver Marquis McClain signed with Auburn last month, and it will be interesting to see how he fares playing in the Southeastern Conference.
Several other players have signed with smaller Division I programs, as well as Division I-AA, Division II and Division III programs.
I don’t want to discourage any young person who wants to be a ball player, but I urge all student athletes to develop interests outside sports.
Science-related careers are too numerous to count; some might find working with their hands as a carpenter or a welder more to their liking; and there’s nothing wrong with writing— I’m glad I had it as my backup plan.
Life is about continuing to grow long after we play our last game, so every young athlete should have a backup plan as they pursue dreams of sports glory.
It’s more likely that Plan B will become their adult reality.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: DICKSON: North Okaloosa high school trends show athletes need a backup plan