HISTORY WITH HAYES: Football wasn't Bradshaw's only game

  Ahmad Bradshaw amassed 5,665 career rushing yards, was twice named the Bristol Herald Courier’s Southwest Virginia Offensive Player of the Year and is one of the best prep football players the area has ever seen.

But he did more than just score touchdowns and achieve gridiron greatness during his four years at Graham High School.

“He was a very good basketball player,” said Ryan French, Bradshaw’s close friend and a former Graham teammate. “He was pretty much an all-around athlete. From football to basketball to track, it was just always his name you’d hear. We had other players too that were great, but he was always on that next level.

“He just never backed down and gave everything he had.”

Everybody knows by now that Bradshaw will be starting for the New York Giants on Sunday in Super Bowl XLVI. You might not know that at one time Bradshaw was simply a beast on the basketball court.

During his junior season at Graham – 2002-03 – he averaged 21 points per game and starred on a team that advanced to the state semifinals. The G-Men’s season ended with a 55-48 setback to Cave Spring at Liberty University’s Vines Center.

He was even better as a senior, averaging 30.4 points per game and selected the BHC’s Southwest Virginia Basketball Player of the Year.

The G-Men won the Southwest District regular-season and tournament titles, but were unable to return to the state tourney. A 76-74 upset loss at the hands of Tunstall in the semifinals of the Region IV tourney dashed Bradshaw’s hoop dreams.

But even in defeat, Bradshaw was spectacular.

In that loss to Tunstall, Bradshaw pumped in 31 points, including 11 straight at one point in the second half.

Another memorable moment for a memorable athlete.

Now, for a look at historical high school basketball moments that occurred this week in history:

February 3, 1967

Jimmy Turley tallied 19 points to help Rich Valley earn a 67-66 upset win over Saltville in overtime. … Behind 22 points from Mike Stinson, Wise earned a 91-57 win over Pennington. … Cleveland cruised past Council, 91-57, thanks to 37 points from Jeff Owen.

February 2, 1973

A last-second shot by Kenny Washington gave Virginia High a 57-55 victory over Abingdon. … John Barnes scored 21 points to help Tazewell top John Battle, 50-45. … Mike Nidiffer scored 14 points and converted a tip-in with four seconds remaining to help Tennessee High survive for a 56-55 overtime win over Elizabethton.

February 3, 1987

Chilhowie’s Joe Sexton and Howard Thomas scored 16 points apiece as the Warriors powered past Rich Valley, 78-65. … The trio of Cary Perkins (19 points), Bart Chambers (17 points) and Russell Kelly (16 points) carried Grundy to a 69-66 overtime triumph over Tazewell. … Despite 23 points from Eric Madison, Sullivan East suffered a 74-67 overtime loss to Volunteer.

February 4, 1997

Twin Springs topped St. Paul, 84-46, as Stacy Ervin’s 39-point outburst led the way. … Josh Miotke and Tyson Huff scored 27 points apiece to help Castlewood cruise past Rye Cove, 102-72. … In a girls game, Tennessee High trounced Sullivan East by a 50-28 margin. Freshman Courtney McDaniel led THS with 14 points and nine rebounds, while Samantha Hakes (11 points, eight rebounds) and Amanda Tiller (eight points, six assists) also played well for the Vikings.

thayes@bristolnews.com | Twitter:@Hayes_BHCSports | (276) 645-2570