Latest news with #GraysonHighSchool
USA Today
03-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ian Schieffelin talks to ESPN about the call he got from Dabo Swinney to play football
Ian Schieffelin talks to ESPN about the call he got from Dabo Swinney to play football Ian Schieffelin made it official on Friday — he's trading in his basketball sneakers for football cleats, joining Clemson's football program as a tight end for the 2025 season. The All-ACC forward, fresh off a standout senior year with Clemson basketball, confirmed what had been rumored all week. He's stepping into a new challenge — one sparked by a phone call from Dabo Swinney just two weeks ago. 'I was training for the next level in basketball,' Schieffelin told ESPN. 'Then Coach Swinney laid out this opportunity, and it really got my attention. The idea of putting on a Clemson jersey again — in Death Valley this time — was just too good to pass up.' Schieffelin had long been admired by Swinney as a potential football talent, but he wasn't sure the coach was serious until the recent call. 'That conversation changed everything,' he said. 'It felt like a real shot to stick around, contribute to a championship-caliber team, and try something that's always been in the back of my mind.' Schieffelin played football growing up in Georgia at Grayson High School — the same powerhouse program that produced several Clemson players, including former teammate Phil Mafah. Now, he's hoping to join the small group of college athletes who've made the jump from basketball to football with success. 'I don't know how it'll go,' he admitted. 'Maybe I'll be great, maybe not — but it's worth finding out. Getting to represent Clemson again, especially on the football field, is something I'm really looking forward to.' While Schieffelin hasn't ruled out a future in basketball, his focus for now is on this next chapter — one that begins under the lights of Death Valley. Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Gwinnett teen isn't letting being bound to a wheelchair stop him from being an elite athlete
Gwinnett teen isn't letting being bound to a wheelchair stop him from being an elite athlete Gwinnett teen isn't letting being bound to a wheelchair stop him from being an elite athlete For his entire life, Grayson High School junior Najee Smothers has been fighting the odds. But it's a fight that, by many accounts, he's winning. The Gwinnett County 17-year-old is one of the world's elite adaptive athletes with countless awards and recognitions, including a silver medal in Egypt for the U.S. National Wheelchair Handball Team. Channel 2′s Luke Hetrick sat down with Najee Smothers and his mom who say there's no stopping him. Advertisement 'It's been a challenge for sure getting to where I am now. From when I was little to now, it's been a big leap,' Najee Smothers said. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Noraa Smothers said that she knew her son was different before he was even born. 'I was pregnant with him. Five months in, they told me, 'Your baby has spina bifida. He won't be able to walk. He won't live a viable life.' Najee was kicking at hours old. I was like, 'This dude is going to be different,'' she said. As a kid, Najee Smothers could walk, but would sometimes use a wheelchair. When he was 9, a burn on his leg caused a severe infection. Advertisement 'For me, I wanted to live my life out to its fullest, so I made the decision to have it amputated,' he said. MORE COMMUNITY STORIES: But he hasn't let that stop him from being an athlete or a role model. Christy Jones says Najee Smothers is an example of the success of the American Association of Adaptive Sports Program, who works alongside the Georgia High School Sports Association to provide opportunities for physically disabled children through adapted athletics. 'This gives them that community and that support. You talk about Najee up here, they know, 'Hey, he played handball in Egypt,' so it builds community and builds resources,' Jones said. Advertisement His mom says it's created an unbreakable bond between them. 'He has taught me patience. He has taught me unconditional love. He has taught me compassion,' Noraa Smothers said. 'I just thank God for choosing me to be his mom.' 'No matter the limit, no matter where I'm at just keep going, continue to push and don't ever give up,' Najee Smothers said. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
