Do you think you know who the best Freedom High School boys and girls basketball players of all time are?
One Facebook group page, called “Patriot Nation — Freedom Patriot faithful,” set out to answer that question via a recent social media poll.
Johnson
Gardin
And perhaps not surprisingly, the only two former Patriot hoops players who are members of the Burke County Sports Hall of Fame based on their accomplishments in the sport topped the list.
FHS 1994 alum Danny Johnson was the winner of the FHS boys “GOAT” poll, while 2002 grad Kerri Gardin was voted as the Lady Patriots’ top player of all time.
Both players lifted their storied Freedom programs to NCHSAA 4A state championships as seniors, being named to the all-state teams, and both went on to play at the NCAA Division I level collegiately and follow that up with professional playing careers.
The 2021 Burke Sports HOF inductee Gardin averaged 18.4 points, 13.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 3.9 steals, and 2.0 blocks at FHS, going for 25 points and 19 rebounds in the state title win over Lumberton.
She then played at Virginia Tech University, where she was later named an ACC legend, before embarking on a WNBA career with the Connecticut Sun, Washington Mystics, Seattle Storm, and Chicago Sky in addition to playing pro ball internationally in seven countries.
Johnson was a 2022 Burke Sports HOF inductee after he averaged 21 points per game on FHS’ first boys title squad, breaking the state championship game record with 37 points in his team’s victory over Cary.
He then played college basketball at Clemson University and the College of Charleston for two years apiece before playing professionally in the USBL, IBL, CBA, NBA Summer League, and overseas.
Those two beat out a who’s who of past Patriots stars in the voting. Also on the girls list of those receiving votes (in order) were Ali Ford, Ariyana Williams, Natasha Davis, Blaikley Crooks, Carla Kincaid, Kenda Walker, and Natalie Watts.
The boys list below Johnson was composed of (again, in order) Freddie Kincaid, Phillip Thomas, Chris Moore, Bradley Davis, Ethan Kincaid, Casey Rogers, Fletcher Abee, Neel Garrison, Brandon Hawkins, Leon Johnson, Corey Largent, and Dennis Mims.
Davis
Johnson
Greene
Burkeen
Cook
Five Burke Co. football players named All-828
HighSchoolOT.com (HSOT) recently released its 2025 all-area code football teams for the state, and five Burke County players made the All-828 list.
They included Freedom senior quarterback Kaden Davis, senior wide receiver/defensive back Kobe Johnson, and junior two-way lineman Isaiah Greene as well as East Burke senior running back/linebacker Ossie Burkeen and junior linebacker Daniel Cook.
Davis was the conference offensive player of the year and county co-player of the year, also earning all-state honors from HSOT. He was named to the first-team All-828 offense after passing for 2,440 yards and 30 touchdowns on 138 of 193 attempts with only three interceptions and adding 667 yards and 15 TDs on the ground.
Johnson, who was an 828 second-team selection on offense, shared county player of the year honors for a second straight season while also being named all-conference. He posted a county-record 18 TD catches this past fall, totaling 930 yards on 37 receptions while adding 71 rushing yards, 43 tackles (25 solo), two interceptions, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and two defensive TDs.
Greene and Cook were both third-team defense selections, and Burkeen was a special teams/honorable mention pick after all three were named all-conference and first-team all-county players.
Greene led all county players with 15 tackles for loss and also sported season totals of 53 tackles (35 solo) and five sacks. Burkeen rushed for a county-best 1,023 yards with 14 TDs, adding 28 tackles (25 solo) including three for loss. And Cook tallied 84 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, nine sacks, one fumble recovery, and one forced fumble.
Childers
Ex-EB athletic director Childers to S. Caldwell
South Caldwell High School is quickly becoming the hangout spot for former longtime Burke County athletic personnel.
Shortly after former Draughn and East Burke baseball/softball head coach Chris Cozort accepted a Spartans softball assistant coach position, former EBHS athletic director and assistant football coach Jim Childers was recently announced as South’s linebackers coach under new football head coach Chris Everhart.
A Caldwell County native, Childers spent 16 years as EBHS AD from 2008-24, when he left Icard to take an assistant principal spot at Millersville Christian Academy in Alexander County.
Childers has coached on the gridiron for over 30 years across the western part of the state.
“Known for his steady leadership, knowledge of the game, and commitment to developing young men, Coach Childers has impacted generations of athletes throughout the Catawba Valley,” reads the press release from South Caldwell, in part. “His experience and passion for football make him a tremendous addition to the Spartan family.”
The Spartans finished 2-9 overall, including an 0-5 mark in the Northwestern 6A/7A Conference, this past fall. The program’s most recent winning season came in 2021, when the team finished 8-2.
Silver Creek girls golf clinic, tourney schedule
Silver Creek Golf Club recently announced that it will hold girls golf clinics starting in April. The clinics will be for girls ages 13-18 with a focus on players competing in middle school, high school, or players heading off to play college golf.
Sessions will run each Wednesday from April 15 to May 13 from 4:30-6 p.m., and cost is $150 per player.
Every player will receive a written evaluation at the end of the series highlighting their list of personal “sustains” and “improves,” plus a “roadmap for success” for their upcoming season.
The course also recently announced the remainder of its spring tournament schedule. It includes, notably, the club spring match play tournament (March 27-29), the Masters par 3 tournament (April 8), the annual Bubba tournament (April 11-12), the Silver Creek Players Golf Association event (May 23), and the member-member tourney (June 13-14).
For more information on the clinics or upcoming tourneys, or to sign up for either, call 828-584-6911 or visit screekgolf.com.
