RAEFORD—Hoke High School will induct the newest members of the Hoke High School Hall of Fame on Friday.
The banquet starts at 6 pm in the Gibson Cafeteria on campus and then after the banquet the inductees will head to the McDonald Gym for the Hoke basketball game, where they will be recognized.
The inductees include:
Sally Austin is a 1973 graduate of Hoke and member of the first ever women’s golf team at the school. Sally went on to compete in the 1972 NCHSAA State Championship at Finley Golf Course in Chapel Hill. Shortly after arriving as a freshman at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and with the help and encouragement of her dad, Jake Austin, Sally lobbied athletics director Homer Rice to start a women’s golf team there. Following graduation from UNC and several years of amateur competition, Sally competed on the LPGA, the Asian Tour, the European Tour and the Women’s Professional Golf Tour. Following Tour competition, she successfully coached the women’s golf team at UNC for nearly two decades. Sally is a leading golf instructor and a longtime LPGA Teaching and Club Professional member. Among her many accomplishments, Sally recently received the prestigious Gladys Palmer Meritorious Service Award from the National Golf Coaches Association.
Darryl Barnett is a 2004 graduate of Hoke who was a three-sport Antler Award winner, in football, basketball, and track. He was All Conference in basketball, football, and track in the Mid Southeastern Conference. In 2003, Darryl was the NCHSAA State Champion in the Long Jump. In 2003 he was also the runner-up in the NCHSAA State Championship in the 4×100 relay. Darryl received the Best Receiver Award for football as well as Best Defensive Player in basketball and was the track team’s MVP. In 2004 he was awarded the Hoke County High School Player of the Year. He went on to play college athletics in football and basketball at Fayetteville State University and currently a Captain in the US Army.
Carroll “CJ” Gaddis is a 2003 graduate of the school, a two-sport athlete who excelled in football and baseball. CJ was the starting quarterback for the football team for two years and helped guide them to the state playoffs in 2002 and 2003. He was named All Conference in the Mid Southeastern Conference in football and baseball. He was Offensive Player of the Year in the Mid Southeastern Conference in 2002 and was Hoke High Male Athlete of the Year in 2003. He played center field on the baseball team and was drafted to play baseball in the Seattle Mariners organization but chose to attend Clemson University to play baseball and football. After college, he was drafted in the fifth round by the Philadelphia Eagles. CJ is currently a professional trainer in Chicago.
Derick “Moochie” Graham is a 1990 graduate of Hoke County High School. He was a three sport Antler Award winner two years in a row for football, basketball, and baseball. He was named All Conference in football in 1989 and All Conference in basketball and baseball in 1989 and 1990. Derek was one of few who made all SEC in three sports in the same school year. Derick was named Hoke High Athlete of the year.
He was a member of the baseball team who helped lead the Bucks to their only NCHSAA state baseball championship in school history. He was drafted out of high school in the 13th round to play baseball by the Cincinnati Reds organization. Derick played all the way up to AA level in the minor leagues. He is currently owner of Athletes Choice Batting Center in Fayetteville and teaches and coaches youth in travel baseball around the country.
Audrey Long was a teacher and coach at Hoke County High School. She taught health, physical education, and dance as well as coaching volleyball, track, softball, tennis, golf, and basketball. Audrey was the first basketball coach at the school, coaching there from 1975 until 1987. Her 1984 and ‘85 teams went to the Regionals where they both lost in the 2nd round. The ‘86 and ‘87 teams went to the regional finals. In 1986 and 1987, she was named NCHSAA Region 4 Female Coach of the Year. She was selected to coach in the NCCA East/West All Star game in 1988. She is now a guidance counselor at Greensboro Page.
Dan McGougan is a 1971 graduate of Hoke County High School. He was a four-sport athlete in football, basketball, golf, and track. He was Co-Captain of the 1970 Southeastern Conference football championship team and wasalso named Honorable Mention All Conference in football. He went on to play basketball at NC State University on the freshman basketball team.
After college, he came back to coach at Hoke County for 19 years from 1976-1995, coaching basketball, football, and golf. He was named Coach of the Year three times, 1990-91, 1993-94, and 1994-95, winning conference championships in 1993 and 1994. Many of his players went on to play college basketball and he touched many lives as a coach at Hoke County. Dan is currently retired.
Mike Ray is currently a teacher and coach at the school He served 21 years in the US Army as a combat veteran in Panama and Desert Storm. He retired as a Sergeant Major in 2001. Mike came to Hoke in 2002. He has mentored and coached players of all skill levels and truly demonstrates grit and determination in all that he does.
He started coaching football in 2003 and was an assistant baseball coach in 2003 under head coach Gary Brigman. In 2009 he was named head baseball and helped lead the Bucks to the state playoffs in 2009 and 2010. Mike continuously demonstrates his support and concern for student athletes. There were many times you would find him traveling great distances to watch a former athlete play college or professional sports. His “never quit” attitude has rubbed off on every student-athlete he has coached or mentored.
