Derrick WITHERSPOON^[1]

• Name	Derrick WITHERSPOON  [2, 3, 4]
  Gender	Male
  HIST	Sumter Item to reveal Top 125 Sports Figures with anniversary celebration Posted Saturday, October 12, 2019 6:00 am BY DENNIS BRUNSON In celebration of its 125th anniversary, The Sumter Item is going to select the Top 125 Sports Figures during that period in Sumter, Clarendon and Lee counties. The list will be revealed in reverse order starting on Wednesday with Nos. 125-111. The remaining lists will be contain 10 figures beginning on Friday. Those lists will appear every Wednesday and Friday until it reaches the top 10 in December. At that point, one story will be released in each edition until the top figure is revealed. The list will include people who affected sports in our area both in competition and in other ways as well. Coinciding with the list reveal, we'll be asking readers to reveal their Top 10 sports figures in Item history, and we'll be hosing Autograph Giveaway contests featuring our famous local sports figures. The Sumter Item's Top 125 Sports Figures 111-125 Posted Friday, October 18, 2019 11:01 am In celebration of its 125th anniversary, The Sumter Item has selected the Top 125 Sports Figures during that period in Sumter, Clarendon and Lee counties. The list will be revealed in reverse order, appearing every Wednesday and Friday until it reaches the top 10 in December. At that point, one story will be released in each edition until the top figure is revealed. The list will include people who affected sports in our area both in competition and in other ways as well. 125) Doll Eadon - Doll Eadon was a standout basketball player at Christian Academy in Manning and went on to start on two junior college championship teams at Anderson Junior College. She became the first woman ever to receive an athletic scholarship at Clemson University, playing her final two years there. She won a state title as the girls head coach at Laurence Manning Academy. 124) Greg Walker - Greg Walker was a standout offensive lineman for Sumter High School. Walker was a second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference performer at offensive tackle during his senior season at Clemson in 2003. He went on to play on season with the New York Giants in the NFL. 123) Anthony Rose - Anthony Rose was a standout football player at Mayewood High School, but his claim to fame came at Clemson. Rose was a starting cornerback for the Tigers during their 1981 national championship season. He had four interceptions during his Clemson career. 122) Brent Elmore - Brent Elmore won consecutive S.C. Golden Gloves Championships in 1978 and 1979 as a member of the Sumter Optimist Club boxing team. He fought in three national tournaments and was the first Sumterite to win a bout in an international competition as well. 121) Robert Rohner - Robert Rohner was a standout athlete in several sports at Wilson Hall, but he took it to a different level in college. During his sophomore season at Duke University in 2014, Rohner won the decathlon title in the Atlantic Coast Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships. 120) Austin Francis - Austin Francis was one of the first promoters of both the swimming and the basketball programs with the Sumter Family YMCA, serving from 1930 to 1943. The YMCA's swimming facility is named the Austin Francis Aquatics Center. 119) Jerell Adams - Jerell Adams played tight end for the University of South Carolina from 2012-2015. He had 47 catches in his career for 977 yards and seven touchdowns. He was a sixth-round pick of the New York Giants in 2016 and is currentlly playing with the Houston Texans. He led Scott's Branch High School to a pair of 1A Division II state titles as well at quarterback. 118) Lee Glaze - Lee Glaze has been a part of the radio broadcasting crew for both Sumter High School football and Sumter P-15's baseball for the past several years. Also, he has helped the Sumter Touchdown Club develop into an organization that provides several scholarships each year. 117) Derrick Witherspoon - Derrick Witherspoon was a star running back at Sumter High School and went on to become a starter at Clemson as well, rushing for 971 yards in his career. He played three years in the National Football League with Philadelphia, returning 80 kickoffs for 1,901 yards and three touchdowns. 116) Connie Ballard - Connie Ballard was one of the top women golfers in the state of South Carolina in the 1980s. She won consectuive South Carolina Women's Open Golf Championships in 1986 and 1987. She also won several titles as a senior golfer. 115) Skeet James - W.B. "Skeet" James was a member of the first Sumter American Legion Post 15 baseball team formed in 1929. He was captain of both the baseball and basketball teams at USC, was the chairman of the Sumter Kids in Baseball program and the P-15's program. 114) Kevin Lingefelt - Kevin Lingefelt was a prolific scorer for the Sumter High School boys soccer team in helping lead it to state titles in both 1976 and 1977. Lingefelt scored 87 goals in his three season on the varsity. 113) David McInnis - David McInnis attended the University of North Carolina and was a member of its swimming and diving team. McInnis was good enough to be named the Most Valuable Diver in the Atlantic Coast Conference during the 1956-57 season and has an annual award at the school named after him. 112) Gary Nelson - Gary Nelson came to Sumter High School in 1984 as its first athletic trainer. Thirty-five years later, he's still the school's first athletic trainer. Because of his service, Nelson was recently inducted in the South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association and is a member of the Sumter Sports Hall of Fame. 111) Helen Carroll - Though she spent the final 57 years of her 99-year life in the Gamecock City, Helen Carroll's athletic claim to fame happened when she was 17 years and old and had probably never heard of Sumter, South Carolina. However, when it involves winning a gold medal in the Olympics, it makes her more than worthy to be on the list. Carroll traveled from her home in Massachusetts to Los Angeles for the 1982 Summer Olympics. She swam a leg on the gold-medal winning 400-meter freestyle relay team. The team won in what was then a world record time of 4 minutes, 38 seconds, breakingthe record set in 1928 by 9.6 seconds. The team did not practice together one time. Carroll said she was recruited because she was one of the best swimmers and felt the team consisted of the four fastest individuals in the United States. "I thought we were the best," Caroll said in a 2012 interview with The Sumter Item. "We never practiced as a team, but as individuals, and when it was time to compete we just all did our best." Sumter High to induct five to athletic hall of fame next Saturday Former Sumter High, Clemson and Philadelphia Eagles standout Derrick Witherspoon, left, will be inducted into the Sumter High Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, Dec. 13. NICH PITTS / SUMTER ITEM FILE PHOTO Posted Saturday, December 6, 2025 6:00 am By TIM LEIBLE tim@theitem.com The Sumter High Athletic Hall of Fame is about to get a little bit bigger. The Gamecocks will induct five new members to their athletic hall on Saturday, Dec. 13, in a ceremony that begins at 6 p.m. in the cafeteria. Keith West, who serves on the hall of fame committee, is thrilled to welcome in another class. "We voted on this back in the summertime, and we feel very good about this class, so we're very excited," West said. "All five are very, very deserving of this award." The Sumter High Athletic Hall of Fame was stagnant for more than a decade before a new class was enshrined in 2023. That first group back included eight members before five more athletes and coaches joined the hall last December. This year brings another incredible group of both athletes and coaches into the fold. The lone coach in this year's class is Byron Kinney, who led the Gamecock boys basketball team to the 1985 state championship with an undefeated record of 29-0. The athletes include Stephon Blanding, who played for Kinney on that championship squad before a stellar career at Wofford; former St. Louis Cardinals infielder Timmy Jones; Derrick Witherspoon, who followed up a spectacular high school career with a strong run at Clemson before playing for the Philadelphia Eagles; and Danielle McFadden, who was a state champion in track before playing college basketball at both the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith and Vorhees. Kinney coached for 13 seasons at Sumter High and started on a perfect note. The perfect run to the '85 state title kicked off a coaching career that finished with a record of 274-92 and three region titles before stepping down in 1997. Blanding was along for the ride on that championship run, as the team's center as a junior. In his final two seasons at Sumter High, Blanding averaged 10.1 points and 8.2 rebounds, which earned him a scholarship at Wofford. He took his game to another level with the Terriers. He ended his career as the school's 10th all-time leading scorer with 1,454 points and fifth-leading rebounder with 1,149. He was the fifth player to finish his Wofford career with 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. Jones played for Sumter High and the P-15's in high school but saw his career skyrocket at The Citadel. He finished his career with the Bulldogs with a .351 batting average while setting or tying four program records. He left as the program leader for at bats (526), hits (185) and total bases (253). He was tied for the career stolen-bases record with 86. Those numbers and a slick glove helped Jones be selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the second round of the 1985 draft. He served as a backup to Cooperstown inductee Ozzie Smith while spending parts of six seasons with the Birds on the Bat. He finished his MLB career with 113 hits, 28 RBIs, 45 walks and 15 steals. He was a super utility player, taking the field at every position but first base and right field during his professional career. Witherspoon started his Sumter High career with a bang, scoring the game-winning touchdown of the 1987 state championship victory over Spartanburg, clinching a 24-21 win in the final seconds. He continued an illustrious career at SHS. He was The Item's Area Player of the Year as a senior in 1989 after accumulating 2,063 all-purpose yards and 13 total touchdowns. He was the career leader in rushing when he graduated, finishing with 3,167 yards and 33 touchdowns. Witherspoon played in the North-South All-Star Game before beginning a career at Clemson where he rushed for 939 yards and had seven total touchdowns. After going undrafted, he made a name for himself as a returner for the Philadelphia Eagles for three seasons. He finished his career with 1,901 return yards and three return touchdowns, two of which came in 1996 when he led the league. He was also third in the league in return yards that season. Witherspoon now serves as the co-founder and vice president of the South Carolina Chapter of NFL Alumni alongside fellow Sumter High Athletic Hall of Famer Dexter Davis, the chapter president. Danielle McFadden rounds out the incredible group of inductees. She won the 2010 state title in the long jump by clearing 19'4" as a sophomore. She also had an excellent basketball career, averaging 20.5 points, three rebounds, four assists and four steals per game as a senior, earning All-State honors. She then played two seasons at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, averaging 7.3 points per game before completing her career at Vorhees. She is the daughter of Sumter High Athletic Hall of Famer Karen McFadden. Sumter High welcomes 5 into athletic hall of fame The newest class of the Sumter High Athletic Hall of Fame stands with administrators next to their plaque. From left is Sumter High Athletic Director Crasten Davis, Stephon Blanding, Principal Anamaria Sandor, Derrick Witherspoon, Danielle McFadden and Byron Kinney. TIM LEIBLE / THE SUMTER ITEM Posted Wednesday, December 17, 2025 6:00 am By TIM LEIBLE tim@theitem.com Five new members were inducted into the Sumter High Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday. The special night was packed with nostalgia and a lot of laughter as Stephon Blanding, Byron Kinney, Timmy Jones, Danielle McFadden and Derrick Witherspoon joined the hallowed group. The night started with two key parts of Sumter High's 1985 basketball state championship. The first was Blanding, who was introduced by his brother, Bernard. The elder Blanding shared fond memories from their time growing up, joking that Stephon's height was the result of nearly falling out of a tree in their backyard. "Momma said, 'Don't climb that tree today, nobody climb that tree today.' We all listened except Stephon," Bernard Blanding said. "On the way back down, his feet got stuck in that little V. He's hanging upside down, stretched out. That's how his legs started to grow." The career that followed was spectacular for Blanding. He helped lead Sumter High to that state title in '85, averaging 10.1 points and 8.2 rebounds across his final two seasons with the Gamecocks. He then went to Wofford and ended his career as the school's 10th-leading scorer. He was the fifth player in program history to have more than 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds, filling up the scoreboard with 1,454 points to go along with 1,149 rebounds. After a booming introduction from his brother, Blanding took the mic to express his gratitude for the moment. "It's a humbling experience to be up here today. Emotion with tears in our eyes, yes, but to come back here 40-plus years later, standing here, it's a blessing," Blanding said. "Walking through the halls of Sumter High feels a little surreal. I was just a kid with a dream and an even bigger love for basketball and a jump shot that sometimes cooperated. I get to stand on the stage as a hall of fame inductee. I want to say thank you to the staff and those who are part of the committee that chose me to be a part of this; I say thank you. "The journey along the way and the people that carried me to get to this point; this honor may have my name on it, but trust me, it took a whole village to get me here." As Blanding recounted some of his favorite moments at Sumter High, his coach was sitting in the front of the room remembering each anecdote. Kinney coached Blanding to the '85 state championship at the end of an undefeated 29-0 season, his first season at the helm. Kinney would lead the Gamecocks for 13 seasons, ending his coaching career with a 274-92 record. He was introduced by Keith West, who helped oversee the hall of fame process. West was known for his exploits on the football field but also suited up for Kinney in basketball and spoke on the intensity the former coach put into every practice and game. "Everybody thinks Coach Kinney is Mr. Nice Guy. And he is, off the court. On the court, Coach Kinney was tough as nails. He was serious business," West said. "Coach Kinney is a total class act in everything he does. Whether he's teaching, coaching, his professional life, his home life - there's no doubt he's a class act father, husband, you name it. I'm sure his boys, they all played sports, I'm sure they all know that side of Coach Kinney where he's serious business when you get on that court and on that field." Kinney reflected on the path he took to becoming the head coach at Sumter High. His early days in coaching were spent at Bates Middle School, where he had the chance to work with another Sumter High Athletic Hall of Famer, Coley White. When he moved to Sumter High, he was the JV basketball coach and assisted the football team, where he was able to work with more legendary coaches and players. At the end of his coaching career, family came first. He stepped away from the profession to watch his family grow and was brought to tears as he mentioned his first grandchild in attendance. "I'm humbled to be here and have my name placed on that wall with so many outstanding athletes and coaches," he said. "Fortunately for me, the good Lord looked after me, and my real education got going when I met and shared an office with Coley White. Coley was a great leader, he was tough, he was a disciplinarian, he had the respect of every teacher, every student, every parent. He taught me how to communicate with players, how to build trust with them. Everything he did was the right way I totally thank you very much for the patience you had with me in my early years as a coach." Kinney also said what many people in the room were thinking. His tenure at Sumter High was a part of, arguably, the best athletic success in school history. The football team piled up a pair of state championships in '87 and '90 right after the basketball team took home the top finish. All but one member of the new hall of fame class helped play a part in Sumter High's success in the '80s. "During that period in the '80s, I would venture to say that was the best 10 years of athletics in Sumter High history," Kinney said. "I'm not saying that because I was a part of it. It's because every sport was solid at the time. Sumter High was in the 4A championship in a lot of different sports, and the reason was there were so many coaches in that period, we had the support of the administration, we cared about each other, we worked together regardless of what sport it was, and we won state titles in football, we won three state titles in basketball in the '80s, our girls basketball team under Donna Bisom's leadership won a state championship, our track teams were great with Sammy Way, Rut Dingle, Steve Robinson, we won multiple region titles. It was a great time to be a coach at Sumter High, and I learned so much from all of those coaches during that period." Between the two titans of Sumter High basketball was the lone inductee who was not able to attend the ceremony. Jones was back home in Montana after his wife needed surgery but sent a message that was read by Brooks Shumake, who was a part of last year's hall of fame class. Shumake grew up in Hartsville and competed with Jones throughout their time growing up. Jones had a strong career at Sumter High and with the P-15's as a slick fielding shortstop, but his career blossomed at The Citadel, where he hit .351 and still has his name etched in the school's record books. He left as the program leader for at bats (526), hits (185) and total bases (253). He was tied for the career stolen-bases record with 86. His stellar collegiate career led the St. Louis Cardinals to draft Jones in the second round of the 1985 draft. He went on to become the backup to Baseball Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith. Jones finished his MLB career with 113 hits, 28 RBIs, 45 walks and 15 steals. He was a super utility player, taking the field at every position but first base and right field during his professional career. "You could tell he paid a lot of attention to the finer details of the game, and it showed on the field," Shumake said. "We were talking about that today. He was like, 'I was a confident kid. I wasn't a big kid, but I was a confident kid, and I just went for what I needed and wanted, and that was to be a baseball player.' And he got pretty good at it." While Jones wasn't able to attend, he sent his thanks through Shumake. "To the Sumter High School Hall of Fame committee, thank you for voting me in and selecting me for this honor. I'd also like to thank Keith West for the nomination. Without him, this recognition simply would not have happened, and I am sincerely grateful," Jones said through Shumake. "This truly means a great deal to me." McFadden became part of the first mother-daughter combination to be enshrined in the Sumter High Athletic Hall of Fame. She was beyond thrilled to join her mother, Karen Grant-McFadden, in the hall. "It truly means a lot to stand here tonight and receive this honor. When I first walked the halls of this school, I never imagined a moment like this. Back then, I was just a kid trying to find my place, my confidence and some direction," McFadden said. "I stand here tonight knowing that this moment is so much bigger than me. My mom, the Karen Grant-McFadden, was inducted into this same hall of fame for her accomplishments in track and field in 2011. As a sophomore watching her receive that honor, I thought she was the coolest person in the world, a walking legend. My mom was fast. That's all I heard people talking about growing up. All I ever wanted was to be faster than her, but to let her tell it, I never beat her. I respectfully disagree, but I also learned to choose my battles wisely. "Mom, you set the standard, and now for us to become the first mother-daughter duo in school history to receive this honor, it means everything. Thank you for showing me what greatness looks like, not just in sports, but in life. Dad, you worked so hard so that I could travel and compete and chase the game that I loved. I grew up watching two people who embodied hard work, faith and dedication, and I carry that with me every single day." The younger McFadden had a sensational career at Sumter High. She was a state champion in the long jump as a sophomore and earned all-state honors there. She was also named to the National Elite track and field championship team alongside scoring 1,000 career points in high school before a collegiate career at both University of Arkansas-Fort Smith and Vorhees. She was introduced by Lisa Shumake, who coached McFadden in basketball. "When you think of this inductee, you should immediately think, 'Champion,'" Lisa Shumake said. "All Danielle McFadden did at Sumter High School was win. A career in track and field that featured 20-plus individual championships, Danielle has been raising eyebrows and turning heads at every invitational the Gamecocks attended. As her teammates used to say, Danielle was going to show up and show out." The final inductee was Witherspoon, who made history when he jumped over the pile as a sophomore to score the game-winning touchdown of the 1987 state championship against Spartanburg. He was introduced by Dexter Davis, who shared stories of recruiting him to Clemson, where Witherspoon rushed 939 yards and had seven total touchdowns after an illustrious high school career. Witherspoon then followed Davis to the NFL, returning kicks for the Philadelphia Eagles. The two Gamecocks went on to found the South Carolina Chapter of NFL Alumni, with Davis serving as president and Witherspoon as VP. Throughout both of their speeches, there was one repeated message: conquering adversity through faith. "He never gave up," Davis said. "His first year coming out of Clemson, he didn't get into the league. His second year, he didn't get into the league. But that third year, (he made it) because he was persevering and he worked hard," Davis said. "Most folks would've stopped, they would've given up their dreams and aspirations, but he led by example. Still to this day, I share with him that you need to tell that story because he's an example of not giving up and letting God max you out in his time." Witherspoon echoed that message of perseverance. "I thank God first and foremost. Without Him, none of this would've been possible," Witherspoon said. "The game of football taught me great skills, skills that helped me overcome adversity. But I'm not the only one that went through adversity. I know a lot of players who went through adversity who can't handle it. To me, adversity was a learning tool. I learned from every mistake that others made, plus the mistakes I made. That's what helped me keep going, adversity. While going through adversity, I developed a personal relationship with God."  [1, 2, 3, 4]
  HIST	Sumter Item to reveal Top 125 Sports Figures with anniversary celebration Posted Saturday, October 12, 2019 6:00 am BY DENNIS BRUNSON In celebration of its 125th anniversary, The Sumter Item is going to select the Top 125 Sports Figures during that period in Sumter, Clarendon and Lee counties. The list will be revealed in reverse order starting on Wednesday with Nos. 125-111. The remaining lists will be contain 10 figures beginning on Friday. Those lists will appear every Wednesday and Friday until it reaches the top 10 in December. At that point, one story will be released in each edition until the top figure is revealed. The list will include people who affected sports in our area both in competition and in other ways as well. Coinciding with the list reveal, we'll be asking readers to reveal their Top 10 sports figures in Item history, and we'll be hosing Autograph Giveaway contests featuring our famous local sports figures. The Sumter Item's Top 125 Sports Figures 111-125 Posted Friday, October 18, 2019 11:01 am In celebration of its 125th anniversary, The Sumter Item has selected the Top 125 Sports Figures during that period in Sumter, Clarendon and Lee counties. The list will be revealed in reverse order, appearing every Wednesday and Friday until it reaches the top 10 in December. At that point, one story will be released in each edition until the top figure is revealed. The list will include people who affected sports in our area both in competition and in other ways as well. 125) Doll Eadon - Doll Eadon was a standout basketball player at Christian Academy in Manning and went on to start on two junior college championship teams at Anderson Junior College. She became the first woman ever to receive an athletic scholarship at Clemson University, playing her final two years there. She won a state title as the girls head coach at Laurence Manning Academy. 124) Greg Walker - Greg Walker was a standout offensive lineman for Sumter High School. Walker was a second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference performer at offensive tackle during his senior season at Clemson in 2003. He went on to play on season with the New York Giants in the NFL. 123) Anthony Rose - Anthony Rose was a standout football player at Mayewood High School, but his claim to fame came at Clemson. Rose was a starting cornerback for the Tigers during their 1981 national championship season. He had four interceptions during his Clemson career. 122) Brent Elmore - Brent Elmore won consecutive S.C. Golden Gloves Championships in 1978 and 1979 as a member of the Sumter Optimist Club boxing team. He fought in three national tournaments and was the first Sumterite to win a bout in an international competition as well. 121) Robert Rohner - Robert Rohner was a standout athlete in several sports at Wilson Hall, but he took it to a different level in college. During his sophomore season at Duke University in 2014, Rohner won the decathlon title in the Atlantic Coast Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships. 120) Austin Francis - Austin Francis was one of the first promoters of both the swimming and the basketball programs with the Sumter Family YMCA, serving from 1930 to 1943. The YMCA's swimming facility is named the Austin Francis Aquatics Center. 119) Jerell Adams - Jerell Adams played tight end for the University of South Carolina from 2012-2015. He had 47 catches in his career for 977 yards and seven touchdowns. He was a sixth-round pick of the New York Giants in 2016 and is currentlly playing with the Houston Texans. He led Scott's Branch High School to a pair of 1A Division II state titles as well at quarterback. 118) Lee Glaze - Lee Glaze has been a part of the radio broadcasting crew for both Sumter High School football and Sumter P-15's baseball for the past several years. Also, he has helped the Sumter Touchdown Club develop into an organization that provides several scholarships each year. 117) Derrick Witherspoon - Derrick Witherspoon was a star running back at Sumter High School and went on to become a starter at Clemson as well, rushing for 971 yards in his career. He played three years in the National Football League with Philadelphia, returning 80 kickoffs for 1,901 yards and three touchdowns. 116) Connie Ballard - Connie Ballard was one of the top women golfers in the state of South Carolina in the 1980s. She won consectuive South Carolina Women's Open Golf Championships in 1986 and 1987. She also won several titles as a senior golfer. 115) Skeet James - W.B. "Skeet" James was a member of the first Sumter American Legion Post 15 baseball team formed in 1929. He was captain of both the baseball and basketball teams at USC, was the chairman of the Sumter Kids in Baseball program and the P-15's program. 114) Kevin Lingefelt - Kevin Lingefelt was a prolific scorer for the Sumter High School boys soccer team in helping lead it to state titles in both 1976 and 1977. Lingefelt scored 87 goals in his three season on the varsity. 113) David McInnis - David McInnis attended the University of North Carolina and was a member of its swimming and diving team. McInnis was good enough to be named the Most Valuable Diver in the Atlantic Coast Conference during the 1956-57 season and has an annual award at the school named after him. 112) Gary Nelson - Gary Nelson came to Sumter High School in 1984 as its first athletic trainer. Thirty-five years later, he's still the school's first athletic trainer. Because of his service, Nelson was recently inducted in the South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association and is a member of the Sumter Sports Hall of Fame. 111) Helen Carroll - Though she spent the final 57 years of her 99-year life in the Gamecock City, Helen Carroll's athletic claim to fame happened when she was 17 years and old and had probably never heard of Sumter, South Carolina. However, when it involves winning a gold medal in the Olympics, it makes her more than worthy to be on the list. Carroll traveled from her home in Massachusetts to Los Angeles for the 1982 Summer Olympics. She swam a leg on the gold-medal winning 400-meter freestyle relay team. The team won in what was then a world record time of 4 minutes, 38 seconds, breakingthe record set in 1928 by 9.6 seconds. The team did not practice together one time. Carroll said she was recruited because she was one of the best swimmers and felt the team consisted of the four fastest individuals in the United States. "I thought we were the best," Caroll said in a 2012 interview with The Sumter Item. "We never practiced as a team, but as individuals, and when it was time to compete we just all did our best." Sumter High to induct five to athletic hall of fame next Saturday Former Sumter High, Clemson and Philadelphia Eagles standout Derrick Witherspoon, left, will be inducted into the Sumter High Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, Dec. 13. NICH PITTS / SUMTER ITEM FILE PHOTO Posted Saturday, December 6, 2025 6:00 am By TIM LEIBLE tim@theitem.com The Sumter High Athletic Hall of Fame is about to get a little bit bigger. The Gamecocks will induct five new members to their athletic hall on Saturday, Dec. 13, in a ceremony that begins at 6 p.m. in the cafeteria. Keith West, who serves on the hall of fame committee, is thrilled to welcome in another class. "We voted on this back in the summertime, and we feel very good about this class, so we're very excited," West said. "All five are very, very deserving of this award." The Sumter High Athletic Hall of Fame was stagnant for more than a decade before a new class was enshrined in 2023. That first group back included eight members before five more athletes and coaches joined the hall last December. This year brings another incredible group of both athletes and coaches into the fold. The lone coach in this year's class is Byron Kinney, who led the Gamecock boys basketball team to the 1985 state championship with an undefeated record of 29-0. The athletes include Stephon Blanding, who played for Kinney on that championship squad before a stellar career at Wofford; former St. Louis Cardinals infielder Timmy Jones; Derrick Witherspoon, who followed up a spectacular high school career with a strong run at Clemson before playing for the Philadelphia Eagles; and Danielle McFadden, who was a state champion in track before playing college basketball at both the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith and Vorhees. Kinney coached for 13 seasons at Sumter High and started on a perfect note. The perfect run to the '85 state title kicked off a coaching career that finished with a record of 274-92 and three region titles before stepping down in 1997. Blanding was along for the ride on that championship run, as the team's center as a junior. In his final two seasons at Sumter High, Blanding averaged 10.1 points and 8.2 rebounds, which earned him a scholarship at Wofford. He took his game to another level with the Terriers. He ended his career as the school's 10th all-time leading scorer with 1,454 points and fifth-leading rebounder with 1,149. He was the fifth player to finish his Wofford career with 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. Jones played for Sumter High and the P-15's in high school but saw his career skyrocket at The Citadel. He finished his career with the Bulldogs with a .351 batting average while setting or tying four program records. He left as the program leader for at bats (526), hits (185) and total bases (253). He was tied for the career stolen-bases record with 86. Those numbers and a slick glove helped Jones be selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the second round of the 1985 draft. He served as a backup to Cooperstown inductee Ozzie Smith while spending parts of six seasons with the Birds on the Bat. He finished his MLB career with 113 hits, 28 RBIs, 45 walks and 15 steals. He was a super utility player, taking the field at every position but first base and right field during his professional career. Witherspoon started his Sumter High career with a bang, scoring the game-winning touchdown of the 1987 state championship victory over Spartanburg, clinching a 24-21 win in the final seconds. He continued an illustrious career at SHS. He was The Item's Area Player of the Year as a senior in 1989 after accumulating 2,063 all-purpose yards and 13 total touchdowns. He was the career leader in rushing when he graduated, finishing with 3,167 yards and 33 touchdowns. Witherspoon played in the North-South All-Star Game before beginning a career at Clemson where he rushed for 939 yards and had seven total touchdowns. After going undrafted, he made a name for himself as a returner for the Philadelphia Eagles for three seasons. He finished his career with 1,901 return yards and three return touchdowns, two of which came in 1996 when he led the league. He was also third in the league in return yards that season. Witherspoon now serves as the co-founder and vice president of the South Carolina Chapter of NFL Alumni alongside fellow Sumter High Athletic Hall of Famer Dexter Davis, the chapter president. Danielle McFadden rounds out the incredible group of inductees. She won the 2010 state title in the long jump by clearing 19'4" as a sophomore. She also had an excellent basketball career, averaging 20.5 points, three rebounds, four assists and four steals per game as a senior, earning All-State honors. She then played two seasons at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, averaging 7.3 points per game before completing her career at Vorhees. She is the daughter of Sumter High Athletic Hall of Famer Karen McFadden. Sumter High welcomes 5 into athletic hall of fame The newest class of the Sumter High Athletic Hall of Fame stands with administrators next to their plaque. From left is Sumter High Athletic Director Crasten Davis, Stephon Blanding, Principal Anamaria Sandor, Derrick Witherspoon, Danielle McFadden and Byron Kinney. TIM LEIBLE / THE SUMTER ITEM Posted Wednesday, December 17, 2025 6:00 am By TIM LEIBLE tim@theitem.com Five new members were inducted into the Sumter High Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday. The special night was packed with nostalgia and a lot of laughter as Stephon Blanding, Byron Kinney, Timmy Jones, Danielle McFadden and Derrick Witherspoon joined the hallowed group. The night started with two key parts of Sumter High's 1985 basketball state championship. The first was Blanding, who was introduced by his brother, Bernard. The elder Blanding shared fond memories from their time growing up, joking that Stephon's height was the result of nearly falling out of a tree in their backyard. "Momma said, 'Don't climb that tree today, nobody climb that tree today.' We all listened except Stephon," Bernard Blanding said. "On the way back down, his feet got stuck in that little V. He's hanging upside down, stretched out. That's how his legs started to grow." The career that followed was spectacular for Blanding. He helped lead Sumter High to that state title in '85, averaging 10.1 points and 8.2 rebounds across his final two seasons with the Gamecocks. He then went to Wofford and ended his career as the school's 10th-leading scorer. He was the fifth player in program history to have more than 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds, filling up the scoreboard with 1,454 points to go along with 1,149 rebounds. After a booming introduction from his brother, Blanding took the mic to express his gratitude for the moment. "It's a humbling experience to be up here today. Emotion with tears in our eyes, yes, but to come back here 40-plus years later, standing here, it's a blessing," Blanding said. "Walking through the halls of Sumter High feels a little surreal. I was just a kid with a dream and an even bigger love for basketball and a jump shot that sometimes cooperated. I get to stand on the stage as a hall of fame inductee. I want to say thank you to the staff and those who are part of the committee that chose me to be a part of this; I say thank you. "The journey along the way and the people that carried me to get to this point; this honor may have my name on it, but trust me, it took a whole village to get me here." As Blanding recounted some of his favorite moments at Sumter High, his coach was sitting in the front of the room remembering each anecdote. Kinney coached Blanding to the '85 state championship at the end of an undefeated 29-0 season, his first season at the helm. Kinney would lead the Gamecocks for 13 seasons, ending his coaching career with a 274-92 record. He was introduced by Keith West, who helped oversee the hall of fame process. West was known for his exploits on the football field but also suited up for Kinney in basketball and spoke on the intensity the former coach put into every practice and game. "Everybody thinks Coach Kinney is Mr. Nice Guy. And he is, off the court. On the court, Coach Kinney was tough as nails. He was serious business," West said. "Coach Kinney is a total class act in everything he does. Whether he's teaching, coaching, his professional life, his home life - there's no doubt he's a class act father, husband, you name it. I'm sure his boys, they all played sports, I'm sure they all know that side of Coach Kinney where he's serious business when you get on that court and on that field." Kinney reflected on the path he took to becoming the head coach at Sumter High. His early days in coaching were spent at Bates Middle School, where he had the chance to work with another Sumter High Athletic Hall of Famer, Coley White. When he moved to Sumter High, he was the JV basketball coach and assisted the football team, where he was able to work with more legendary coaches and players. At the end of his coaching career, family came first. He stepped away from the profession to watch his family grow and was brought to tears as he mentioned his first grandchild in attendance. "I'm humbled to be here and have my name placed on that wall with so many outstanding athletes and coaches," he said. "Fortunately for me, the good Lord looked after me, and my real education got going when I met and shared an office with Coley White. Coley was a great leader, he was tough, he was a disciplinarian, he had the respect of every teacher, every student, every parent. He taught me how to communicate with players, how to build trust with them. Everything he did was the right way I totally thank you very much for the patience you had with me in my early years as a coach." Kinney also said what many people in the room were thinking. His tenure at Sumter High was a part of, arguably, the best athletic success in school history. The football team piled up a pair of state championships in '87 and '90 right after the basketball team took home the top finish. All but one member of the new hall of fame class helped play a part in Sumter High's success in the '80s. "During that period in the '80s, I would venture to say that was the best 10 years of athletics in Sumter High history," Kinney said. "I'm not saying that because I was a part of it. It's because every sport was solid at the time. Sumter High was in the 4A championship in a lot of different sports, and the reason was there were so many coaches in that period, we had the support of the administration, we cared about each other, we worked together regardless of what sport it was, and we won state titles in football, we won three state titles in basketball in the '80s, our girls basketball team under Donna Bisom's leadership won a state championship, our track teams were great with Sammy Way, Rut Dingle, Steve Robinson, we won multiple region titles. It was a great time to be a coach at Sumter High, and I learned so much from all of those coaches during that period." Between the two titans of Sumter High basketball was the lone inductee who was not able to attend the ceremony. Jones was back home in Montana after his wife needed surgery but sent a message that was read by Brooks Shumake, who was a part of last year's hall of fame class. Shumake grew up in Hartsville and competed with Jones throughout their time growing up. Jones had a strong career at Sumter High and with the P-15's as a slick fielding shortstop, but his career blossomed at The Citadel, where he hit .351 and still has his name etched in the school's record books. He left as the program leader for at bats (526), hits (185) and total bases (253). He was tied for the career stolen-bases record with 86. His stellar collegiate career led the St. Louis Cardinals to draft Jones in the second round of the 1985 draft. He went on to become the backup to Baseball Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith. Jones finished his MLB career with 113 hits, 28 RBIs, 45 walks and 15 steals. He was a super utility player, taking the field at every position but first base and right field during his professional career. "You could tell he paid a lot of attention to the finer details of the game, and it showed on the field," Shumake said. "We were talking about that today. He was like, 'I was a confident kid. I wasn't a big kid, but I was a confident kid, and I just went for what I needed and wanted, and that was to be a baseball player.' And he got pretty good at it." While Jones wasn't able to attend, he sent his thanks through Shumake. "To the Sumter High School Hall of Fame committee, thank you for voting me in and selecting me for this honor. I'd also like to thank Keith West for the nomination. Without him, this recognition simply would not have happened, and I am sincerely grateful," Jones said through Shumake. "This truly means a great deal to me." McFadden became part of the first mother-daughter combination to be enshrined in the Sumter High Athletic Hall of Fame. She was beyond thrilled to join her mother, Karen Grant-McFadden, in the hall. "It truly means a lot to stand here tonight and receive this honor. When I first walked the halls of this school, I never imagined a moment like this. Back then, I was just a kid trying to find my place, my confidence and some direction," McFadden said. "I stand here tonight knowing that this moment is so much bigger than me. My mom, the Karen Grant-McFadden, was inducted into this same hall of fame for her accomplishments in track and field in 2011. As a sophomore watching her receive that honor, I thought she was the coolest person in the world, a walking legend. My mom was fast. That's all I heard people talking about growing up. All I ever wanted was to be faster than her, but to let her tell it, I never beat her. I respectfully disagree, but I also learned to choose my battles wisely. "Mom, you set the standard, and now for us to become the first mother-daughter duo in school history to receive this honor, it means everything. Thank you for showing me what greatness looks like, not just in sports, but in life. Dad, you worked so hard so that I could travel and compete and chase the game that I loved. I grew up watching two people who embodied hard work, faith and dedication, and I carry that with me every single day." The younger McFadden had a sensational career at Sumter High. She was a state champion in the long jump as a sophomore and earned all-state honors there. She was also named to the National Elite track and field championship team alongside scoring 1,000 career points in high school before a collegiate career at both University of Arkansas-Fort Smith and Vorhees. She was introduced by Lisa Shumake, who coached McFadden in basketball. "When you think of this inductee, you should immediately think, 'Champion,'" Lisa Shumake said. "All Danielle McFadden did at Sumter High School was win. A career in track and field that featured 20-plus individual championships, Danielle has been raising eyebrows and turning heads at every invitational the Gamecocks attended. As her teammates used to say, Danielle was going to show up and show out." The final inductee was Witherspoon, who made history when he jumped over the pile as a sophomore to score the game-winning touchdown of the 1987 state championship against Spartanburg. He was introduced by Dexter Davis, who shared stories of recruiting him to Clemson, where Witherspoon rushed 939 yards and had seven total touchdowns after an illustrious high school career. Witherspoon then followed Davis to the NFL, returning kicks for the Philadelphia Eagles. The two Gamecocks went on to found the South Carolina Chapter of NFL Alumni, with Davis serving as president and Witherspoon as VP. Throughout both of their speeches, there was one repeated message: conquering adversity through faith. "He never gave up," Davis said. "His first year coming out of Clemson, he didn't get into the league. His second year, he didn't get into the league. But that third year, (he made it) because he was persevering and he worked hard," Davis said. "Most folks would've stopped, they would've given up their dreams and aspirations, but he led by example. Still to this day, I share with him that you need to tell that story because he's an example of not giving up and letting God max you out in his time." Witherspoon echoed that message of perseverance. "I thank God first and foremost. Without Him, none of this would've been possible," Witherspoon said. "The game of football taught me great skills, skills that helped me overcome adversity. But I'm not the only one that went through adversity. I know a lot of players who went through adversity who can't handle it. To me, adversity was a learning tool. I learned from every mistake that others made, plus the mistakes I made. That's what helped me keep going, adversity. While going through adversity, I developed a personal relationship with God."
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  [S33080] Sumter High welcomes 5 into athletic hall of fame. [S27151] TOP 125 Sports Figures (#125-#111). [S27152] Sumter Item to reveal Top 125 Sports Figures with anniversary celebration. [S33036] Sumter High to induct five to athletic hall of fame next Saturday.