Stanley Blackmon
Stanley Blackmon has emerged as one of the most talented administrative officials in recent Jackson Public School history. He is the principal at Lanier High School and previously served as the principal at Hardy Middle School (2002-2004) and Canton High School (1996-2002).
Blackmon is the recipient of the Bill Wade Unsung Hero Award (All-American Football Foundation) and was twice on the coaching staff of the Mississippi-Alabama High School All-Star Classic. He also was named the Metro Football Coach of the Year and the Outstanding Secondary Educator of America in 1975.
Wes Chamberlain
Prior to finishing fifth in the National League Rookie of the Year Award voting and before appearing in the 1993 World Series with the Philadelphia Phillies, Wesley Polk Chamberlain was a Jackson State Tiger. At JSU, Chamberlain was an All-SWAC performer. In 1986, he was named to the all-conference first team as a first baseman. As a freshman, he batted .313, hit seven home runs and knocked in 44 runs while being named to the SWAC All Eastern Division first team.
Chamberlain played six seasons in Major League Baseball, first for the Phillies (1990-1995) and then the Boston Red Sox (1995). The Pittsburgh Pirates drafted Chamberlain in the fourth round in 1987. In 1990, Pittsburgh sent him to Philadelphia. In 1991, his most productive season with the Phillies, he posted career highs in home runs (13), RBI (50), runs (51), hits (92), stolen bases (9) and games played (101). During that season, he also had three, four-hit games.
Martin Epps
From 1969 to 1991, Jackson State’s track and field teams were consistently ranked among the best in the world. At the helm of the Flying Tigers’ program was Martin Epps, who helped build the JSU track program from the ground up and establish it as a powerhouse. He is arguably the most successful coach of any sport in Southwestern Athletic Conference history.
During his tenure, JSU won six NAIA indoor track and field national championships and an NAIA outdoor track and field title. From 1973 to 1979, the Tigers dominated the track and field scene. In addition to the national championships, JSU also won four straight NAIA District championships.
Mary Fuller Scott
Mary Fuller Scott is the third leading scorer in Jackson State women’s basketball history. From 1976 to 1980, she scored 1,923 points. While a Lady Tiger, she was named a team MVP, received SWAC All-Tournament team awards and was an All-American.
As a freshman, she scored 481 points and made 54% of her field goal attempts and shot 77% from the free throw line (85-110). During her sophomore year, she scored 533 points, connecting on 228 of 450 shots (50.6%) from the field and went 77 of 109 from the free throw line (70.6%). She also pulled down a career high 145 rebounds.
She scored another 507 points during her junior season. As a senior, she scored 402 points and had 92 rebounds, 67 assists and a career high 83 steals.
The St. Louis Streak (Women’s Professional Basketball League, preceding the WNBA) drafted Fuller Scott.When the league folded in 1981, she became a youth program director.
Lindsey Hunter
Lindsey Benson Hunter is arguably one of the greatest champions to come out of Jackson State University. He is also considered among the top 10 best athletes to play for the Tigers, along with such greats as Walter Payton, Jackie Slater and Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd.
Following a prolific collegiate career, Hunter was selected as the 10th overall pick by the Detroit Pistons in the 1993 NBA Draft. He played with the Pistons from 1993 to 2000, when he was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks. He played only one season as a Buck before being sent to the Los Angeles Lakers.
As a member of the Lakers, Hunter was a contributor to the team that won the 2001-02 NBA title. Following the Lakers’ championship season, he was traded on draft night (2002) to the Toronto Raptors. In 2003, he made his way back to the Pistons and that team won the 2003-04 NBA championship.
Hunter remained with the Pistons until the 2008-09 season, when he signed with the Chicago Bulls. He remained with the Bulls until the In 2012, Hunter landed a role with the Phoenix Suns as an assistant head coach for player development. After the Suns opened the season with a 13-28 record, he was named the Suns’ interim head coach in early 2013.
In his head coaching debut, Hunter led the Suns to a 106-96 victory over the Sacramento Kings.
Hunter needed only three seasons to become the second-leading scorer in JSU history. He was also named the Southwestern Athletic Conference player of the Year.
Alvin Jackson
From 1977 to 1980, Alvin Jackson was a member of the Jackson State men’s track and field team that set the Southwestern Athletic Conference on fire. He lettered all four years, andin cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field, he competed on five National Championship teams, five SWAC championship teams and was a member of the world-ranked 4×400 meter relay. That 4×400 relay team recorded a time of 3:08.7.
Individually, he was a six-time All-American and a six-time All-SWAC performer. He also placed in every national track and field championship in which he participated.
Keith Ellis Lee
Keith Ellis Lee was a prominent member of the Jackson State men’s track and field team. From 1973-1978, Lee and his teammates dominated the track and field landscape in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
As a freshman, Lee advanced to the NAIA finals in the 880-yard dash, where he lowered his personal best to 1:50.8. As a sophomore, he started running cross country, which helped bring his time down to 1:50.2.
Lee had a banner junior year, going undefeated during the cross country regular season, before winning the conference meet. He also set a Jackson State and SWAC record as he ran a 6.5-mile course in 33:33.
As a senior Lee again went undefeated during the cross country regular season. The Tigers won seven major meets, including indoor and outdoor nationals. Lee recorded another personal best in the 800 meters, posting a 1:47.2.
While at JSU Lee was a four-year letter winner in the 800, 1000, 1500, 1-mile, sprint medley and the 2-mile relay. He was an All-SWAC performer in the same events and earned All-American honors in the 800 and the 2-mile relay.
He was an Olympic qualifier in the 800 in 1976 and again in 1980.
Sean Woodson
Sean Andre Woodson emerged as one of the premier defensive backs in the Southwestern Athletic Conference during the mid-1990s. He was a two-time All-SWAC first team member, receiving the honor in 1995 and 1996. During his senior year, he recorded a league-high eight interceptions.
In 1997, Woodson was drafted with the 23rd pick in the fifth round by the Buffalo Bills. Woodson is currently a radio broadcaster and firefighter in Jackson, Miss.
Rodney Phillips
Rodney Phillips was the prototypical Jackson State football player under head coach Robert “Bob” Hill. He played football at Jackson State from 1971 to 1974 with Walter and Eddie Payton, Jackie Slater and Robert Brazile.
He was a two-time letter winner and a two-time, first-team All-SWAC member as a tight end. In 1974, he led all tight ends in the SWAC in receptions.
From 1975-1978, Phillips played with the Los Angeles Rams as a converted running back. In 1975, he was named the Southern California Player of the Week for his Monday Night Football performance against the Pittsburg Steelers. Following his tenure with the Rams, the St. Louis Cardinals picked him up for the 1979-1980 season. As a pro football player, Phillips played in 84 games and had 595 rushing yards along with three touchdowns. He also had 14 receptions for 86 yards.
He was also a volunteer coach at Jackson State for 12 years. In 2011, he was named to the JSU Football All-Century team.
Ricky Myles
Ricky Myles was one of the most versatile athletes on the Jackson State Flying Tigers track and field team from 1974 to 1978.
He was a four-year letter winner at JSU. He was also a four-year, All-SWAC performer and six-time NAIA All-American. As a senior, he had become a national champion, winning the 600-yard run at the NAIA championships. He also was a member of the 4 x 400 meter relay team which won the 1977-78 NAIA National championship.
Tom Rice
Tom Rice was one of the most dominant offensive linemen in the Southwestern Athletic Conference from 1977 to 1980.
In 1978, he was a member of the line unit that paved the way for JSU running backs Perry Harrington and Jeffery Moore. Behind the blocking of the offensive line, Harrington and Moore became the first pair of players to each rush for more than 1,000 yards in the same season. That same season, JSU was named the NCAA Rushing Offense Champion as the Tigers averaged 314.5 rushing yards per game.
In 1979, JSU was again named the NCAA Rushing Offense Champion. The team averaged 288.4 yards per game.
Rice was recognized for his individual performances. He was named an All-SWAC member at the center position and as an offensive tackle. He received Kodak All-America recognition and was named a team captain.
Darrin Wade
Floyd Darrin Wade was a four-year baseball letter winner from 1983-87. He attended JSU on an academic scholarship and made the baseball team as a walk-on.
As a Tiger, he was a three-year starter at first base. In 1987, he was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays and played two minor league seasons. While playing in the Blue Jays farm system, Wade suffered a career-ending eye injury, and he returned to Jackson State to complete his degree.
While at Jackson State, Wade was a standout on and off the baseball diamond. In 1983, he was named the male scholar athlete, and in 1987 he was named an Academic All-American.
Wade ended his playing career at Jackson State listed among the best of the best in Tigers history. His 30 home runs, 100-plus RBIs and .330 batting average make him one of JSU’s top 10 career leaders.
In 1986, he was named a second team All-SWAC selection at first base. He played in 163 games, had 424 at bats, scored 101 runs, 126 hits (29 doubles, 5 triples, 30 home runs) and 110 runs batted in.
During his minor league career, Wade played in 166 games with 534 at bats, 132 hits, 60 runs, 10 home runs and 64 RBI.
Harrison Wilson
As Jackson State’s men’s basketball coach and later as president of Norfolk State University, Harrison B. Wilson became known for his formidable leadership.
His 371-93 career record wins rank the highest for JSU basketball. He is considered by many the architect of modern men’s basketball. In 17 seasons at the helm of the Tigers’ program, he never had a losing season and recorded 13 20-plus win seasons. His teams also posted 29 wins in a season twice (1955-56 and 1963-64). His 1963-64 team won the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship.
During his tenure at Jackson State, Wilson coached some of the most talented players in the country, such as Cleveland Buckner (drafted by the New York Knicks in 1961), Ed Manning (former NBA player and the father of Kansas Jayhawk great Danny Manning) and Paul Covington (a disciple of Wilson’s who took over as head men’s basketball coach at Jackson State). All of these individuals are highly respected in the world of basketball and that is due in no small part to Wilson’s teaching and philosophy.
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