The Liberty County Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 14 at the John McIver Auditorium of the Liberty County Community Complex in Midway. Here’s who is getting in this year.
Quintunya Chapman-Hamilton
A 2011 graduate of Bradwell Institute, Chapman-Hamilton was a standout in several fields. At BI, she was a 2011 state champion in the long jump, state runner up in the long jump in 2010, third in the 400-meter at state in 2009 and runner-up in the 400 at state in 2008.
Chapman-Hamilton was region champ in the long jump and 400 in 2010 and the girls track and field athlete of the year from 2009-11, along with being the Best of Preps girl runner of the year in 2011. She was a HOPE Scholar and a track and field scholarship athlete at the University of Georgia, where she was a four-time all-American.
In 2014, she was runner-up at the Southeastern Conference heptathlon, third in the heptathlon at the 2015 SEC Indoor Championships and third at the NCAA outdoor heptathlon. She was third at the 2014 North American, Central American and Caribbean heptathlon, finished sixth in the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials in the heptathlon and the 2016 Pan American Combined Events Cup champion in the heptathlon. She also was the recipient of the 2015 all-academic student athlete award, a member of the dean’s list and the SEC academic honor roll from 2011-15. Chapman-Hamilton also was the 2016 College of Public Health commencement speaker. She graduated in 2016 with a bachelor of science in health promotion and behavior and is currently the assistant director for youth sports and fitness at Fort Gordon in Augusta.
Barbara Baker Derrick
A 1965 graduate of Liberty County High School, Barbara Baker, now Barbara Baker-Derrick, was a four-year letter winner for the Lady Tigers and was their leading scorer in 1964-65, helping guide the team to three district championships, two region championships and one state tournament. She was co-captain her junior and senior years and averaged 28 to 30 points game throughout her career with her quick-release, deadly long-range shooting before the 3-point line came into existence.
Behind Baker-Derrick, Liberty County scored at least 100 points in a game eight times. She attended Savannah State College and has been the pastor of God’s Abundant Covenant Full Gospel Church in Chicago, Ill., for many years. And as a note of interest, she became the fourth member of the athletic Baker family to be inducted into the HOF, joining her siblings H.C., Derrell and Faye.
Jordan Johnson
A 2011 graduate of First Presbyterian Christian Academy, Jordan Johnson led the Highlanders to the 2010 GISA state boys basketball championship and was named to all-region and all-state in 2010-11. Johnson continued to excel at the collegiate level, playing junior college basketball at East Georgia State College in Swainsboro and leading the Bobcats to the GCAA state championship. He was named the national JUCO player of the week, the conference player of the year and a NJCAA all-American.
Johnson and the Bobcats reached the NJCAA national quarterfinals before losing to the eventual national champions. He transferred to Tennessee Tech and played with the Golden Eagles for two seasons, playing in 61 games and starting in 24. In 2016, he led H.R. Portoviejo to the Ecuadorian National Basketball League championship and was named most valuable player. He currently plays professionally in Chile.
2009 First Presbyterian Christian Academy GISA State Championship basketball team
The First Presbyterian Christian Academy Highlanders followed up their first boys state basketball championship in 2008 with a perfect 26-0 and a second straight title in 2009.
The Highlanders beat Bethesda 77-63 to claim back-to-back Georgia Independent Schools Association crowns. During their run, the Highlanders won 23 of their games by double digits and averaged 80.5 points per game. Joey Bell paced the offense with 20.6 points per game while Arthur Ansley scored 16.1 points per game with Michael Brown adding 12.8 points per game. Hakeem Golden averaged 10.4 rebounds per game. Coached by Darrell West and David Linderman, the team consisted of T.A. Alston, Jamal Anderson, Arthur Ansley, Timothy Ashmen, Joey Bell, Matthew Brown, Garrett Crissman, Michael Brown, Kaelan Dorr, Michael Farrior, Hakeem Golden, Jose Martinez, Preyen Patel, Joshua Rodgers and Ryan Smiley.