CLASS OF 2026
DR. LEAH BROWN
Atlanta native Dr. Leah Brown graduated Benjamin Mays High School in 1993 and enrolled at the University of Georgia with 2 main goals: excel in gymnastics and excel in the classroom. She achieved both. As a Gym Dog she became the first in NCAA history to score a perfect 10 in her very first collegiate meet. Brown was the first Georgia freshman to win the SEC all-around title. Leah was also the first ever to score a perfect 10 in a single event in all three days of NCAA championship competition. She claimed the National title in vault in 1996 and floor exercise the following season. During her career she was named All-American 14 times and she was also a two-time Academic All-SEC. After graduating, Leah joined the U.S. Navy in 1999 and after attending medical school, she was deployed to Iraq in 2006 and to Afghanistan in 2012 earning the Bronze Star along with 8 other military awards for service. Dr. Brown then became a team physician for the Carolina Panthers. She’s also served as team Orthopedic Surgeon for the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury as well as the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs. She was inducted into the UGA Circle of Honor in 2016.
MORGAN BURNETT
College Park native Morgan Burnett was a standout quarterback and safety at North Clayton High School. One of the nation’s most sought-after recruits, he signed with Georgia Tech and was named to the ACC All-Freshman team in 2007 by The Sporting News. In his sophomore campaign he grabbed 7 interceptions and had 93 tackles to earn Second Team All-ACC honors. Tech claimed the ACC crown during Burnett’s junior year and he was named First Team All-Conference. Morgan decided to enter the 2010 NFL Draft and was taken by Green Bay in the Third Round. In 2014 he had a career high 130 tackles and was widely considered as one of the NFL’s top defensive backs. In fact Sports Illustrated rated him the third best strong safety in the league. In 2018, Burnett signed with Pittsburgh but left for Cleveland the following season before suffering a career-ending Achilles injury. Morgan retired in 2021 finishing his 10-year career with 770 tackles and 10 interceptions. He’s a member of the Georgia Tech Hall of Fame.
ALVIN COPELAND
Raised in Valdosta, Alvin Copeland went to Fort Valley State as a football player. He joined the faculty at Northeast High School in Macon and starting his coaching career in 1973 leading the Girls Basketball team as well as both Girls and Boys Track and Cross Country teams. In 1975, Copeland guided the Lady Raiders hoop team to their first State Championship. During the 1980’s, the Northeast girls captured State titles in 1981, 1982, and 1985. On the track, his boy’s teams won State Championships in both 1975 and 1977. In 1979, the Girls team captured their first of 6 State Titles. In 2002, Alvin’s girls pulled a rare double: the basketball team claimed the state title in March and later that spring the track team captured yet another championship. Alvin retired in 2011 with 881 basketball victories. The gymnasium at Northeast is named in his honor. He was named as the state’s Athletic Director of the Year in 2007. Copeland is a member of the Fort Valley State University, SIAC, Macon Sports Hall of Fame, and the Georgia High School Coaches Hall of Fame.
RAY CUTRIGHT
Ray Cutright was an All-State golfer at Tucker High School. At a young age, he became Head Golf professional at Toccoa Country Club which started his long career in the golf business. In 1976, the 24 year old Cutright moved to Macon and became Head Pro at Riverside Country Club. Ray began cultivating another passion, custom club making and fitting and he was named the Inaugural National Clubfitter of the Year In 1986. He’s been Director of Golf at Sea Island Club as well as Idle Hour Country Club in Macon. Over his tenure he was named "Best Teacher in the State" 4 times and he’s been named one of the Top 50 Kids Teachers in the United States. In 2003 the PGA of American honored him with the prestigious Horton Smith Award for training and education. He has been named a PGA Master Professional and in 2014 he was named PGA Professional of The Year. That was followed the next year by his sport’s biggest honor, Induction into the PGA Hall of Fame. Ray is also a member of the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame.
BUNNY FULLER HARRIS
Butler native Bunny Fuller Harris was a high school standout basketball player for Taylor County and Coach Norman Carter, a fellow GSHF Inductee. In her sophomore campaign Bunny averaged 30 points-a-game as Taylor County ran off a 30 game winning streak knocking off Stratford for the 1970 state crown. The following season, Fuller scored 41 one night and the Lady Vikings went undefeated again while claiming yet another State title. During her senior season, Taylor County was riding a 132 game winning streak before they were finally upset by Perry. The Lady Vikings did rebound to capture another State Championship and Fuller Harris was named Most Outstanding Player. She finished her high school career having scored over 2200 points. After a two-year stint at Middle Georgia College, Bunny moved to Athens and was the Lady Bulldogs top scorer in 1976 and 1976. In ‘76 she was named Female Athlete of the Year at UGA. Fuller Harris penned a book “There Was Once A Team” recounting her time at Taylor County and the 132 game winning streak.
DANNY HALL
Raised in Coolville, Ohio Danny Hall was a standout infielder at Federal Hocking High School, where he played for his father, Danny, Senior. At Miami of Ohio, Danny was a two-time All Mid-American Conference selection. He moved into coaching first as an assistant at Michigan before landing the head job at Kent State where he was named 2-time MAC Coach of the Year. That success caught the attention of Georgia Tech and Hall took over as head man of the Jackets in 1994 and Tech made it all the way to the College World Series final losing to Oklahoma 13-5. Over the next 3 decades, Tech was one of college baseball’s top programs. Hall was named National Coach of the Year in 1997. In 32 seasons, Tech won 7 conference titles, made 24 NCAA Tournament appearances and Danny had 41 of his players make a Major League roster. He retired after the 2025 season finishing with 1432 wins. Danny is a member of the Miami of Ohio Hall of Fame as well as being inducted into the America Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
JOHN KASAY
At Clarke Central High School in Athens, John Kasay was an All-State soccer and football player. Kasay opted to play college ball at UGA where his father, John had also played and was part of the Bulldogs coaching staff. As a freshman, Kasay’s 39 yard field goal as time expired help Georgia beat Arkansas to win the 1987 Liberty Bowl. His 40 yard Field Goal with a minute to go helped the Dawgs upset Alabama in 1990. Over his 4 year career, Kasay connected on 46 field goals and earned second-team All-SEC and third-team All-America honors his senior year. Kasay was selected by Seattle in the 4th Round of the 1991 NFL Draft. After 4 years with the Seahawks, John was traded to Carolina where he would spend 15 seasons. Kasay made a career best 37 field goals in 1996 and made the Pro Bowl. In 2004 Carolina played in Super Bowl 38 and Kasay connected on a 50 yard field goal in Carolina’s 32-29 loss to New England. Over 20 full NFL seasons, John made 82% of his field goal attempts finishing with 461 career field goals.
CHAUNTE' LOWE
Growing up in Riverside, California, Chaunte’ Lowe was a Track standout at John W. North High School. The two-time National High Jump Champion traveled cross country to attend Georgia Tech and she became the ACC Rookie of the Year in 2003. She began an impressive International career, making the 2004 US Olympic Team. She set indoor and outdoor high jump records, earned 13 All-ACC honors, six All-America titles plus Lowe was a three-time NCAA champion, becoming the most decorated high jumper in Georgia Tech history. In 2008, Lowe competed in another Olympic Games where she claimed a Bronze Medal. She was 6th in London in 2012 and 4th in Rio in 2016. Preparing for a possible 5th Olympics, Chuante’ faced her biggest challenge in 2019 when she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. Thankfully, after several months of treatment, Lowe was in remission and she was awarded the NCAA Inspiration Award in 2021. She’s a four-time Olympian, seven-time US Track & Field Outdoor champion, and two-time Indoor champion. Chaunte’ is a member of the Georgia Tech Hall of Fame.
PATSY NEAL
At Elberton High School Patsy Neal averaged over 40 points per game her senior season. College Basketball for women was in its infancy back then, but Patsy learned about tiny Wayland Baptist College in Texas. Wayland was the only college in the country that offered full basketball scholarships to women. After a successful tryout, Neal was offered a full ride and late in her freshman year she cracked the starting lineup. Patsy was a centerpiece of National AAU Championship teams in both 1957 and 1959. She was a two-time AAU All-American and shot 96% from the free throw line in the 1957 Tournament. Neal played for the Gold Medal winning US team in the 1959 Pan-American Games and she was chosen for the US All-Star team. After her Wayland days, Patsy next played for the independent Utah Lakers AAU team and was named All-American again in 1965. She later became Executive Director of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tennessee and was inducted into that Hall in 2003.
TIM WILLIS
Atlanta native Tim Willis developed a rare disease when he was only 7 years old and by 10 he was completely blind. A paralyzing diagnosis to some became a motivating force for Willis. At Shamrock High School, Tim didn’t sit on the sidelines, he ran cross country using a tether, a short strap between him and his guide. In 1990, Tim went to Georgia Southern and became the first blind cross-country runner to compete in NCAA Division I competition. Willis started competing internationally and won a Gold Medal in the 10,000 meters at the World Championships in Berlin. He’s represented the United States in 3 Paralympic Games, winning 5 total medals including 4 in Atlanta in 1996. That same year he was named the United States Association of Blind Athletes, Male Athlete of the Year. In 2000, Willis received a law degree from Mercer and passed the Georgia Bar, where he has been instrumental in promoting ADA compliance, accessibility - and civil rights for individuals with disabilities. Tim is a member of the Georgia Southern Sports Hall of Fame.