Bulldog Pride: 5 Unforgettable Athletes From North Gwinnett High School

Sports run deep in Gwinnett, and North Gwinnett High School has long been at the heart of it. It’s no surprise some standout talent once wore the Bulldog uniform. Today we're celebrating five unforgettable athletes from North Gwinnett High School who made a name for themselves well beyond the hometown field.

1. Charlie Blackmon – MLB Outfielder (Colorado Rockies)

A strong Bulldog, Blackmon was a two-year letter winner as an outfielder and pitcher for North Gwinnett High School, was named the Academic Player of the Year three times and was named to the all-regional team as an outfielder in his senior year. Blackmon then played baseball at Young Harris College and the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he continued to excel and was named to the All-ACC second team, the ESPN Magazine Academic All-American Second Team and the NCAA Athens Regional All-Tournament Team. He then went on to a successful career with the Colorado Rockies and eventually became the special assistant to their general manager. (Sources: www.ramblinwreck.com,cathletics.com, mlb.com)

2. Lexie Brown – WNBA Player (Connecticut Suns, Minnesota Lynx, Chicago Sky)

Brown proudly wore red, black and white as she wowed the crowd on the basketball court at North Gwinnett High School and was named the Gatorade Georgia Basketball Player of the Year, the first from North Gwinnett to be chosen. Brown then played for the University of Maryland and Duke University, where she received numerous accolades, including Academic All-Big Ten Honors and the ACC women’s basketball scholar-athlete of the year. She played for the Connecticut Suns, the Minnesota Lynx and the Chicago Sky until a Crohn’s Disease diagnosis forced her out of the sport. Today, Brown serves as a basketball analyst with the ACC Network. (Sources: behavioralhealthtech.com, goduke.com, ghsa.net)

3. Blake Wood – MLB Pitcher (Kansas City Royals, Cleveland Guardians, Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Angels)

A superb Bulldog, Wood had an impressive baseball career during his time at North Gwinette High School, where he was named an all-city selection. Wood then attended Georgia Tech, where he continued to showcase his stellar baseball skills. Soon afterward, he played for the Kansas City Royals, Cleveland Guardians, Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Angels. (Sources: ramblinwreck.com, mlb.com)

4. Josh Downs – NFL Wide Receiver (Indianapolis Colts)

Wearing the red, black and white of North Gwinette High School, Downs impressed many people with his football skills, was ranked 17th in the nation and 13th in Georgia by 247Sports and led the school to a 7A state championship as a sophomore. Downs soon went to play at the University of North Carolina, where he earned First Team All-ACC honors and was named a Pro-Football Focus First Team All-America Choice. He currently plays for the Indianapolis Colts. (Sources: colts.com, pro-football-reference.com)

5. Kibwe Johnson – Olympic Hammer Thrower (Team USA)

A notable Bulldog, Johnson, excelled in many track and field sports before deciding to focus on the hammer throw. Johnson then attended Moorpark College and Ashland University, becoming a four-time US Hammer throw champion and a 2008 US Weight throw champion. He went on to compete in the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics, and won two gold medals and a silver medal in the Pan American Games. (Sources: teamusa.com, gcps-foundation.org,hmmrmedia.com)

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