New Devildog Hall of Fame members to be inducted Tuesday

TRAVELERS REST, S.C. — Former Devildogs Mike Burns, Lamont Sullivan and Brett Youngblood will be inducted into the Travelers Rest High School Athletic Hall of Fame on Tuesday, Jan. 27 in a ceremony to be held between the Devildog girl's and boy's basketball games against Greer High School.

Tipoff for the girl's game is 6 p.m. at Joe Small Gymnasium.

About this year's inductees, by the Hall of Fame committee —

Mike Burns (Class of 1970):

Mike Burns was an outstanding multiple sport athlete for the Devildogs in football, basketball, baseball, and track. He earned three varsity letters in football as right end for Coach “Chico” Bolin, and he was a member of the Skyline AA Conference Championship teams of 1967, 1968 and 1969.

In basketball, Mike earned two varsity letters and was a key part of the two Skyline AA Conference Championship teams of 1969 and 1970 while playing center for Coach Joe Small. As a senior he was the leading rebounder, scored 228 points, and was an All-Conference selection.

Mike was also an outstanding baseball player for the Devildogs in 1968, 1969 and 1970, playing centerfield and earning three varsity letters. He batted .333 as a senior.

Track and Field was another sport where Mike excelled, earning three varsity letters. He was an All Conference and All State performer in 1970. He set the school record for the 440 yard dash with a time of 49.5 sec. and won the 440 yard dash at the 1970 State Track Meet. He was also a member of the school record setting anchor-medley relay team. He also competed in the broad jump, 100 yard dash and the anchor-mile relay. He was a 1969 Palmetto Boys State Representative and was a “Greenville News” Top Teen Award winner in 1970.

Mike was recruited by Furman University, Presbyterian College and the University of South Carolina. He is a 1974 graduate of the University of South Carolina. Mike is a successful businessman and legislator. He is currently the District 17 Representative in the S.C. House of Representatives.

Lamont Sullivan (Class of 1994):

Lamont Sullivan was a very talented, multiple sport athlete, earning varsity letters in football, basketball, and track.

In football, Lamont was a running back on the Devildog football team, earning two varsity letters playing for Coach Jack Anderson. As a senior on the 1993 Devildog football team, he was voted a team captain, Most Valuable Offensive Back, and was voted to the Greenville County Team of the Week.

In basketball, Lamont was a letter winner and a member of Coach Harvey Choplin’s Foothills AAA Region Championship team of 1994. Because of his work ethic and leadership, he received the Coaches Award for outstanding character and dedication in 1994.

Lamont was also a standout track performer, earning four varsity letters while competing in the 400 meter, 4x400 relay, 4x100 relay, 300 meter intermediate hurdles, long jump, high jump and triple jump. As a senior, he was an All Conference performer in the 4x100 relay, high jump and 300 hurdles, and an All County selection in the long jump, high jump and 300 hurdles. He was also an Upper State Qualifier in the 4x100 relay, 300 meter intermediate hurdles, and high jump.

After graduation, Lamont played football for North Greenville University and after a career-ending injury, was a student assistant coach. He later was hired as an assistant football coach of wide receivers and special teams. He earned his Associates, Bachelors and Masters Degrees from North Greenville. Off the field, he helped establish the NGU Athletic Ministries in 1999. Lamont is currently a youth pastor and the Program Director for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Upstate.

Brett Youngblood (Class of 2001):

Brett Youngblood was a two-sport standout athlete at Travelers Rest High School, earning multiple varsity letters and awards.

Brett was the named the 2001 Male Athlete of the Year. As a star Devildog basketball player while playing guard, Brett earned three varsity letters, was a Western AAA All Region performer, All County performer, Greenville County East/West Senior Showcase All Star, and was named to the Greenville County Basketball Coaches Honor Roll for outstanding play in 2000 and 2001. As a senior, Brett averaged 13.3 points per game, while having 4.2 rebounds per game. He shot 32% from the 3 point arch, had a 44% field goal percentage and shot 81% from the free throw line. On senior night, 2001, Brett scored 31 pts. including shooting 8 for 9 from the 3 point arch.

Brett was also a standout performer for the Devildog baseball team earning 3 Varsity letters. He made history in 2000 and 2001 as he was named a Western AAA performer at two different positions in two different seasons. He was named an All Region pitcher and an All Region 1st baseman in both seasons. He also earned All State honors in 2001 as a pitcher while posting a 10-3 record, having an ERA of 1.95, and batting over .400. He was named Most Valuable Player for the Devildogs in 2000 and 2001. Brett was a key member of the 2001 Devildog District III Champions and was a member of the 2001 Upper State Baseball Champions as the Devildogs were also the State Runner-Up in 2001. He had 20 career wins as a pitcher, hit 14 career home runs. He played in the North/South All Star Baseball Game in 2001, and was a member of the 2001 South Carolina District I Big League World Series team. He was also a member of the North Greenville American Legion Championship team of 2000.

After graduation, Brett played baseball for Anderson University from 2001-2005 as a starting left handed pitcher. He is a graduate of Anderson University. Brett is still currently involved in baseball, working for Gameday Sports, Hardball Elite, and is an assistant baseball coach at Travelers Rest High School.