One of Athens Drive’s most well-known alumni returned to the school March 7 for his jersey number to be retired as a tribute to his impact during his high school and professional career. Josh Hamilton was drafted first overall in the 1999 MLB draft, right after graduating from Athens Drive.

Hamilton played for the Athens Drive baseball team as an outfielder and pitcher from 1995 to 1999, and was twice named North Carolina’s Gatorade High School Player of the Year. He led the team to its only appearance in the Championship Series, which was a major reason why he was inducted into Athens Drive’s sports Hall of Fame in 2017.

In his junior and senior years, Hamilton had an overall batting average of .581 with a total of 93 hits and 25 home runs over the course of 55 games. As a pitcher, he went 18-3 with a total of 250 strikeouts in 143 innings. His performances garnered much attention from scouts, as his pitches reached speeds up to 97 mph.

“We’ve had some great athletes, but … we just haven’t had anyone to his level since then,” said Christopher Remaley, a math teacher who has been working at our school since before Hamilton’s high school years.

Remaley was invited to share a story from Hamilton’s high school career in the ceremony preceding the game against Cary High School, before Hamilton himself shared some advice and words to all in attendance.

How did this event come to be?

The entire event was in the works for the past two years and was planned by baseball coach Taylor Webster and Chase Graham, who graduated from Athens Drive in 2019. The two had been suggesting Hamilton’s return to Athens Drive for a while, and Graham was eventually able to get in contact with him.

“From there, it was communication between myself, Josh and Chase Graham about just finding the perfect date, and … working with Cary High School as well, ’cause they were able to play us on that day,” said Webster.

Hamilton flew from his home in Texas along with his family for the ceremony, and he even compared the honor to when he was inducted into the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame. This would be the first time he returned to his alma mater.

“It’s a special honor. I’m glad I could share it with them [his family]. But like I said, it’s something you do not think about when you’re playing the game that could possibly happen one day,” said Hamilton.

A lot has changed since his graduation, with center field being changed from 400 feet from home plate to 366 feet, and the concession stands at Jaguar Park being added.

“That was surreal to just see him, like, soak it in and just look at Athens Drive and realize that this is where it all started. So that was really, really cool for… I think him and for us as well, just to have everybody come back together,” said Webster.

A lot has changed since Hamilton’s time at Athens, but his legacy still stays strong with many of the student-athletes at our school, especially those currently playing for the baseball team.

“When he finally showed up, it really made an impact to the kids just seeing that, like, the guy that you can see on TV, making all these highlights, doing all these great things, he came from this school when he was in these dugouts, and so that was … a day we’ll remember forever,” said Webster.

The significance of the day

During his speech, Hamilton shared some of the trials he has faced and said that no one should ever hesitate to ask for help. Hamilton has battled with addiction in the past, but he made sure to emphasize that he persevered through the hard times.

“It’s just a good message for our guys to hear that, … you don’t have to go through it alone, because it’s pretty hard to go through it alone,” said Webster.

Hamilton’s story is important to note when considering his legacy on current student-athletes, as his resiliency is a trait that many of them can learn from.

“It’s a really, really encouraging story to just tell people to not give up. … No matter how hard it gets in life, that… it’s your one life, and to not give up on it,” said Webster.

Hamilton made sure to let the team know that their decisions on and off the field matter and that self-discipline is important. As a student athlete, getting your homework done is another necessity, because “you can’t play sports if you don’t do your schoolwork,” as Hamilton said.

“Do yourself a favor and try to make the best choices you can on a daily basis, and the little choices, they affect you in the long run. You might not think it’s a big deal in the moment. But I promise you it’ll affect you later down the road,” said Hamilton.

Hamilton spent about six years at Athens, four as a student and two years serving as the bat boy when his older brother played for the team. Hamilton’s determination to achieve his dream of playing baseball professionally drove him to stay late after practices and on weekends.

“I want you to understand if it’s your goal to do it [play professionally], don’t let anybody tell you you can’t. … You have to have the mindset of, hey, I’m going to work harder than anybody, and I’m not going to let anybody outwork me,” said Hamilton.

The whole organization was ecstatic to welcome Hamilton back to Athens Drive, as his homecoming had been long-awaited. There were about 500 people in attendance, and Hamilton was kind enough to interact with most fans at the game, making it a very special experience for everyone.

“It’s cool to know that you know, even where we’re at right now, that … we could possibly get to that, where we can be as successful … and just have to put the amount of hard work in,” said Austin Mantz, a senior.

Even if high school athletics don’t always lead to a professional career, the experience of camaraderie and diligence to help your team out in any way possible is extremely valuable.

“There’s so much more value in high school sports than getting to the next level,” said Hamilton. “It sets you up to learn how to… one, take direction, if you’re not leading, and two, learn how to lead… and meet other people in the right direction. Well, that’ll set you up for future jobs.”

The bonds made within high school athletics can be very fruitful and even continue past graduation. It’s also important to remember the contributions others have made to advance your aspirations, even those who go unrecognized for it.

“Appreciate the people behind the scenes. … You have to be willing to humble yourself, one, and take time with those people and let them know how much you appreciate them for who they are and what they do because without them, you wouldn’t be able to do what you think,” said Hamilton.

The day was not only special for Hamilton and his family, but for the whole of the Athens Drive community, who showed up to the game to cheer on Hamilton and those on the team.

“I think it was really lucky that my senior year, we got to experience the Josh Hamilton … game,” said Mantz.

This story was originally published on Athens Oracle on March 30, 2026.