Seahawks’ Golson Taking Talents to Tar Heels
By Terry Massey
Myrtle Beach High School two-sport star Everett Golson had a dream week last summer when he went to the University of North Carolina football and basketball camps.
The highly recruited junior quarterback/point guard had such a good time that he has decided to return to Chapel Hill to do it for four years as a Tar Heel.
”I've always dreamed about going to North Carolina and I had seen the campus before, but to go to football and basketball camp in the same week was a great experience,” Golson said at his Myrtle Beach High press conference Friday. “I pretty much decided then that was where I wanted to go. I was ready to commit then.”
Golson held his tongue and weighed his options for more than six months but finally made it official Friday by announcing he will accept a scholarship to play football at UNC, and that he plans to walk on to the Tar Heels' tradition-rich basketball program – a feat performed in recent years at UNC by Julius Peppers and Ronald Curry.
”I talked to (UNC Head Football Coach Butch) Davis and (UNC Head Basketball Coach Roy) Williams and they said he would give me the opportunity to try to do both,” Golson said. “You all know that I love football and basketball, and I wanted to go ahead and make it official so the recruiting process wouldn't be a distraction in basketball.”
Golson's announcement came just 48 hours after National Signing Day for 2010 graduates, giving him a jump on the Class of 2011. But then again, Golson has always been a step ahead of almost everyone else – not only on the football field and basketball court, but also in the classroom and music department.
The two-sport star carries a 3.8 GPA and plays several musical instruments. Golson plans to major in business to become a music producer in the distant future, unless of course the NFL and/or NBA calls.
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”Everett is the kind of kid who is going to be successful no matter where he goes and what he does,” said Myrtle Beach Head Football Coach Mickey Wilson. “He's already had a great career here and he has one more football season and one and half more basketball seasons he can focus on without any distractions.”
Golson has led the Seahawks to back-to-back Class AAA state championship game appearances, bringing the title back to Myrtle Beach in 2008. He has thrown for 91 touchdowns to only 10 interceptions over the past two seasons, and is in position to break virtually every S.C. passing record in his senior year.
Golson also led the Seahawks basketball team to the Class AAA state title as a freshman and hopes to get one more ring in both sports before going to UNC.
”If any kid can do play both sports, it's Everett,” Wilson said. “Everett wants to establish himself as the quarterback of the future at North Carolina first and then see how basketball fits into the picture, but I believe he's capable of doing both. North Carolina got themselves a great athlete and a great person today.”
Golson also had scholarship offers from Clemson, South Carolina, East Carolina, Virginia Tech, Duke, North Carolina and Michigan, which runs the spread offense similar to the one he has perfected with the Seahawks. North Carolina operates out of a pro-style set that will require a big adjustment for Golson.
Listed as 6-foot-1, 175 pounds, the only concern in Golson's recruitment as a quarterback was his height. College scouts generally prefer a taller QB that can see over his offensive linemen, but Golson answered those critics by using his speed and quickness to roll out of the pocket and make pinpoint passes.
His arm strength and accuracy make him an exception to the “system quarterback” label applied to a lot of spread offense quarterbacks. He is a four-star prospect on Rivals and his verbal commitment probably won't deter coaches from continuing to recruit him. Golson said he is open to others, but for now will be a Tar Heel.
”This is a dream come true for me,” Golson said. “I've always wanted to go to North Carolina and play both sports, and now I'm going to get that opportunity.”
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