[More Cowbell]

I'm having a hard time remembering, but I thought Hatfield transferred to Valley after 8th grade, going into 9th. I'm fairly sure he was a contributor to the Hornets high school team as young as the 7th grade, maybe even 6th. I thought there was someone who came from Johns Creek or Mullins too.

Nope, Hatfield played for Virgie in middle school. I even remember seeing a very cool picture circulating around back then, that showed all five players in their respective teams' uniforms. Virgie, led by Hatfield and the Newsomes, had defeated Justice and Varney's Dorton squad in the finals of some middle school state tournament (BCI or something like that). Also, I was thinking he started at Virgie in 6th grade, but I won't swear to it. All I'm positive of is that he played for the Eagles in 8th grade.

As for someone being from Johns Creek or Mullins, none of the main guys were. The only bench players that saw any minutes other than garbage time were Zach Ramey and Tanner Tackett. Ramey had gone to Pikeville, was homeschooled for a year, then enrolled at Valley. Tackett was from Virgie. Beyond that, I suppose there might have been a reserve from JC or Mullins. But if there was I don't recall, and if so he wasn't a major contributor anyway.