Five most dominant high school athletes in Georgia history

Herschel Walker, Johnson County (Wrightsville), 1979
Walker ranks as quite possibly the greatest high school running back ever. He certainly has the credentials at Johnson County, where he rushed for 3,179 yards as a senior and led his team to a state championship. As a result, Walker was the first winner of the Dial Award recognizing the national scholar-athlete of the year. The following year, Walker nearly won the Heisman Trophy after a spectacular freshman season and became the first true freshman to become an All-American. He ended up winning the Heisman in 1982 and joined the USFL. He eventually played in the NFL and was a two-time Pro Bowl selection while rushing for 8,225 career yards.

Fran Tarkenton, Athens (now Clarke Central), 1957
A three-sport star in high school, Tarkenton led Athens to a state championship in football his junior year, beating famed Valdosta for the title. He earned All-State honors in football, basketball and baseball before heading to Georgia. He played quarterback in the NFL, setting the league record for yards, touchdowns and games won by a quarterback.

Walt Frazier, Howard (Atlanta), 1962
Known as a Hall of Fame basketball player, Frazier actually received greater attention for his quarterback skills on the gridiron in football. However, playing at segregated Howard, according to NBA.com, Frazier recognized that there were no black quarterbacks at the professional level and that basketball offered him the best chance to make the pro leagues. He went to Southern Illinois on a basketball scholarship and led the team to an NIT championship. As a member of the New York Knicks, he was a four-time All-Pro and a seven-time All-Star.

Gwen Torrence, Columbia (Decatur), 1983
Before winning gold medals in 1992 at Barcelona and 1996 at Atlanta, Torrence was a track standout in her home state of Georgia. She won state championships in the sprint races three years running and was an All-American her senior year. She won four national titles while at Georgia and was an All-American 12 times. She's won seven gold medals and 14 medals total in international competition.

Wyomia Tyus, Griffin, 1963
Tyus set national records in the 100-meter dash at AAU meets while in high school and qualified for the Olympics a year after graduating from high school. She finished first in the 100 meters at Tokyo and anchored the silver medal-relay team. She also competed in the Mexico City Olympics in 1968 and became the first sprinter to win the 100 meters in back-to-back Olympics. She also set a world record in the event and anchored the relay team that also won the gold medal.

Also considered: Calvin Johnson, Sandy Creek, football; Dwight Howard, Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, basketball; Cam Newton, Westlake, football; Eric Berry, Creekside, football; Robert Mathis, McNair, football; Louis Williams, South Gwinnett, basketball; Jeff Malone, Southwest, basketball; Horace Grant, Hancock Central, basketball; Dale Ellis, Marietta, basketball; Frank Thomas, Columbus, baseball; Johnny Mize, Demorest, baseball; Teresa Edwards, Cairo, basketball.

Note: Ty Cobb not considered because he did not play for high school team.