The stars were out Thursday night at Statesboro High School as the Statesboro Athletic Hall of Fame welcomed in its newest class of athletes.   
    The organization holds its annual Hall of Fame induction every three years.  This year's group helped show the diversity and success in a variety of sports from football, to basketball to baseball, track and coaching.
    "I think that's one of the true legacies of Statesboro High," said 2002 inductee Darin Van Tassell,  "Jeremy Mincey brings a Super Bowl ring with him, we've got coaches like Kenny Tucker and Jack Webb who have influenced so many people, Mitch Taylor was an all star caliber performer on the collegiate level in basketball, Hugh Deal takes us back to the 1950's and went on to sign with Georgia, and Phillip Roesel went on to run track at LSU and still holds the mile record here he set back in the 70's., those are all significant achievements that we all get a chance to celebrate tonight."
    The 2017 Hall of Fame class includes:

Jeff Brannen — 1984
    "In 1983 we were region champs and got beat in the second round, and then in 1984 we made it all the way to the final four and got beat in overtime.  I remember that because we got so close to making it to the championship it was heartbreaking."

Hugh Deal — 1959
    "My senior year we were playing Savannah High and there was a fumble, their defensive back scooped it up and took off, I was a lineman and he had a 10 yard head start but I ran him down and made the tackle.  They didn't score and in fact the game ended in a 0-0 tie."

Jeremy Mincey — 2002
    "I will always remember that state championship year.  The players, the coaches the life lessons.  I've traveled around the globe and won a Super Bowl but there's no place like Statesboro Georgia.  It grounded me and gave me the fight and the heart I've needed to be successful."

Phillip Roesel — 1977
    "I think aside from all the different places we traveled when I was running, I will remember the coaches the most and the influence they had in my life.  Coach Robert Poole, Coach Clark Collins, Coach Lee Hill they taught me so much in my time at Statesboro High school."

Mitch Taylor — 1991
    "In 1990 we were in AAA and we lost to Westover in Macon.  That off season me and Keith LeGree got together with some of the other players and worked real hard to get better, and then in 1991 we moved up to AAAA and were able to go all the way winning the state title, what a feeling that was."

Kenny Tucker — Honorary
    "I was very fortunate to spend my career coaching here at Statesboro High.  The kids, the parents all the good times here it's just too hard to put my finger on one memory it's just a collage of 30 years of memories that will last me a lifetime."

Jack Webb — Honorary
    "I remember when Statesboro played at the old Fair Road facility and following my brother Stacy around watching the 1966 state championship team.  I then went on to play and then coach which included one state championship and two runners up, it's a pretty special place for me."