The Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2021 doesn’t have a real Central Georgia connection.

          But it’s certainly loaded with names familiar to most sports fans, in Georgia and around the globe.

          Three Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, two Atlanta Braves, two Georgia Bulldogs, a sportswriter of national renown, one of the state’s top high school football coaches, and a WNBA player making a huge impact off the court will be the latest inductees in the spring.

          Induction weekend is scheduled for the weekend of May 21, 2021.

 

          From the Hall’s release Tuesday afternoon:

Tony Barnhart

          Known as “Mr. College Football”, Tony Barnhart is a Greensboro native and one of the most knowledgeable sports personalities working today. Tony spent 25 years as the national college football reporter for the Atlanta-Journal Constitution and worked with CBS Sports before joining the SEC Network during its launch. He contributes on radio to 680 The Fan in Atlanta, has written multiple books on college football, and was named Georgia Sportswriter of the Year in 1999.

          Tony has been honored with the Bert McGrane Award from the College Football Writers Association and named a Grady Fellow by the Henry Grady School of Journalism at UGA.

Stewart Cink

          Originally from Florence, Alabama, but calling the Peach State his home, Stewart Cink attended Georgia Tech, playing golf for the Yellow Jackets. After graduating in 1995, he turned professional, joining the PGA Tour in 1997 and garnering Rookie of the Year.

          A consistently successful golfer, Stewart placed third in the Masters (2008), PGA Championship (1999), and the U.S. Open (2001). He then won the British Open in 2009 after a four-hole playoff against Tom Watson. Each Fall, Stewart and fellow professional golfer and Atlantan Billy Andrade host the East Lake Invitational which benefits the East Lake Foundation.

Tom Glavine

          The two-time Cy Young Award-winning Tom Glavine was one of the Atlanta Braves most prolific pitchers during their reign in the 1990s. A 10-time All-Star with a career 3.54 ERA, he is one of only 24 pitchers to record 300 career wins. Tom helped lead the Braves to a World Series win in 1995 and was named MVP of the series.

          Known for his excellent control of the ball and unwavering consistency, Tom was awarded four Silver Slugger Awards (as the best hitting pitcher) and was the National League wins leader five times. His number 47 jersey was retired by the Braves in 2010 and he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014.

Joseph Hamilton

          Regarded as one of Georgia Tech’s greatest quarterbacks, Joe Hamilton was Tech’s highest finisher in the Heisman Trophy race. From 1996 to 1999, Joe set ACC records in career yards for total offense and in pass efficiency, still ranking second in both categories today.

          His senior year with the Rambling Wreck was a productive one, with Joe being named a Heisman finalist, winning ACC Player of the Year, and being awarded the Davey O’Brien Award for most outstanding quarterback in the NCAA.

          He was selected as part of the inaugural class for ACC Football Legends in 2005 and inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2014.

Janet Harris

          An outstanding basketball player at Marshall High School in Chicago, Janet Harris moved south to play college basketball for the University of Georgia, becoming the first player in NCAA women’s basketball history to record 2,500 points and 1,250 rebounds in her four years with the Lady Bulldogs.

          Janet led her team to two Final Four appearances. Representing USA Basketball, she garnered three gold medals. She went on to play professionally throughout the world. Janet is honored in numerous Hall of Fames including the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

Brian Jordan

          A player of dual talent, Brian Jordan played professionally for both the NFL and the MLB. He made his debut in professional football for the Atlanta Falcons in 1989, and had five interceptions and four sacks before deciding to play baseball exclusively, signing with the St. Louis Cardinals.

          Brian had two stints with the Atlanta Braves during his baseball career and was named an All-Star in 1999. He recorded a .282 career batting average with 184 home runs, 821 RBI, and a .988 fielding percentage playing all three outfield positions and first base. He currently serves as broadcaster on Braves Live for Fox Sports winning a Sports Emmy and is active in the Atlanta community with his Brian Jordan Foundation.

Ray Lamb

          Ray Lamb is one of high school football’s coaching greats. He started his 35-year coaching career at Warrenton High School, coaching his team to two state titles. Moving on to Commerce High School in 1967, Ray helped turn the Tigers into a winning team, eventually claiming a state title in 1981.

          In 1993, Ray was named Coordinator of High School Relations for the University of Georgia. Holding the position until 2011, he was a liaison between UGA coaches and high school coaches throughout the state and region.

Maya Moore

          One of the most accomplished women’s basketball players in the world, Maya Moore started her career at Collins Hill High School in Suwanee, Georgia and was named Naismith Prep Player of the Year her junior and senior years. At the University of Connecticut, Maya led her team to two NCAA Championships and multiple Player of the Year awards.

          Drafted number one overall by the Minnesota Lynx in 2011, Maya led the Lynx to four WNBA Championships and was awarded MVP in 2014.

Matt Stinchcomb

A USA Today High School All-American at Parkview High School in Lilburn, Matt Stinchcomb played college football for the University of Georgia. As an offensive tackle, Matt was a First Team All-American in 1998 and a two-time All-American in 1997 and 1998. He was awarded the Jim Parker Trophy in 1998 as the nation's top collegiate offensive lineman. He was named to the SEC's First Team All-Decade Team for the 1990s. Matt played seven seasons in the NFL with the Oakland Raiders and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In 2009, Matt was named to UGA's Circle of Honor and inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2018. He's currently a college football analyst for ESPNU and SEC Network.

 

          Barnhart and Stinchcomb have been regular visitors to Macon as a guest speaker at the Macon Touchdown Club, and Jordan is involved with assorted local charitable functions.. Lamb is the father of former Mercer head football coach Bobby Lamb.