Mississippi High Schools

Brookhaven, MS (Lincoln County); home of the Panthers; Brookhaven High School in the county seat of Lincoln County, southwest Mississippi; alma mater of Lance Alworth (Pro Football Hall of Fame 1978; University of Arkansas; San Diego Chargers, Dallas Cowboys; nicknamed "Bambi" for his gazelle-like leaping ability and speed; one of the most electrifying wide receivers of the American Football League era and the first AFL player to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame; seven consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons from 1963 to 1969, at a time when such consistency was almost unheard of; his remarkable combination of speed, hands, and explosive leaping ability made him the most feared receiver in the AFL and one of the most spectacular players of his generation)

Clarksdale, MS (Coahoma County; Mississippi Delta); home of the Tigers; located in Clarksdale, the county seat of Coahoma County and one of the most historically significant cities in the American South — widely recognized as the birthplace of the Delta Blues, the musical form from which rock and roll, jazz, and virtually all of American popular music descended; the crossroads of highways 61 and 49 in Clarksdale is the legendary site where Robert Johnson reportedly sold his soul to the devil to play guitar; Clarksdale's rich culture of competition, creativity, and community has produced athletes, musicians, and leaders of the highest distinction; the Clarksdale High School program reflects the deep sporting tradition of the Mississippi Delta region

Columbia, MS (Marion County); historically Black high school in Columbia, serving the African American community of Marion County during the era of Mississippi school segregation; alma mater of Walter Payton (Pro Football Hall of Fame 1993; Jackson State University; Chicago Bears; nicknamed "Sweetness"; widely regarded as the greatest all-around running back in the history of professional football; 16,726 career rushing yards and 110 touchdowns; set the NFL all-time rushing record on October 7, 1984, against the New Orleans Saints; known for never missing a game in 13 seasons — he played in 186 consecutive games; a player of extraordinary toughness, versatility, and character whose legacy transcends football statistics)

Crawford, MS (Oktibbeha County); historically Black high school in the small community of Crawford, near Starkville; alma mater of Jerry Rice (Pro Football Hall of Fame 2010; Mississippi Valley State; San Francisco 49ers; universally regarded as the greatest wide receiver in the history of professional football; discovered almost by accident when Mississippi Valley State coach Archie "Gunslinger" Cooley observed Rice catching passes at this school while visiting campus; recruited to MVSU despite no offers from major programs; finished his career with 1,549 receptions, 22,895 receiving yards, and 197 receiving touchdowns — all NFL records; three Super Bowl championships; 13× Pro Bowl; a player so dominant that the measure of greatness among wide receivers is defined entirely in relation to him)

Drew, MS (Sunflower County; Mississippi Delta); home of the Wildcats; located in the small Delta town of Drew in the heart of the Mississippi Delta; alma mater of Archie Manning (University of Mississippi; New Orleans Saints, Houston Oilers, Minnesota Vikings; one of the most celebrated quarterbacks in Ole Miss history and the most beloved figure in New Orleans Saints history; named to two Pro Bowls; despite playing on weak Saints teams throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s he was consistently regarded by peers as one of the most gifted quarterbacks in the NFL; father of Peyton Manning and Eli Manning, both of whom became Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks — making the Manning family the most accomplished quarterback family in the history of professional football)

Forest, MS (Scott County); home of the Bearcats; located in the county seat of Scott County in central Mississippi; alma mater of Deuce McAllister (University of Mississippi; New Orleans Saints; one of the most beloved players in Saints history; led the NFL in rushing touchdowns in 2003 with 16 TDs; a powerful, hard-running back who represented the Saints with great character during one of the franchise's most difficult periods — including the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, when his presence as the team's star player became a symbol of resilience for the entire Gulf Coast; his career was shortened by multiple knee injuries but his impact on the Saints franchise and the New Orleans community is still felt today)

Gulfport, MS (Harrison County); home of the Admirals; one of the premier public high schools on the Mississippi Gulf Coast; Gulfport is the second-largest city in Mississippi and a major port city on the Gulf of Mexico; the Gulfport High School athletic program has produced college and professional athletes across multiple sports for generations; alma mater of Lem Barney (Pro Football Hall of Fame 1992; Jackson State University; Detroit Lions; one of the finest cornerbacks of his era, a two-time Pro Bowl selection known for exceptional ball-hawking skills and athleticism; his 1967 rookie season was one of the most dominant debut seasons by a cornerback in NFL history — he returned two of his seven interceptions for touchdowns; also an accomplished kick returner and return specialist; inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992)

Hattiesburg, MS (Forrest County); home of the Tigers; one of the most storied high school athletic programs in southern Mississippi; Hattiesburg is the third-largest city in Mississippi — known as "The Hub City" for its position at the intersection of major rail and highway routes — and home to the University of Southern Mississippi (Golden Eagles), whose football, basketball, and baseball programs have brought national attention to the region; Hattiesburg High School has been a feeder program for the Golden Eagles and for programs across the SEC and Sun Belt conferences for decades; produced generations of athletes who went on to professional careers; one of the most historically significant prep programs in the southern half of the state

Jackson, MS (Hinds County); historically Black high school in Jackson, serving the city's African American community; named after James Hill, an African American Mississippi politician during Reconstruction who served as secretary of state; one of the most significant Black educational institutions in the history of Jackson and central Mississippi; produced generations of athletes, educators, civic leaders, and professionals; a proud institution in Jackson's historically rich African American community; home of the Purple Pythons; consistently produced college football and basketball prospects for programs throughout the state and across the country

Jackson, MS (Hinds County); historically Black high school in Jackson; home of the Bulldogs; one of the oldest African American educational institutions in the Mississippi state capital, serving Jackson's Black community through the era of segregation and beyond; alma mater of Monta Ellis (NBA; Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans; undrafted out of high school before being selected by Golden State in the second round of the 2005 NBA Draft; became one of the NBA's premier scoring guards with a career average of 19.3 points per game; 2006-07 NBA Most Improved Player; one of the most electrifying scorers of his generation and one of the most successful basketball players ever produced by a Jackson, MS high school)

Jackson, MS (Hinds County); one of Jackson's premier public high schools; home of the Mustangs; one of the oldest and most academically prestigious public high schools in the state capital; Murrah has produced a remarkable array of Jackson's political, professional, and athletic leadership across generations; consistently ranked among the top public high schools in Mississippi for academic achievement; a storied institution in the heart of Jackson that has educated some of Mississippi's most distinguished alumni; known for its competitive athletics program and its tradition of producing students who go on to leadership positions throughout Mississippi and beyond

Kiln, MS (Hancock County; unincorporated); home of the Hawks; located in the Gulf Coast community of Kiln in Hancock County; alma mater of Brett Favre (Pro Football Hall of Fame 2016; University of Southern Mississippi; Green Bay Packers, New York Jets, Minnesota Vikings; one of the most celebrated and beloved quarterbacks in the history of professional football; started 297 consecutive regular season games — the second-longest streak at the position in NFL history; three consecutive NFL MVP awards (1995, 1996, 1997); led the Green Bay Packers to victory in Super Bowl XXXI following the 1996 season; his father, Irvin Favre, was the head football coach and athletic director at this school; Brett grew up throwing passes to teammates on the fields of Hancock North Central and went on to become one of the most electrifying players the game has ever seen)

Laurel, MS (Jones County); historically Black high school in Laurel, serving the African American community of Jones County during the era of Mississippi school segregation; alma mater of Ralph Boston (USA Track & Field Hall of Fame; Tennessee State University; 1960 Rome Olympics gold medal in the long jump — in the same jump he set a new world record of 26 feet 11¾ inches, breaking Jesse Owens's 25-year-old mark; silver medal at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics; bronze medal at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics; the first man to break the 27-foot barrier in the long jump; one of the greatest track and field athletes in Mississippi history, largely overlooked compared to the state's football and baseball legends but a world-class champion who represented the United States at three consecutive Olympic Games)

Madison, MS (Madison County); home of the Jaguars; one of the most successful and competitive high school athletic programs in Mississippi in the 21st century; located in Madison, one of the fastest-growing and most affluent suburban communities in the greater Jackson metropolitan area; Madison Central has emerged as a perennial contender for Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) state championships across football, basketball, baseball, soccer, and tennis; consistently sends multiple athletes to Division I programs each year; represents the new face of Mississippi prep athletics as population growth in the Jackson suburbs has created a fertile environment for elite high school sports

Mount Olive, MS (Covington County); home of the Tigers; located in the small community of Mount Olive in Covington County, south-central Mississippi; alma mater of Steve McNair (Pro Football Hall of Fame 2024; Alcorn State University; Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens; co-NFL MVP in 2003, sharing the award with Peyton Manning with a remarkable 24 touchdowns and 7 interceptions; led the Tennessee Titans to Super Bowl XXXIV following the 1999 season, a game the Titans lost by a single yard — one of the most dramatic conclusions in Super Bowl history; a dual-threat quarterback of exceptional courage who played through injuries that would have sidelined most quarterbacks; known by teammates and opponents alike for his toughness, competitiveness, and leadership; one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the AFC)

Philadelphia, MS (Neshoba County); home of the Tornadoes; located in the county seat of Neshoba County in east-central Mississippi; alma mater of Marcus Dupree (University of Oklahoma; Los Angeles Rams, Portland Thunder USFL; the most celebrated high school football recruit in the history of the state of Mississippi and one of the most legendary prep recruits in the history of American football; in 1982 he was described by recruiting analysts as perhaps the most physically gifted running back prospect ever seen, combining 6'2", 228 lbs. of size with 4.38 speed in the 40; chose Oklahoma over more than 300 scholarship offers; his career at Oklahoma was cut short by conflict with coach Barry Switzer and a serious knee injury; his story was later told in Willie Morris's acclaimed book "The Courting of Marcus Dupree" — a meditation on Mississippi, race, football, and the burden of extraordinary athletic gifts)

Starkville, MS (Oktibbeha County); home of the Yellow Jackets; located in Starkville, the county seat of Oktibbeha County and home to Mississippi State University; one of the more historically significant high school programs in northeast Mississippi; Starkville is the birthplace of James "Cool Papa" Bell (National Baseball Hall of Fame 1974), the legendary center fielder of the Negro Leagues whose extraordinary speed made him a living legend and whose birth in Starkville made him one of the most famous athletes ever associated with northeast Mississippi; the Starkville High School program has also benefited from its proximity to Mississippi State University, one of the SEC's marquee athletic programs, as the university's presence in the community has elevated the sports culture of the entire region

Yazoo City, MS (Yazoo County; Mississippi Delta); home of the Indians (historically) / Yazoo City High School; located in Yazoo City, the county seat of Yazoo County in the western Delta region of Mississippi; alma mater of Willie Brown (Pro Football Hall of Fame 1984; Grambling State University; Oakland Raiders, Denver Broncos; one of the greatest cornerbacks in the history of professional football; his 75-yard interception return for a touchdown in Super Bowl XI off Fran Tarkenton became one of the iconic plays of the 1970s NFL; a founding piece of the Oakland Raiders' defensive identity during the franchise's dynasty period of the 1970s; played 16 professional seasons and was named All-AFL/AFC six times; inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility)