Former BE star to be honored

The Bishop England athletic department plans to honor former four-sport star Derek Hughes, who passed away in mid-July from complications of diabetes.

Hughes earned letters in wrestling and basketball and another four in track and field. But he is best remembered for his football accomplishments. He led Bishop England to the Lower State championship game in 1976 with 1,281 yards rushing and was named to the Parade All-American team in '77.

Bishop England athletic director Paul Runey said Hughes will be honored when the Class of 1978 holds its 30th class reunion in October. The school does not retire numbers. But Runey said he's tracked down a jersey similar to the ones the Bishops wore when Hughes played and will have Hughes' number, 42, added to the jersey. It will be displayed in the schools' trophy case.

Kelly Molony, a member of the Class of '78 and a member of the reunion committee, said Hughes touched the lives of most of his classmates.

"The neat thing about it, he obviously was a great football player," Molony said, "but he appealed to everyone. He was loved by everybody. He crossed racial and economic lines. And, none of the success he enjoyed ever went to his head."

Hughes, who died in Columbus, Ohio, went to Michigan State on a football scholarship. He rushed for 626 yards as a sophomore, and was unreal as a kickoff returner. He was second in the nation, averaging 31.1 yards on 16 returns, including touchdown returns of 100 and 98 yards.

There was talk of a possible Heisman Trophy.

But he blew out his right knee in a practice his junior season and underwent surgery to repair the ACL. Eleven months later, Hughes suffered the same injury to the same knee.

Undeterred, he played briefly in the now-defunct USFL.

Berkeley jamboree

The third annual Berkeley County football jamboree will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Goose Creek.

Hanahan plays Cross in the first quarter. Hanahan plays Berkeley in the second quarter, while the Stags battle Goose Creek in the third quarter. Timberland scrimmages Cross in the fourth quarter, and the Wolves play Stratford in the fifth quarter. The action concludes with Goose Creek vs. Stratford.

Admission is $6.

Pastre picked

Stratford's Caroline Pastre, who also plays for the Hurricanes 18-U softball team, has been selected to attend the third annual Queen of Diamonds Showcase South. The event will be held Aug. 30-31 at Winthrop University in Rock Hill. The Queen of Diamonds Showcase is the largest college showcase for high school-age softball players, this year's events will draw nearly 2,500 applicants from 33 states and Canada. The Queen of Diamonds Showcase is designed to give players the opportunity to demonstrate their skills in front of college coaches who may be interested in recruiting them.

Pastre, a rising senior, has been an All-Lowcountry selection for two years and was all-state as a junior.

Rosters needed

Coaches of all fall sports teams are asked to e-mail or fax rosters for their teams. Rosters can be e-mailed to pbowman@postandcourier.com or faxed to 937-5579.