The current generation of high school athletes faces a multitude of unprecedented challenges, due to Covid-19. Obstacles, such as quarantining, adjusting academically to remote learning, and shortened/canceled seasons are just the tip of the iceberg; of the adversities that high school athletes face in 2021. I believe that the issues young athletes are experiencing today; should be combated with high levels of praise and recognition from their peers that have access to relevant platforms. That is why I will be profiling a high school athlete weekly, to showcase their accomplishments in the Covid-19 era. If you want to nominate an athlete for the “Weekly High School Spotlight” please email me at collin@nccollective.fan or collin@espn730.com
This week’s athlete in the spotlight is Luke Rector from Valdese, North Carolina. The 6’4 300 lb multi-sport athlete is a natural on the gridiron. Luke is a sophomore at Draughn High School, and he has earned a reputation as one of the best high school football players in North Carolina. Luke is ranked as the #2 offensive/defensive lineman (NC, class of 2023) and is the #13 overall player in North Carolina (via prepredzone.com). As a freshman at Draughn High School he earned Northwestern 2A All-Conference honors for the 2019-20′ season. Rector’s size and athleticism as a lineman, earned him a trip to the VTO All-American Challenge held at IMG Academy in Florida. His performance at the camp solidified that he is the real deal against other top level talent, which was evident due to the aforementioned rankings via Prep Redzone. In Luke’s sophomore campaign he continued to excel on both sides of the ball; leading Draughn High School to a 5-2 overall record and 3rd in the Northwestern 2A Conference. Luke also excelled at basketball, earning Northwestern 2A All-Conference honors for the 2020-21′ season. In his sophomore season he almost averaged a double-double with 10.3 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. He finished the season shooting a stellar 50% from the field and also added 1.6 assist per game.
Luke Rector’s most impressive statistic is his 3.8 GPA in the classroom. His ability to perform at a high level in the classroom, and his upward progression as an athlete; is the reason he was the first athlete featured in the weekly spotlight. When asked about his goals for the future Luke said “I just want to keep working to be the best that I can possibly be on and off the field. My main goal is to play college football for a major D1 program, and eventually play in the NFL”. He would go on to say “I stay motivated to get better each day, because of the great support I have from my family. My Mom, Dad, and my Sister inspire me to be the best I can be night in and night out”.
Keep an eye out for Luke Rector, as he continues to set the standard for high school athletes everywhere.
