Through the years, varsity sports have been a major part of what brings the North Atlanta school, community, and students together. In NAHS’s history, hundreds of dedicated and hardworking athletes have roamed the hall of the 11 stories, while also seeing immense success in their respective sports. After their time as a Warrior, many of these athletes have moved on to larger challenges, competing in collegiate competitions and some cases, professional play. Who are some of these athletes, and what are they doing now?
Xaden Benson played safety and wide receiver for the football team and center fielder for the baseball team during his time at North Atlanta. His leadership, skills on the football field, and intelligence landed him a scholarship to play for the Harvard University Crimson. In his first collegiate appearance against the Stetson Hatters, Benson recorded an impressive first interception with the seconds winding down, capping off an impressive debut.
Gaines Wood played as a long snapper for the Warriors during his time at North Atlanta. After signing with Georgia Southern in 2022, Wood redshirted his first season with the Eagles, and how now played his way into the starting lineup for the 2024 season. Wood is the only North Atlanta alumni to be featured in the College Football 25 video game.
Kayleigh Stargell ran track for the Warriors during her time at North Atlanta and obtained school records in triple jump, long jump, and the 300-meter hurdles. Due to her success at North Atlanta, Stargell was nationally ranked within the top 10 in her class and committed to the Vanderbilt Commodores, where she is currently a freshman
Mia Stimpson primarily ran track for the Warriors during her time at North Atlanta, while also competing for the women’s basketball team. She specialized in sprints and jumps, and got lots of recognition from colleges when she won MVP of the Atlanta Public Schools championship in 2024. Stimpson committed to run for Elon, where she is currently a freshman this year.
Messiah Thompson played basketball as a point guard for the Warriors during his time at North Atlanta. As a senior, Thompson received a First Team All-State selection after averaging 26 points and 9 assists per game and leading the Warriors to a 20-9 overall record as a senior. Thompson committed to play basketball at Alabama A&M before transferring to Long Beach State after one year, seeing action in the 2024 NCAA tournament last year in the 2023-2024 season.
Isaiah Drake played center fielder for the Warriors baseball team during his time at North Atlanta. After two of the most impressive seasons North Atlanta baseball has ever seen in his junior and senior years, Drake committed to play baseball for Georgia Tech, before declaring for the 2023 MLB, getting drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 5th round. Drake is currently on the Augusta GreenJackets Single-A Team and is making his way up to the Major Leagues.
Antonio Anderson played shortstop and third base for the Warriors baseball team during his time at North Atlanta. His dominance at the plate and leadership on the diamond allowed him to commit to Georgia Tech in 2023, before getting drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the third round. Anderson is currently on the Salem Red Sox Singe-A team and is making a push for the Major League roster.
Virginia Odom played defender for the women’s soccer team during her time at North Atlanta. After being named the 2023 Class 6A Region 4 Player of the Year and to the Georgia high school soccer All-State Team, Odom committed to play for the Georgia Bulldogs women’s soccer team. As a freshman in 2023, Odom played in 20 matches and has now made her way into the starting lineup for the 2024 season
Sage Glover was a track and field standout while attending North Atlanta. But all the while in high school she was a significant standout on her high-level club soccer team, so much so that she was heavily recruited to play soccer at the D1 level and has had a noteworthy playing career so far for the the Louisiana State University Tigers who play in the powerhouse SEC Conference. During her time as a Tiger, she has won an SEC Freshman of the Week award, while also being tied as a second-leading scorer in her sophomore year. This season, she is a full-time starter and is one of the most influential players on the team.
As North Atlanta sports continue to grow as the years go on, it would be no surprise to see more Warriors take on bigger athletic challenges beyond high school. All of these North Atlanta alumni show mass amounts of spirit and grit during their years as Warriors and all of them are well on their way to making this school proud.
