Oct. 11, 1947 was a historic day. For the first time in history, a Black football player played below the Mason-Dixon line for the visiting Harvard Crimson at Virginia. However, it would take another 17 years before the first Black athlete suited up for the Cavaliers.
That monumental moment arrived in 1964, when George King III became the first Black varsity athlete at the University as a member of the wrestling team and men’s lacrosse team.
Seven years later, Harrison Davis, Kent Merritt and John Rainey became the first Black players in the football program in 1971. That same year, Al Drummond became the first Black player in the men’s basketball program.
Over the following years, integration continued across other programs until today, when there are several superstar Black Cavaliers across the 25-plus varsity programs at the University. In honor of Black History Month, two staff writers highlight some of the superstar Black student-athletes to wear the Orange and Blue.
Which Black Cavalier is currently the most underrated star?
Mofeoluwa Akande, Staff Writer: A key contributor to the men’s track and field team, junior sprinter Peter Djan deserves recognition for his key contributions on and off the track.
Specializing in short sprints and hurdles, Djan has already raced out to a strong 2025 indoor season. At the Virginia Tech Invitational, Djan ran a blistering 6.78 60-meter dash time, clinching number three all-time in Virginia’s history books.
This strong start comes after a sophomore 2024 campaign in which he earned All-ACC second team honors in the 60-meter hurdles. He also earned a series of indoor wins at the Virginia Tech Invitational and Virginia Tech Challenge and two finals appearances at the ACC Outdoor Championships in the 110-meter hurdles and 100-meter sprints — aiding the men's team to an ACC title.
Off the track, Djan stars in the classroom, being named to the All-ACC academic team last indoor season, while also receiving ACC Honor roll in back to back outdoor seasons.
One of the premier student athletes at Virginia, Djan looks to continue to thrive in being a tremendous representative for the Black community.
While Virginia’s distance team gets a lot of well-deserved credit for their consistent showings in meets, Djan should have more time in the spotlight.
Cierra Lyles, Staff Writer: I wouldn’t call him underrated, but senior baseball pitcher Jay Woolfolk is a star that should be talked about more.
Since his freshman year, Woolfolk has been adding to his trophy shelf, earning Freshman All-American honors from Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and Second Team Freshman All-American honors from D1 Baseball.
In 2023, Woolfolk was invited as one of 31 underclassmen to be a part of the Team USA Collegiate National Team, making four appearances with a 1.93 ERA. Woolfolk was even credited for the win against Chinese Taipei, in a 7-6 nailbiter.
Last season, Woolfolk totaled 67 strikeouts in 62.1 innings pitched, helping lead the Cavaliers to the men’s College World Series. The then-junior was also named the 2024 Charlottesville Regional Most Outstanding Player after holding strong for eight innings against Mississippi State in the Regional Final.
Now headed into his senior season, Woolfolk deserves all the praise possible for what he has done for the Virginia baseball program and how he has represented the Cavaliers on a national level.
Which Black coach or player has gone on to have the most successful career?
MA: Plenty of names come to mind when thinking about former Black players who have thrived after their time at Virginia. After long consideration, I would be doing myself a diservice if I didn’t highlight former women’s basketball star Dawn Staley amongst this Cavalier royalty.
Her time at Virginia was incredible. She won the National Player of the Year award twice in 1991 and 1992 and also led the Cavaliers to three straight Final Four appearances from 1990-1992.
Despite her collegiate accolades, some would say her career afterwards was even better. Staley was drafted to the WNBA late in age at 29 by the Charlotte Sting. She had a respectable tenure and received five consecutive WNBA All-Star selections. Staley was also electric in the red, white and blue as she represented Team USA from 1996-2004, winning three gold medals while being named the Olympic flag bearer in 2004.
After a successful playing career, Staley embarked on a coaching journey that has brought her even more success. In 17 seasons coaching South Carolina women’s basketball, Staley has racked up seven SEC tournament titles, three NCAA national titles, while being awarded multiple coach of the year awards at the conference and national level. Claiming her first national title as a coach, she was just the second Black coach to do so at the women’s level. Her success story continues as she looks to guide the Gamecocks to back-to-back national titles.
Looking through the lens of Staley’s career, it is clear she’s become a staple in women's athletics, and the epitome of success within the Black community.
CL: When I can think of the countless, successful Black athletes that have been at Virginia over the years, I have to go with former quarterback — and now Associate Athletic Director — Shawn Moore.
Moore was a starter for the Cavaliers from 1988-1990, a crucial period when he helped elevate the status of the football program. Throughout his time under center, Moore led Virginia to three bowl games — including the program’s first ever New Year’s Day game — and led them to their first No. 1 national ranking.
In addition to team success, Moore himself set 41 school, ACC and NCAA individual records. Out of his program records that still stand to this day, most notable are the most total offense yards at 7,487 and most touchdowns at 83. In his senior season, Moore finished fourth in voting for the 1990 Heisman Trophy. After winning several collegiate honors, he went on to play for the Denver Broncos and Arizona Cardinals, before finishing his career with the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 1995.
Now, Moore serves as Associate Director of development for the Virginia Athletics department. As associate director, he accelerates fundraising for the renovation of the McCue Center, construction of the new Olympic Sports Center, construction of a third natural grass field and development of a path that connects Central to North Grounds.
Overall, Moore can be seen as an inspiration for many young Black athletes then and now. He was not only one of the best of his time, but also one of the best the Cavaliers have ever seen.
Throughout the history of Virginia Athletics, who has had the most groundbreaking legacy?
MA: The great Ralph Sampson has had the most groundbreaking legacy, as one of the most iconic Cavaliers to ever play for the University.
Arguably the most accomplished Virginia basketball player of all-time, the 7-foot-4 towering Sampson averaged 16.9 points and 11.4 rebounds during his four years at Virginia. Dominating at the center position, he was awarded the National Player of the Year award three times in a row from 1981-1983, the first Black student-athlete in collegiate history to do so.
The impactful Sampson navigated his Cavalier squad to a NIT Tournament title and a Final Four appearance from 1980-1981, respectively. His heroics resulted in his iconic No. 50 jersey being hung from the rafters at University Hall in 1993.
At the next level, he represented Virginia strongly in the NBA, as he was the first ever Cavalier to get drafted first overall to the Houston Rockets in 1983. He also became the first Virginia basketball player to win the Rookie of the Year Award. Sampson was also the first to get selected into the All-Star game in 1984 — averaging an impressive 21.1 points and 11.1 rebounds.
Capping off his sensational playing career, Sampson was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012, the first Cavalier on the hardwood to receive this high honor.
Becoming a household name amongst the Virginia faithful, his accolades are timeless and his legacy continues to live on as an example for all around the globe to follow.
CL: We have seen many Black student athletes have phenomenal careers, but when looking at who has had the most groundbreaking legacy, it is unsure how long it would have taken for Black women to be involved in Virginia sports if it wasn’t for women’s basketball star Sharlene Brightly.
Brightly played for Virginia in the early 1970s, where she became the first Black woman to ever play any collegiate sport. Brightly played a key role on the first women’s basketball team in University history. After gaining a degree in Linguistics from the University, Brightly worked in telecommunications in Northern Virginia and was very active in her community.
Although she only played basketball for two seasons before giving it up to focus on academics, she broke down a barrier that stood for far too long.
Without Brightly and the adversity she faced, many women stars to come — such as sophomore guard Kymora Johnson of the women’s basketball program, senior soccer defender Laney Rouse or senior track and field thrower Brooke Lumpkin — may not have the platform they have now.
Brightly truly set a precedent for Virginia sports, one that is unforgettable.
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