The Greatest High School Football Player in Virginia History?
Most people know Allen Iverson as the NBA’s pound-for-pound toughest player — a cultural icon who left defenders stumbling with his legendary crossover. But before he became The Answer on the hardwood, he was a problem for defenses on the football field.
Iverson was electrifying with the pigskin in hand. A dual-threat quarterback who could outrun entire defenses, make defenders miss like Barry Sanders, and drop dimes on the run, he led Bethel High School in Hampton to a state championship in both football and basketball in the same year.
And here’s the crazy part — at one point, he was ranked the No. 1 high school quarterback in the nation — ahead of a guy named Peyton Manning.
Let’s take a look at the legend of Allen Iverson, the football player — arguably the greatest high school football player in Virginia history.
Dominating the Virginia High School Scene
Allen Iverson was a one-man highlight reel on the football field. At Bethel High, he lined up at QB, running back, defensive back, and return specialist, making an impact on both sides of the ball.
As a junior in 1992, he put up video game numbers: 2,000-plus total yards and 29 touchdowns while leading Bethel to a Virginia state championship. On defense, he was just as terrifying. He picked off eight passes, returning multiple for touchdowns, showing the kind of vision and instincts that would have made him an elite cornerback at the next level.
Some of Virginia’s best athletes have come through the high school ranks — guys like Michael Vick, Percy Harvin, and Bruce Smith — but local sports historians still argue that none had the all-around impact of Allen Iverson. Just check out his highlights:
What Could Have Been?
Allen Iverson’s football career was legendary. He was named AP High School Football Player of the Year in Virginia, and Bethel High School later honored him by retiring his No. 10 jersey — something typically reserved for players who go pro.
His talent didn’t go unnoticed. George Welsh, then the head coach at UVA, called Iverson “one of the best football players he’d ever seen.” And he wasn’t alone. Major college programs like Florida State, Notre Dame, and Miami were eager to bring him in as a quarterback or defensive back. Some even believed that, had he stuck with football, he could’ve been an NFL star — whether as a game-changing QB or a lockdown corner.
But fate had other plans. Legal troubles derailed his senior season, closing the door on football and putting his future in jeopardy. Enter John Thompson. The legendary Georgetown coach saw past the controversy, offering Iverson a shot at redemption — and a full ride to play basketball.
And that’s how Allen Iverson ended up lighting up the NBA instead of Sundays in the NFL.
