Martinsville Bulletin, Inc.
P. O. Box 3711
204 Broad Street
Martinsville, Virginia 24115
276-638-8801
Toll Free: 800-234-6575
Duke to have Martinsville ties
Josh Hairston, son of Martinsville natives Keith and Natalie Hairston, has committed to play at Duke
Josh Hairston (far right) poses for a picture after verbally committing to the Duke University basketball team in October 2008. Also picture are (from left) Duke head basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski; mother, Natalie Hairston; father, Keith Hairston; and sister Jessica Hairston. Keith and Natalie Hairston are Martinsville natives. (Contributed photo)
Sunday, May 10, 2009
By CHASE YOUNG - Bulletin Sports Writer
Martinsville native Keith Hairston no longer plays one-on-one basketball with his son, Josh.
It’s not because he’s a busy father, or because he isn’t an athlete himself, however.
It’s because 17-year-old Josh is one of the top basketball players in the country, and his father can no longer expect to be competitive, even on his home court.
“Honestly, his freshman year in high school — I’d say that’s when I knew I’d have to give that up,” said Hairston of playing his son for bragging rights.
Currently a junior at Courtland High School in Fredricksburg, Josh Hairston has verbally committed to play for the men’s basketball team at Duke University in the fall of 2010, and recruiting service rivals.com lists him as the second-best power forward in the country.
Where did he get this ability, you wonder?
You might say it runs in his blood.
“He was born into a family of athletes and from that point on, moving to Fredricksburg, this area provided him an opportunity to excel in sports,” said the elder Hairston.
Keith Hairston played basketball and football at G.W. Carver High School, and he was a four year scholarship starter on Appalachian State University’s football team.
Josh Hairston’s mother, Natalie Hairston, attended Laurel Park High School, playing basketball and running track.
While the couple now lives in northern Virginia, their roots are undoubtedly based locally.
“That is home for us,” said Keith Hairston. “We’ll always look at Martinsville as home for us.”
Josh agreed.
“Whenever we go down there, I always have a good time,” he said. “My aunts and uncles and everything are down there, so I love it.”
The 6-foot-8, 195 pounder averaged 24 points per game and has started since his freshman season.
This winter, he helped lead the Courtland Cougars to a Group AA Division IV state championship when he scored 29 of the team’s 93 points in the title game.
While Josh didn’t grow up in Martinsville, he shares an extended family through both of his parents.
Keith Hairston is the son of Annie and Harry Hairston of Martinsville, and Natalie is the daughter of Axton natives Easter and Elbert Thompson.
As the national spotlight shone on their talented son, the couple has tried to instill knowledge in him with the hope he will excel as both an athlete and a young man.
“They’ve just told me to be thankful because not everyone has the same opportunities that I’ve been presented,” said Josh. “That national recognition comes with a price. You have to play to the best of your ability, because people are watching. You really can’t have any slip-ups.”
As a collegiate athlete himself, Josh’s father has tried to instill in his son a sense of responsibility, as well as humility, so his son might capitalize on his promising future.
“We’re just very hopeful that he’ll continue to grow — not only athletically — but become the man we know he’s destined to be,” said Keith Hairston.
And it seems to have sunk in.
“They help me a lot especially — my dad — because he always tells me if I keep working I can get up there,” said Josh Hairston. “I just know that I have to continue to work. It really doesn’t mean anything if I step out on the court and don’t peform.”
While Josh is very appreciative of the opportunities he has been presented, he is not yet satisfied.
“My ultimate goal is to be the No.1 player in the country,” he said. “I try to stay very humble. It could go away in a single day. It’s a blessing, and I try to take it one day at a time.”
.jpg)