Staff report

ATHENS, Ga. — Salisbury High has a strong presence at the University of Georgia in linebacker Jalon Walker, who has been climbing up draft boards after his whirlwind performance against Texas, the nation’s top-ranked team at the time.

ESPN draft guru/analyst Mel Kiper Jr. now rates Walker as the 10th-best prospect among players eligible for the 2025 NFL draft. Walker is a semifinalist for the Dick Butkus Award that goes to the nation’s top college linebacker.

Walker had some talented company from his hometown at the University of Georgia on Monday, as North Carolina Central’s women’s basketball team played the Bulldogs at Stegeman Coliseum.

One of the standouts for N.C. Central is former Salisbury High star Kyla Bryant. She had a strong rookie season and was a preseason All-MEAC pick. A three-time Rowan County Player of the Year, she got her sophomore year off to a nice start with an 18-point outing against Georgia. She made two 3-pointers and had five rebounds.

Georgia overpowered NC Central 96-52 with five players scoring in double figures, but the Eagles had some good moments.

NC Central faces another challenging road game on Thursday at Clemson with a 7 p.m. tip at Littlejohn Coliseum.