Trailblazers Neverson, Pinkston, Wright () - Hall of Fame - George Washington University Athletics

Trailblazers Neverson, Pinkston, Wright

In 1963, Neverson became GW's first Black student-athlete awarded a scholarship after he was recruited out of DC's Roosevelt High School to play football. A three-sport star in high school, Neverson helped to integrate the Southern Conference after West Virginia first had a student-athlete break the color barrier a year prior. One of the most consequential student-athletes ever at GW, Neverson was a participant in the original March on Washington later that same year.

In the first half century of GW basketball, the program had a glaring absence on its all-time roster. It wasn’t until the courageous and trailblazing Rocky Wright came to GW in 1963 that the university welcomed its first Black basketball player. As freshmen were not eligible to play NCAA varsity basketball until 1972, Wright participated on the freshman team, but did not ultimately receive a scholarship. Nevertheless, Wright integrated GW basketball and paved the way for Garland Pinkston to become GW’s first Black student-athlete on a basketball scholarship in 1968. It is on the shoulders of Wright and Pinkston that today’s Black athletes at GW stand.