Justin Call
Justin Call is probably the most decorated athlete in Emory & Henry history. The secret of his success is that he is the complete package – showing great accomplishment on the basketball court, and great prowess in the classroom.
Justin transferred to E&H after a year at NC State, and was a three-year starter and letter winner for Coach Bob Johnson. He had hot shooting streaks of 38 games straight and 21 games straight where he scored in double figures in each game. He scored 1,732 points in his career – making him the fifth highest all-time scorer in E&H history. He also still ranks third in career scoring average (with 21.7 points per game), ranks second in points scored in a single game (with 50 points), ranks second in field goals in a single game (with 18 against W&L).
He won Second-Team All-ODAC in the 2001-2002 season and First Team All-ODAC honors for the remaining two seasons. In 2003, he was a Third-Team Academic All-American.
In 2004 he was First-Team Academic All-American, ODAC Scholar Athlete of the Year, Virginia Sports Information Directors State Player of the Year, National Association of Basketball Coaches All-America First Team, the South Region Player of the Year, and winner of the Kurt Axe Memorial ODAC Player of the Year Award. He was the first two-time Academic All-American in College history.
On top of all that, in 2004 he became the first and only Emory & Henry athlete to win the Jostens Trophy — making him Division III Player of the Year. The winner of this distinct honor is recognized for excellence in the classroom, on the playing court, and in the community. He was the first ODAC player to be given this distinctive honor.
He has taken his E&H lessons of service and excellence with him into his professional career and his public life. He is an educator in the Wilkes County School system – serving as former head basketball coach, current athletic director, head baseball coach, and student success coordinator. He is also a Church Deacon and Sunday school teacher, and volunteers for the “Real Men Read” program sponsored by Wilkes County Smart Start.