The following is a list of some of the former Houston Sonics athletes who have gone on to compete in sports at the college level and beyond:
Darwin Allen
Darwin was a member of the Prairie View A&M University men’s cross country and track teams from 2014 to 2018. During his years with the Sonics, he was twice a medalist in the Men’s 800 meter run at the Junior Olympics (2012 and 2013) and anchored many exciting finishes in the 4×400 meter relay.
Roosevelt Appleton
Roosevelt is currently a member of the Trinity Valley Community College football team. In 2013, he was selected to the District 23-5A First Team running back representing Hightower High School. As a Sonics athlete, he ran on the Intermediate Boys 4×100 relay team at the 2011 AAU Junior Olympics.
Kristian Austin
Kristian was a member of the Sam Houston State University women’s track team from 2011 to 2014. As a Sonics athlete, she was the Sub-Bantam Girls champion at the AAU Junior Olympics in 2000 in Orlando, FL.
Isaiah Battle
Isaiah is currently a wide receiver on the Texas State University football team. As a Sonics athlete, he was the Primary Boys Long Jump champion at the AAU Junior Olympics in 2000 and a multi-events champion 2002 and 2003.
Brandon Bilton
Brandon is currently a member of the Prairie View A&M University men’s track team. As a Sonics athlete, he excelled in the 200 meter dash and was a key member of numerous medal-winning 4×100 meter and 4×400 meter relay teams.
Larry Brooks
Larry was a member of the University of Texas-San Antonio track team between 2004 and 2007 where he earned All-American honors as a middle distance runner. As a Sonics athlete, he was twice an AAU Junior Olympics champion as a member of winning 4×400 relay teams.
Melai Carter
Melai is a member of the Steven F. Austin University track team where she has earned All-Conference honors her first two seasons as a high jumper. As a Sonics athlete, she was the 2007 AAU Junior Olympics champion in the Youth Girls High Jump.
Chris Compton
After his years of running track with the Sonics and Klein Forest High School, Chris went on to run at the collegiate level as a sprinter on the Grambling State University men’s team.
Kimberlyn Duncan
Kim was won of the most decorated collegiate sprinters during her years as a member of the LSU Tigers women’s track team, winning numerous SEC and NCAA titles and even the prestigious Bowerman Award in 2012. Prior to her collegiate career she ran track for Cypress Springs High School.
Camille Evans
Camille was a member of the 2011 Texas State University women’s track and field team. Prior to that, Camille was a sprinter at Foster High School where she set three school records.
Alyssia Ewing
Alyssia is a member of the Loyola New Orleans University women’s track and field team since 2018 specializing in the throwing events. She was a member of the Sonics from 2015-2017 and Duchesne High School in Houston.
Erin Fairs
Erin was a member of the University of South Florida women’s volleyball team from 2012 through 2014 and was awarded
2012 BIG EAST Freshman Player of the Year. She currently plays volleyball professionally for EVS-Engelholms in Sweden.
Marcus Giannini
Marcus is a former member of the Trinity University men’s soccer team in San Antonio, TX. As a Sonics athlete, he won the Bantam Boys High Jump and Triathlon events at the 2004 AAU Junior Olympics in Des Moines, IA.
Whitney Hooper
Whitney is a former member of the Texas A&M University women’s soccer team. At Klein Forest High School, she was District MVP in soccer and also a member of the U-16 and U-17 national teams. She competed in the sprint events during her years with the Sonics.
Sandra Iwunze
Sandra was a two-time Big 12 Conference champion in the 400 meter hurdles at Texas Tech University while setting school records in both the 100 and 400 meter hurdles. She was also a member of their 4×100 and 4×400 relay teams. As a Sonics athlete, she was the 2005 AAU Junior Olympics champion in the Young Women 400 meter hurdles. She is currently a member of the Sonics coaching staff.
Goldy Jackson
Goldy was a Junior Olympics medalist in the 110 meter and 400 meter hurdles for Sonics in the mid 90s. He went on to play football and run track for Texas Southern University. He is currently a member of the Sonics coaching staff.
Shannon Klenke
Shannon has been a member of the University of Arkansas track and cross country teams since 2011. Prior to that she was a distance runner for Sonics head coach Kenneth Jackson at Duchesne High School in Houston where she was a 6-time Texas state champion.
Michelle Mayer
Michelle joined the University of Houston track and cross country teams in the fall of 2020. She was a long-time member of the Sonics and two-time Junior Olympics medalist. She was a 4-year varsity athlete while competing for Pearland Dawson High School.
Shannon McLain
Shannon is currently a member of the LSU Tigers women’s soccer team and a member of the 2012 SEC Academic Honor Roll.
Bari Minter
Bari is a member of the Liberty University track team where she specializes in the triple jump and throwing events. Prior to that she competed for Brazos High School where she was a 2A state qualifier all four years in the triple jump.
Imani Nave
Imani is a former Sonics athlete who joined the Stephen F. Austin University track team where she competes in various sprint events events and was women’s MVP for the 2018-2019 season. She is a graduate of Klein High School.
De’Anthony Nervis
De’Anthony is a Westfield High School graduate who joined the Southern University Jaguars track team as a sprinter for the 2021 season. During his time with the Sonics, he was a 2018 AAU Junior Olympics medalist in the 400 meter dash.
Andrew Obey
Andrew is a member of the Dodge City Community College track team where he competes in the hurdles. Prior to he competed for Hightower High School where he set the freshman school record in the 300 meter hurdles. He began running with Sonics at the age of 5.
Jessica Ohanaja
Jessica is a former member of the LSU Tigers track team, earning All-American honors seven times as a hurdler. She still competes professionally for the Nigerian national team during the summer months. As a Sonics athlete, she won AAU Junior Olympics titles in the 100 meter hurdles in 2002 and 2003 in the Intermediate Girls and Young Women’s divisions, respectively. She is currently a member of the Sonics coaching staff.
Lisa Ohanaja
Lisa is a former member of the Barton County Community college track team where she specialized in the sprints and jump events. Prior to that, she competed for Westbury High School.
Davina Orieukwu
Davina was a member of the Ole Miss Rebels track team specializing in the discus and shot put. In 2006, she was the Texas 4A girls state champion in the discus throw for Westbury High.
Eric Pouncey
Eric is a former Sonics member who currently competes as a sprinter for the Sam Houston State University track team. In high school, he ran for Westfield High.
Makenli Raspberry
Makenli was a long-time member of the Sonics member and multi-time medalist at the AAU Junior Olympics. She joined the Howard University track team in 2019. In high school, she ran for both Bellaire and Thurgood Marshall high schools. She is the daughter of Sonics coach, Dana Raspberry.
Brandy Thomas
Brandy was a long-time member of the Sonics and qualified for the Junior Olympics numerous times including being on the medal-winning Midget Girls 4×800 relay in 2010. She competed for Houston Lamar before joining the Houston Baptist University team in 2016.
Edward Thompson
Edward is currently a member of the Navarro College football team. In 2013, he was selected to the District 23-5A First Team defensive back representing Hightower High School. As a Sonics athlete, he ran on the Intermediate Boys 4×100 relay team at the 2011 AAU Junior Olympics.
Christy Udoh
Christy has been a member of the University of Texas track team from 2010 to 2013. She earned a spot on Nigeria’s 2012 Olympic team, competing in the 200 meter dash and the 4×100 relay. In 2009, she was runner-up in the 200 meter dash at the UIL state championship meet.
Nicole Washington
Nicole was a member of the UT San Antonio women’s track team from 2009 to 2012 and specialized in the sprint events. Prior to that she ran for Westbury High School.
Joeal Williams
Joeal joined the University of Houston Cougars football team in 2014 as a defensive back. Prior to that he played football and ran track at Hightower High School and was a member of the Sonics intermediate boys 4×100 relay team at the 2011 Junior Olympics.
Khari Woods
Khari joined the Southern University Lady Jaguars volleyball team in 2018. She played volleyball at Ridge Point High School and ran track with the Sonics for several years. She is the daughter of Sonics coach, Tim Woods.