Clarke Central High School senior Cameron Stokes plays basketball against Cedar Shoals High School on Jan. 25. Cameron plays both varsity basketball and baseball for the school and enjoys the hard work he puts in for both sports. “My favorite aspect (of playing two sports) is that it’s something different. Going from basketball and right into baseball is something most people can’t do or don’t do. It’s pretty fun because after basketball you’re tired and stuff, but once you go into something new, you’ll get more into it and it’ll get more fun,” Cameron said. Photo by Krista Shumaker
Clarke Central High School senior Cameron Stokes is a stand-out basketball and baseball player with a story that is bigger than just athletics.
He won’t be outworked.
He’ll do that one last set. That one last rep.
That one last mile.
He refuses to give up.
Students at Clarke Central High School see his life from the outside looking in. They look at him and see the starting varsity shooting guard that made the all-star basketball team. They look at him and see the starting designated hitter for the varsity baseball team. But CCHS senior Cameron Stokes is more than just numbers on a stat sheet. Cameron’s story of success starts before he even touched a basketball or baseball. It starts with his mother, Latrena Artist.
“(My biggest role model) in life is my mom. Growing up, I really didn’t have my father with me because they divorced when I was young. My mom always taught me to keep going and don’t ever quit. She was always the one to push me, and she still pushes me harder to this day,” Cameron said.
As a single mother, Artist took on the responsibility of raising both Cameron and his younger brother, CCHS freshman Jeremy Stokes, on her own.
“(It was a) struggle of just having one income. I mean, we made it work, but I’m sure there were things at times that Cameron probably wanted or his brother wanted that, when you’re only living off of one income, it’s not as easily done. But we survived,” Artist said.
Although Cameron and Jeremy didn’t have their father around, they found solace in their church.
Clarke Central High School senior Cameron Stokes (middle) smiles with his mother Latrena Artist (right) and his brother CCHS freshman Jeremy Stokes (left) in front of the New Gym on Jan. 28. Artist believes that education is key for her children’s success. “I have stressed (education). I finished as a nontraditional student at UGA, so I had to take on student loans. So I’ve stressed to both (my sons) how important it is to excel academically. We’re hoping that they get an athletic scholarship, but it will be even greater if they could get an academic scholarship,” Artist said. Photo by Gerardo Navarro
“The church I (currently) go to is Miracle House in Bogart, Georgia. It impacted me a lot because there were a lot of male role models that I looked up to. I didn’t really have my dad, so they took me in and gave me little tips and things about what to do and what not to do. They just led me down the right road,” Cameron said.
Seeing his mother work hard to support his family inspired Cameron to work harder on his own. He applied this inspiration by working hard while playing his two favorite sports: basketball and baseball.
“I’ve always liked basketball. I think I started when I was about five or six. I started (playing) at a church called Beech Haven. Ever since then, I just fell in love with it,” Cameron said.
It was clear that Cameron’s relationship with basketball was love at first sight, but the same can’t be said for his experience with baseball.
“To be honest, I didn’t even want to play baseball at first. My mom made me play when I was in kindergarten,” Cameron said. “But when she made me play, I was actually one of the best hitters out there on the field. So, ever since then, I kept playing. Then I started to be on all-star teams, and I just fell in love with it.”
Artist recognized Cameron’s athletic potential at an early age and made sure he stuck with his commitments. When Cameron wanted to quit his youth baseball team, Artist would not allow it.
“(Cameron) really has just a natural talent for sports, period. So if I have to pay for (him) to participate in any sport, being off one income, (he’s) going to see it through for at least that season,” Artist said.
As the years progressed, Cameron continued to improve at both baseball and basketball. Although he was starting to become a stand-out athlete, his mother always made sure he prioritized academics over his athletic career.
“Schoolwork is number one. My mom always told me if you can’t keep your grades to all A’s and B’s, then you can’t play sports. So, she really, not threatens, but stays on me about my schoolwork,” Cameron said.
Cameron’s brother Jeremy thinks that competing together over the years has helped both of them become better athletes.
“Growing up, (Cameron and I) were always competitive with each other. We always would say, ‘I bet you can’t beat me in this or that.’ It just made me want to go harder into any sport I play,” Jeremy said. “It made me have that sense of ‘I gotta be better than him.’ It’s impacted me a lot. To see what he can do on the court inspires me to do better.”
“(My biggest role model) in life is my mom. Growing up, I really didn’t have my father with me because they divorced when I was young. My mom always taught me to keep going and don’t ever quit. She was always the one to push me, and she still pushes me harder to this day.”
— Cameron Stokes,
CCHS varsity basketball and baseball player
Cameron’s training and effort has shaped him into an incredible high school athlete, but Cameron doesn’t want to stop there. He wants more. He wants to be a collegiate athlete.
“I want to continue to play both sports during college,” Cameron said. “(I don’t have any college offers) yet, but I think I have a few looks from Division III schools with basketball. I’m not sure about baseball yet.”
Artist is supportive of Cameron’s collegiate aspirations but wants him to prioritize the educational opportunities offered in college.
“I definitely (think Cameron will) go on to college. He wants to play collegiate sports, and I’m OK with that, but more importantly, I see him graduating with a workable degree that can support him once he’s out of college or on to the (professionals),” Artist said.
Head varsity baseball coach Adam Osborne also believes that Cameron could go on to play college sports.
Clarke Central High School senior and varsity baseball player Cameron Stokes sits in the CCHS baseball dugout on Jan. 25. Cameron believes that mindset plays a big part in his athletic success. “Attitude plays a big factor in sports. If you don’t have that dog mentality, then you won’t play as good as somebody else. But if you have that dog mentality and say you’re going to win this game, (if you say) you’re going to do this and do that, then you could do that. But if you don’t have that dog (mentality) then you can’t do it,” Cameron said. Photo by Krista Shumaker
Although succeeding in athletics is important to Cameron, the life-lessons he has learned through playing sports hold an even greater significance. “It just makes you a better person overall. When you’re an athlete, more people look up to you than when you’re not an athlete, so you have to stand out and do good things instead of doing bad things,” Cameron said.
Not only have sports encouraged Cameron’s personal growth, but they have also pushed him to improve his work ethic.
“Being a sports player in general just pushes you harder. Because once the teachers know about you, they’re gonna expect more from you. So you just gotta work harder and stay focused in the classroom and out on the court and field,” Cameron said.
CCHS junior Rio Foster is a teammate of Cameron’s on both the varsity baseball and basketball teams. According to Foster, Cameron tries his best
to help his teammates succeed.
“(Cameron) is real uplifting and will help you out a lot,” Foster said. “He tries to help me out all the time with my shot. It’s kind of bad right now. He’s always trying to help me out.”
Head varsity basketball coach Andre McIntyre appreciates the positive impacts Cameron makes on
the team.
“Cameron brings a lot of confidence (to) his teammates. He’s an outstanding shooter, (and) he’s a veteran, so he brings some stability for younger kids. Cameron is a person that leads by example. He’s not much of a talker, but he works hard every day,” McIntyre said.
Cameron enjoys helping others in their athletic pursuits, which reflects his greater commitment to his community.
“One word that describes me is kind. I’m kind to everybody. You’ll never see me being mean for no reason. I’m always pretty kind and caring,” Cameron said.
Cameron’s hard work has shaped him into the athlete he is today, but to those who truly know him, it’s not baseball or basketball that defines him. It’s his kindness and positive attitude that makes Cameron who he is. “Cameron is like a son to me. And, like the rest of the boys, he’s just a genuine person,” McIntyre said. “I love him to death. He’s someone that I love being around. I love talking to him. He has a great personality, and he’s just a great young man.”
