Joseph Bradley

CARTER G. WOODSON HIGH, HOPEWELL (1957)
BASKETBALL

Carter G. Woodson High was a basketball power in the mid to late 1950s. Joseph Bradley was a key player on teams which won consecutive VIA Group III State Championships from 1954 to 1959. Competing in the VIA’s small school division, Woodson regularly scheduled games with the larger Group I and II schools in order to compete with the best teams in the state. Coach Robinette “Pro” Hayes regularly played and defeated teams from Peabody of Petersburg, Armstrong and Maggie Walker of Richmond, St Emma’s Military Academy of Powhatan, Carver of Chesterfield and Virginia Randolph of Henrico. As an outstanding player on offense and defense, Bradley was selected to VIA Group III all district and all tournament teams three times each and was twice a VIA Group III AllState player. In 1955 he scored 42 points in the state championship game against St. Clare Walker High. As a student leader on and off the basketball court, he was twice selected as team captain.