Leon Lockett first burst onto the Limestone County Sports scene as a pitcher in baseball. A 12-year-old Lockett helped lead his Limestone County all-star team to a runner-up finish in the Dixie Youth World Series. He struck out 17 batters in one game, a record that stood for nearly 20 years. However, an injury to his pitching shoulder and a growth spurt, would cause Lockett tofocus on basketball, a sport that he would excel in at Elkmont High School. “I liked playing baseball but after throwing out my shoulder and growing from 5’8 to 6’2 between my ninth and 10th grade years, basketball became my main focus,” said the 2026 Limestone County Sports Hall of Fame inductee. A tremendous all-around player, Lockett became a force for Coach Lester Smith and the Red Devils basketball team. He was a three-year starter for Elkmont HS. Playing along side his older brother Billy Don Lockett and future University of Alabama forward Terry Williams, the Red Devils became a formidable opponent for any team on their schedule. Lockett was a matchup problem for any team that lined up against Elkmont. Standing nearly 6’4, Lockett played both guard spots which often times put the opposing backcourt at a height disadvantage.

One county school that could matchup athletically with Lockett and the Red Devils was Tanner High School “We had somereal battles with Elkmont, when Leon played” said former Tanner High School basketball coach Henry White. “Most of our games with Elkmont were last possession type of games. Leon was a really good player. A great competitor.” Lockett remembers those games with Tanner and other Limestone County Schools. “Tanner was definitely a rivalry game but so was East Limestone and other schools in the county. There were a lot of good teams in the county when I played. The one game against Tanner that sticks out was my junior year when they beat us by two points in the Area Tournament,” recalls Lockett.

While Elkmont was never able to reach the state tournament during his playing career, Lockett’s productivity gave the Red Devils a chance to win every time the basketball was tossed up. He averaged 18 point per game as a junior before exploding for 28 points per game as a senior. He also averaged 13 rebounds and seven assists per game as a senior. He earned All-County, All-Area and All-State honors in basketball following his senior season.

Williams, a 2011 LCHSOF inductee, says he enjoyed being a high school teammate of Lockett’s. “I had known Leon practically my whole life. He was a neighbor of mine. Leon was a good teammate. He was a really good player. He was a good defender. Leon was just a solid all-around basketball player,” said Williams.

Recruited by colleges throughout the region, Lockett signed with Wallace State Community College following his senior year at Elkmont. “I could have signed with colleges above the junior college level but I blame myself. I didn’t hit the books hard enough and had to sign with a community college. Wallace State seemed like a good fit,” said Lockett. Lockett suffered a severe knee injury mid-way through his freshmen season with Wallace State that all but ended his career. “I tore the ACL in my right knee in a game with Southern Union. The surgery and rehab back then are not what it is now.

Players today can come back fairly quick and 100 percent but not so much when I played. Once I had surgery and went through the intense rehab, I made the decision that I was finished playing college basketball. I just could not get over the fear of cutting and jumping off the knee that I had injured,” said Lockett.

While his college career might have ended pre-maturely, Lockett is finally being recognized as one of the best basketball players in Limestone County during his era. “I am honored to be a member of this year’s Limestone County Sports Hall of Fame induction class. It means a lot to me for being recognized for what I accomplished on the basketball court. I am so thankful,” said Lockett.