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By Marc Pruitt

Harold Simpson Gymnasium at West Forsyth got a newly refinished floor and paint job over the summer and may soon be named after Chris Paul, the former Titans’ superstar and current player for the Phoenix Suns.

Paul graduated from West in 2003, played at Wake Forest and was the fourth overall pick in the 2005 NBA draft. In addition to his current team, he has played professionally for the New Orleans Hornets, Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets. Paul is a 12-time All-Star and two-time Olympics gold medalist (2008, 2012).

“This would be a tremendous honor for Chris and for our family,” said Robin Paul, Chris’ mother. “We were very fortunate to have both of our kids graduate from West Forsyth and this would mean so much to Chris and for all of us.”

Charles Paul, Chris’ father and “CP1” in the family, added, “Both Chris and C.J. (Chris’ older brother, and “CP2″ in the family) had great experiences at West Forsyth on and off the court. Having the court named in honor of Chris would be a special accomplishment.”

The Policy Committee of the Winston-Salem Forsyth County Board of Education, comprised of Dana Caudill Jones, Alex Bohannon, Malishai Woodbury, Elisabeth Motsinger and Leah Crowley will meet on Aug. 9 and decide whether to have a public hearing to name the court in honor of Paul.
If the public hearing is approved, area residents will have a chance to offer their opinions a full board meeting in the near future.

Kevin Spainhour, the principal at West Forsyth, submitted the request to the board for approval.
“Chris Paul is more than just a household name in our community,” Spainhour wrote in his application. “He and his family continue to support the Lewisville/Clemmons area and WS/FCS. His career since graduating from West is Hall of Fame-worthy both in basketball and community service. While Chris Paul’s legacy at West extends beyond just athletics, naming the basketball court in his honor encapsulates the connection between school, community and a shared commitment to excellence.

“Our Athletic Director Mike Pennington, and myself have been in contact with the Paul family back in March and continue to be in contact as we make some upgrades to our school campus including our gym. Before moving forward with the proposal, we wanted the blessings of Chris and his family. They were extremely excited about the possibility of having the court named in his honor and agreed to attend a ceremony when complete.”