Here are some multisport athletes -- recently and years ago -- from the WPIAL, City League and the defunct Catholic League who went on to achieve big things after high school:

LaVar Arrington, North Hills

A standout football linebacker who won the Butkus Award at Penn State and was the No. 2 pick in the 2000 NFL draft. But he also was a talented basketball player for two years at North Hills and finished fourth in the state in the 1997 long jump.

Mike Ditka, Aliquippa

His talent as a football tight end has been well-documented (Pro Football Hall of Fame member), but he also played some basketball at Pitt.

Bill Fralic, Penn Hills

An All-American football lineman at Pitt and an All-Pro in the NFL, Fralic had a 98-7 record as a wrestler at Penn Hills.

Sam Clancy, Brashear

One of the City League's greatest athletes, Clancy had an outstanding basketball career at Pitt before playing 11 seasons in the NFL (1983-93).

Tom Clements, Canevin

Played in the defunct Catholic League. Started in football, basketball and baseball as a freshman. After graduating in 1971, became quarterback at Notre Dame. Final college decision was Notre Dame for football or North Carolina for basketball.

Arnie Galiffa, Donora

Played on Donora's great football teams of 1944-45 and went on to win 11 varsity letters at West Point in football, basketball, baseball and track. A quarterback, he finished fourth in the 1949 Heisman Trophy balloting.

Dick Groat, Swissvale

One of the greatest WPIAL athletes. Was All-American basketball player at Duke in the 1950s and led the nation in scoring as a senior. Played one year in the NBA before playing nine seasons of baseball with the Pirates. He won the National League batting title in 1960.

Ken Griffey Sr., Donora

Played four sports at Donora (baseball, football, basketball and track) before playing 19 seasons in Major League Baseball, where he had a .296 career batting average.

Major Harris, Brashear

Another one of the City League's greatest athletes, Harris became a star quarterback at West Virginia University, twice finishing in the top five in Heisman Trophy quarterback. But many forget he also was a standout basketball player at Brashear, making the Post-Gazette Fab 5 as a senior.

Dan Marino, Central Catholic

You know about his exploits as a quarterback that put him in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but he also was a standout shortstop-pitcher at Central Catholic and was a fourth-round pick of the Kansas City Royals in the 1979 Major League Baseball draft.

Joe Montana, Ringgold

Although his basketball talents at Ringgold have been exaggerated at times, Montana still was a force on the court. Went on to become a football Hall of Fame quarterback.

Darrelle Revis, Aliquippa

A 2007 first-round pick of the NFL's New York Jets, Revis also was an outstanding basketball player at Aliquippa, averaging 22.5 points as a senior and scoring 1,722 career points.

NATIONAL LIST

Here are some multi-sport athletes who made a name on the national level, both recently and years ago.

Danny Ainge

Played three seasons of third base with the Toronto Blue Jays before a long NBA career, where he won championships as a guard with the Boston Celtics.

Jim Brown

One of the all-time great running backs in NFL history also was an All-American in lacrosse at Syracuse University.

Ron Curry

A basketball-football star from Hampton, Va., Curry played both sports at the University of North Carolina. He was the quarterback of the football team and was a point guard for two years on the basketball team. Is now a receiver with the Oakland Raiders.

Dave DeBusschere

A member of the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame after a long career with the New York Knicks, DeBusschere also pitched in 36 games with the Chicago White Sox in 1962-63.

Kirk Gibson
-- Was an All-American football flanker at Michigan State in 1978 before having a long, productive career in Major League Baseball.

Tom Glavine
-- Major League Baseball pitcher who recently won his 300th career game. Also was selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the fourth round of the 1984 NHL draft.

Bo Jackson
-- An Auburn athlete who became the only man to ever play in the all-star game in two sports - baseball and football. Made the Major League Baseball all-star game in 1989 with the Kansas City Royals and the NFL Pro Bowl in 1990 with the Oakland Raiders.

Brian Jordan
-- Had five interceptions in three-year NFL career before playing 15 seasons in Major League Baseball, including seven with the St. Louis Cardinals and five with the Atlanta Braves.

Julius Peppers
-- A starter in both football and basketball at the University of North Carolina. Now a defensive end with the NFL's Carolina Panthers, Peppers and Donovan McNabb (Syracuse) are believed to be the only two players to be on NCAA Final Four basketball team and also play in a Super Bowl.

Jackie Robinson
-- Mostly known for becoming the first black player in Major League Baseball, but many forget he was an outstanding all-around athlete at UCLA, lettering in baseball, track, basketball and football.

Deion Sanders
-- Played parts of nine seasons in Major League Baseball and 14 in the NFL. At Florida State, was on the football, baseball and track teams.

Jim Thorpe
-- One of the greatest athletes in U.S. history, Thorpe won the decathlon and pentathlon at the 1912 Olympics. In college, he attended Carlisle (Pa.) and competed in four sports. He played professional baseball, football and some professional basketball. He played nine seasons in the NFL.

Charlie Ward
-- Won the Heisman Trophy as a football quarterback at Florida State. Played both football and basketball for the Seminoles before playing in the NBA for 11 seasons, including nine with the New York Knicks.

Dave Winfield
-- The only man to be drafted in four professional leagues - MLB (San Diego Padres), NBA (Atlanta Hawks), ABA (Utah Stars) and NFL (Minnesota Vikings). He played basketball and baseball at the University of Minnesota and went on to a 22-year career in Major League Baseball. He is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.