Kaepernick to be inducted into his high school’s hall of fame

Former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is set to be inducted into his high school’s hall of fame.

Pitman High School, the high school in Turlock, Calif., will be inducting the former NFL star and eight other former students into the school’s hall of fame on Nov. 3, a local NBC affiliate reported. 

During his time in high school, Kaepernick reportedly played football, baseball and basketball. He even reportedly led his school’s team to its first playoff win during his senior year. 

{mosads}Kaepernick has was the first NFL player to protest racial inequality and police brutality by taking a knee during the national anthem before games in 2016.

Pitman’s athletic director says that the quarterback is being inducted to the school hall of fame because of his “contribution to the history of the athletes” at the school.

“Colin was chosen, like all the others, for their contribution to the history of athletes here at Pitman,” Pitman High School Athletic Director Dave Wells told the local station of the school’s decision. “Of course, he was an outstanding athlete and a three-sport star.”

John Lazar, the former mayor of Turlock, also told the outlet Kaepernick still “has much respect” of the town’s residents even if they may disagree with “his approach” in kneeling before the national anthem.

“Although citizens differ on his approach, he is still a proud son of Turlock,” Lazar said.

Kaepernick has frequently been targeted by those who disagree with his protests, including President Trump who recently lashed out after Kaepernick signed an advertising deal with Nike.

The Nike deal helped, in part, to reenergize the debate over player protests after Kaepernick shared the video of his first Nike ad last week.

Trump ripped into Nike and Kaepernick for the ad campaign asking, “What was Nike thinking?”

Stocks for the company dipped after the announcement, but have appeared to have fully gained back those losses.

Online sales for the sportswear brand reportedly surged after it announced Kaepernick as the face of its latest ad campaign.