Rusty began playing organized basketball, baseball, and football at six years old. At age 15 Rusty was a pitcher on the Kernersville All-Star baseball team that went to the Senior League World Series in Florida. He began as a starter in his sophomore year of high school in all three sports. By his senior year Rusty had earned All-State and Conference Player of the Year honors in football, baseball, and basketball. That same year Rusty was named North Carolina Athlete of the Year. He was a Honors student, and highly recruited by many colleges. He chose Wake Forest to stay near home and reach his goal of playing both basketball and football in the ACC. While at Wake he won an Independence Bowl in football, 2 ACC championships in basketball, as well as many individual honors. In his senior year of football, Rusty broke 8 NCAA records for passing. Some of his records are: Most completions in a game(55), most attempts in a game(72), and most yardage in a three game span(1524). He also has two of the top eight passing yardage games in ACC history. In basketball his teams went to the NCAA all four years, reaching the "Elite 8" his senior season. Rusty finished his career at Wake Forest as the all-time 3-point percentage leader and 2nd overall in 3-point goals(151) in school history. During his senior season, Rusty was named GTE Academic All-American and his 46.4% from the 3-point line was good enough for 2nd in the ACC and 15th in the NCAA. During his junior year he became the first athlete since 1952 and only the second in ACC history to play football, basketball, and baseball in the same year.

After college he decided to pursue a professional career in basketball. During his first year he played for a month in Paris, France before returning home and playing in the CBA with the Connecticut Pride. In the summer of 1997 he was chosen by USA Basketball as a member of the Tournament of the Americas Team. Comprised mostly of CBA players, the team won a Gold Medal and successfully seeded the USA #1 in the upcoming World Championships. Rusty attended preseason with the Chicago Bulls and made it until the last day of camp before being cut. He played one game in the CBA for the Idaho Stampede before being called back up to the NBA by the Bulls. In his first year as a professional, Rusty appeared in 14 games with the 1998 World Champion Bulls averaging 3.5 points and 10 minutes a game. During the lockout shortened season of 1998, he appeared in 43 games, averaging 15 minutes and 5 points per game with Chicago. Rusty spent the 1999-2000 season in the CBA with the Idaho Stampede. He was a CBA All-Star, 2nd Team All-CBA and finished the season as the league leader in assists and free throw percentage. For the 2000-2001 season, Rusty decided to play overseas in Moscow for the champions of Russia, CSKA. While there, the team went to the Final Four of the FIBA SuproLeague, Northern European Basketball League and Russian Federation. The next season Rusty went to preseason camp with the Utah Jazz. Although he played very well, he was released. After playing for first half of the season in the NBDL for the Asheville Altitude, he was "Called Up" back to the Jazz on January 29th for a 10-day contract. Rusty played well , earning the opportunity to remain with the team for the rest of the season and even making the play-off roster. For the 2002-2003 season, Rusty went back to Europe and played in Varese, Italy for Pallacanestro Metis Varese. The next season Rusty tried out with the Boston Celtics but was cut the last week of camp. After sitting out for two months following wrist surgery, he went back to the NBDL and played for the Asheville Altitude. Not only did Rusty receive a 10-day call up to the Golden State Warriors in February, but the Asheville won both the regular season and post-season championship!

In 2004, Rusty went a new direction in his basketball career by taking the Head Men's Basketball coaching job at Greensboro College. After one season there Rusty decided to take the Head Boy's Basketball coaching position at Forsyth Country Day School. After one season as the Head Boy's Basketball Coach and Assistant Football Coach, Rusty has now accepted a greater role at the school. In addition to continuing as Head Basketball Coach, he will be the Head Football Coach and Athletic Director.You can follow FCDS athletics online at www.furiesonline.com.

1995 CFA/Hitachi Scholar Athlete Team in football
1996 GTE 3rd Team Academic All-American in basketball
1995 Carolinas Athlete of the Year
ACC Weaver-James Postgraduate Scholarship Award
NACDA Preseason Games Scholar-Athlete Award
NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Award
1995-1996 Arnold Palmer Award- Wake Forest University Athlete of the Year
1995 Murray Greason Award for Leadership in basketball
1995 Wake Forest Scholar-Athlete of the Year
1995-1996 Outstanding Senior Male Scholarship-Athlete Wake Forest
1995-1996 Wake Forest University Most Valuable Player in football
ACC Honor Roll 1993-1996
Member Athletes Care Team and Executive Council
1997 Gold Medal Winner in the Tournament of the Americas with USA Basketball
Member 1998 NBA World Champion Chicago Bulls
2000 CBA All-Star
Second Team ALL-CBA 2000
Member 2001 FIBA Suproleague Final Four CSKA
Member 2004 NBDL Champion Asheville Altitude
2004 NBDL 3-PT Percentage Leader (49.4%)
Honored as ACC Legend at 2007 ACC basketball tournament
2008 Inducted in the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame