A North Carolina eighth-grader dazzled classmates at his school's basketball game with his musical aptitude, rather than his athletic ability.

WFMY News2 reports Gavin Hardy, a promising hoops prospect at Clemmons Middle School, was able to put his other skills on display by performing the national anthem at his school with a bass. Hardy first picked up a basketball around the age of three, but his passion for music developed when he discovered string instruments a year later. Gavin said that with both of his interests he must work as hard in practice as he does on performance night. 

"I think both go hand in hand. You have to be very disciplined to be a musician – same thing with an athlete. You have to practice it. You have to do it when nobody is looking. You have to be able to work hard when nobody is watching you do it," he said. 

Clemmons basketball coach Tommy Witt celebrated Gavin as his team’s “hardest worker,” but also its star player. Gavin averages 19 points per game, the highest of anyone on his team. He also has aspirations to play Division I hoops before taking on the NBA. 

In addition to his goals on the court, Witt challenged Gavin with an invitation to perform the anthem prior to one of his basketball games, and the young bassist accepted the challenge. 

"It’s funny – we want to get people to play the national anthem and I went to [his orchestra teacher] Barbara and said, 'Do you think he can play the national anthem in his uniform?'" Witt told WFMY News2.

Gavin's orchestra teacher, Barbara Bell, said it was an easy decision to endorse the student-athlete to perform the anthem. She said he “does whatever he puts his mind to.”

Fans of his basketball team and classmates alike applauded his first performance prior to his basketball team’s game against Winston-Salem Prep earlier this winter. You might see more instances where Gavin doubles as a musician and athlete as he said he plans to develop both of his sets of skills down the line. 

Gavin isn’t the only child prodigy embarrassing all of us regular folk with their multi-disciplinary talents. 

CBS News reports that in New York, high school track athlete Leah Streety played the national anthem on her violin before a varsity basketball game. Her coach shared a video of the performance on the web, and people are rather impressed with her ability as well.