Buddy graduated from Cherokee Vocational High School where he played football from 1953-1957. He started as an eighth-grader at guard and then moved to fullback for the next four years of his high school career. He was named to the All Tri-County Football Squad each of the five years he played high school football. In his senior year he scored 121 points and was selected to both the All-State Team as well as the National High School All-American Football Team for that same year.