Surely, success would not pan out for each member of the foursome. For all four to excel at the highest level of their sport, wasn’t that asking too much? Apparently not.

Nearly six years after they earned their high school diplomas, Hansen, Buchholz, Jones and Nelson have vaulted their class into elite company, right alongside the 1969 crew that eventually landed five players in the National Football League.

Here’s an updated look at the Class of 2000.

Taylor Buchholz: As a senior at Springfield High, Buchholz capped his scholastic-athletic days by signing a contract with the Phillies the afternoon of the 2000 All-Delco Banquet. With a stroke of the pen, Buchholz was headed for the farm system of his hometown team.

These days, though, Buchholz is making a name in Houston, as a member of the Astros’ starting rotation. Having worked his way through Triple-A and onto the big-league roster, Buchholz is the No. 1 young arm for the defending National League champion, and among the top rookie pitchers in the majors.

Pitching twice out of the bullpen, Buchholz was moved into the starting five in mid-April and has demonstrated the potential Houston chased when it acquired the Delaware County native as part of the trade that sent Billy Wagner to the Phillies.

Although Buchholz struggled during a 9-6 loss to the Dodgers earlier this week, allowing eight runs and 12 hits in four-plus innings, his numbers for the season are solid. The two-time All-Delco has gone 2-2 with a 3.82 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 372/3 innings. He has yielded only 30 hits.

Brendan Hansen: Of any member of the Class of 2000, Hansen was the athlete adorned with the can’t-miss tag. After all, as a high school athlete, he was ranked among the top breaststrokers in the world.

Experienced at the international level as a Haverford High student, Hansen went on to win eight NCAA individual crowns at the University of Texas and walked away from the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens with three medals, one of each color.

The world-record holder in the 100 and 200 breaststroke events, Hansen has 11 world-championship medals to his credit and a busy summer on the horizon. Following the United States Nationals in California in early August, the swimming sensation will race at the Pan Pacific Championships in British Columbia, Canada.

Regularly giving motivational speeches and clinics, Hansen’s future schedule is jammed. Aside from next year’s World Championships in Melbourne, his long-term focus revolves around the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Just two more meets that will allow his legacy to grow.

Mark Jones: He scored in every way possible during his four-year football career at Strath Haven, which was cemented with a Class AAA state championship. With more than 5,000 yards from scrimmage, he was a threat in all facets of the game.

So, when he bolted to the Southeastern Conference and the University of Tennessee, it wasn’t surprising to see the Volunteers take advantage of his versatility. As a senior, Jones was used on both sides of the ball, as a receiver and in the secondary.

After spending the 2004 season with the New York Giants, Jones enjoyed a superb season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last year. A special-teams standout, Jones was the eighth-ranked punt returner in the NFL with an average of 9.6 yards per return. He had a long of 31 yards. This season, Jones could add some receiving responsibilities to his punt-return duties.

In Tampa, Jones is surrounded by several Delco products, including tight end Anthony Becht (Monsignor Bonner) and receiver Maurice Stovall (Archbishop Carroll). Zack Love, a former teammate of Jones at Strath Haven, has been signed as a free-agent offensive lineman.

Jameer Nelson: While wearing the orange and black of Chester High, Nelson established himself as the consummate floor general. A leader through his actions and words, the point guard guided the Clippers to a Class AAAA state title, the annual expectation of a basketball-adoring city.

Four years later, Nelson landed on the cover of Sports Illustrated, thanks to the skills that led Saint Joseph’s University to the No. 1 ranking in the nation and into the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.

Following a strong rookie season, Nelson fought through a foot injury during his sophomore campaign and has been tabbed as the Orlando Magic’s point guard of the future. That distinction was determined after Orlando shipped Steve Francis to New York in February.

In 62 games, which included 33 starts, Nelson averaged 14.6 points, 4.9 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 48.3 percent from the field. After scoring a career-high 32 points against Seattle in January, Nelson followed two nights later with a career-high 13 assists against Portland. He had 15 games of at least 20 points.

To contact John Lohn e-mail

jlohn@delcotimes.com