Vote: Who should be SBLive's Louisiana High School Athlete of the Week? (2/5/2024)
Here are the candidates for SBLive’s Louisiana High School Athlete of the Week for Jan. 29-Feb. 4. Read through the nominees and cast your vote. Voting will conclude Sunday at 11:59 p.m. If you would like to nominate an athlete, please email athleteoftheweek@scorebooklive.com or tag us on Twitter.
Editor’s Note: Our Athlete of the Week feature and corresponding poll is intended to be fun, and we do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition. However, we do not allow votes that are generated by script, macro or other automated means. Athletes who receive votes generated by script, macro or other automated means will be disqualified.
Note: Records and power ratings were retrieved from Geaux Preps on Feb. 5
KJ James, Teurlings Catholic wrestling
The senior won the Division II state championship at 215 pounds after finishing as runner-up the previous year. James won a 16-5 decision over Brusly's Tristan Williford. James (25-6) was the No. 1 seed. In football, he was a standout defensive lineman and short-yardage back who helped lead the Rebels to the Division II select semifinals.
Urijah Carmouche, Southside girls basketball
The sophomore point guard set a new school single season assists record (104) last week. She will get plenty of opportunities to add to the record as the Lady Sharks have a couple of regular-season games remaining plus the playoffs. Southside (25-3) is No. 3 in the Division I non-select power ratings.
Garylon Brown, West St. Mary girls basketball
The junior guard scored 39 points with 15 steals in her team's 63-20 rout of Acadiana Renaissance Charter. The Lady Wolfpack hasn't lost a district game in over two years. Brown was honored at halftime of the ARCA game for scoring her 1,000th career point. West St. Mary, which reached the Division III non-select quarterfinals last year, is 16-5 overall, 11-0 in District 8-2A.
Dagan Bruno, John Curtis Christian boys basketball
Bruno's buzzer-beater buoyed the Patriots to a 50-49 Catholic League win over St. Augustine. According to Josh Preston of nola.com, Bruno led the Patriots with 15 points. John Curtis football and baseball coach Jeff Curtis wrote on X that Bruno has a chance to make all-district in three sports in the super-competitive District 9-5A. He was named MVP in football where he was the Patriots' quarterback, and he'll join the baseball team once basketball is complete. The Patriots are 13-8 and No. 14 in the Division I select power ratings. Bruno added four rebounds, four assists and four steals in the win.
Raegan White, Denham Springs girls basketball
White, a senior guard, became the 15th player in school history to score 1,000 points. Denham Springs is 24-3 and No. 2 in the Division I non-select power ratings.
Benjamin Case, Central Catholic boys basketball
Case, a junior, scored his 1,000th point in a win over Highland Baptist. Central Catholic is 15-6 overall, 9-0 in District 7-1A and No. 6 in the Division IV select power ratings.
Kira Johnson, Lafayette High girls basketball
The junior guard is another hoops standout who passed the 1,000-point threshold for her career. The Division I select defending champion Lady Lions have won seven straight games and are 12-7 overall, 6-0 in District 3-5A, heading into a Feb. 6 showdown with Southside.
Richie Clementi, Brother Martin wrestling
Clementi (44-2) won by major decision over Matthew Krail (Holy Cross) to claim the Division I state title at 138 lbs. He is the fifth wrestler in school history to win three state titles. The junior went undefeated against in-state competition and will seek to become the fourth Division I wrestler to clinch four state crowns.
Desa'Monte Gradney, Iowa boys basketball
Gradney, a senior guard, scored 33 points with five 3-pointers in the second half of a 67-45 district win over Lake Charles College Prep, according to Rodrick Anderson of the Lake Charles American Press. The Yellow Jackets - who are building momentum after their first state semifinal appearance last season - are 23-4 overall, perfect vs. league competition and are No. 2 in the Division II non-select power ratings.
Tyanna Stewart, Vandebilt Catholic girls basketball
The 5-foot-9 junior forward totaled 12 points, five rebounds and two steals along with a block and an assist in her team's 67-4 thumping of Lutcher. The Lady Terriers (17-6) have won nine straight games and are No. 2 in the Division II select power ratings.
Salvador Simon, Northside boys basketball
The 6-foot-4 senior scored 24 points with 20 rebounds, two blocked shots and a steal in the Vikings' 58-46 District 4-4A win over David Thibodaux. Northside (15-13, 2-0) has won four straight games and is No. 13 in the Division II select power ratings.
Chris Cenac, Isidore Newman boys basketball
The Greenies earned a tough win over Liberty Magnet, 53-51. Cenac scored 16 points with 16 rebounds and three blocked shots, according to Josh Preston. Newman is 12-3 and No. 1 in the Division III select power ratings.
Katelynn Wilson, LaGrange girls basketball
The senior guard fired in her 1,000th career point last week for the Lady Gators, who are 17-8 and No. 7 in the Division II non-select power ratings.
Jeremiah Lucas, Bonnabel boys basketball
Lucas, a 6-foot-3 junior, scored 29 points in a win over John Ehret and 27 in a win over East Jefferson for the Bruins, who are 18-9 and No. 19 in the Division I select power ratings.
Kobe Brown, St. James boys basketball
Brown had 14 points, double-digit assists and three steals as the Wildcats defeated Lutcher, 68-67, in a local rivalry game. The Nick Network Prep Report wrote on X: "Can't say enough about this kid. He came up in the clutch." Brown was a star receiver on the football team.
CJ Shiflett, Evangel Christian boys basketball
The junior guard exploded for 25 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals in a 65-48 win over Woodlawn-Shreveport. The Eagles are 16-7, have won seven of their last eight games and are No. 10 in the Division II select power ratings.
Brady Verdin, Covington boys basketball
The 6-foot-1 junior guard had 21 points with seven rebounds as the Lions nearly pulled off an upset of Hammond, which won in overtime, 73-65.
Nate Casher IV, Live Oak boys basketball
The 6-foot-4 senior led his team with 18 points in a 72-54 win over Ascension Catholic. Live Oak is 15-9 and No. 16 in the Division I non-select power ratings.
Aidan Anding, Ruston boys basketball
The junior dual-sport standout scored 20 points with six 3-pointers in a 63-44 win over Little Rock (Ark.) Parkview. Matt Belinson of the Ruston Daily Leader indicated that Anding shot 60% from beyond the arc over a four-game span.
Zi'Derius Brown, Pearl River boys basketball
Brown scored his 1,000th career point in a loss to M.L. King Charter. He accomplished the milestone in only two years. Brown also rushed for over 1,000 yards for the football team.
Aaron Guinn, Captain Shreve boys basketball
The 6-foot-7 senior had a double-double with 16 points, 11 rebounds and a steal in the Gators' 60-47 win over Benton. Captain Shreve is 22-5 overall, 8-2 in District 1-5A and No. 5 in the Division I select power ratings. Guinn is averaging seven points and seven rebounds per game.
Tiarra McPipe, Zachary girls basketball
The 5-foot-9 junior guard scored her 1,000th point last week. McPipe has been a star since her freshman season at Zachary, which is 19-7 and No. 7 in the Division I non-select power ratings.
Kinsley James, Southern Lab girls basketball
The 5-foot-8 senior guard scored her 1,000th career point last week for the Kittens, who are 23-7 and No. 1 in the Division IV select power ratings.
Bodi Harris, Jesuit wrestling
The Blue Jays won the Division I state title for the second straight year and 24th time overall. Harris moved up to 120 lbs after winning at 113 lbs. the previous year. He defeated Vincent Vidakovich (Holy Cross) in the finals.
Cashmere Pichon, Holy Cross boys basketball
The Tigers snapped a four-game losing streak with a 65-58 win over Brother Martin. Pichon scored 22 points, including a pair of free throws with less than a minute remaining, according to Darrell Williams of nola.com. Holy Cross is 14-11 and No. 24 in the Division I select power ratings
Addison Fruge, Rosepine girls basketball
The senior East Texas Baptist University commit scored her 2,000th career point last week, which included wins over Holy Savior Menard and Pickering. The Division III non-select defending state champion Lady Eagles are 25-5 and eyeing another No. 1 playoff seed.
