JOURNAL SPORTS
There was no doubt. Not last year, not this time around, either.
For the second consecutive year, Parkway’s sensational senior guard Mikaylah Williams is the Louisiana Farm Bureau Insurance Miss Basketball winner, selected by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
Williams is the fifth Louisiana high school female student-athlete to become a two-time winner of the award in the 28 years of its existence. She joins Kisha James of Pineville (1997-98), Seimone Augustus of Capitol (2001-02), Kalani Brown of Salmen (2014-15) and Cara Ursin of Destrehan (2016-17).
Her 2022-23 season statistics were not eye-popping for a player of her caliber. In nearly every game, Parkway blew out the opponents and Williams was flanked by two more All-State players and other very skilled teammates. The 6-foot-1 Williams averaged 19 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.6 steals.
Williams, regarded by many as the top 2023 women’s basketball recruit in the country, led Parkway (30-5, 25-1 against in-state foes) to the LHSAA Non-Select Division I state title as the Lady Panthers blasted each of their playoff opponents, including in the state championship game as she poured in 27 points in a dominating 80-57 victory over Ponchatoula. A year earlier, Parkway was edged in double overtime to Ponchatoula in the 2022 title game.
Williams set the tone in the championship game as she scored 14 points in the first half to help Parkway take control, nailing a 3-pointer from about 30 feet as the first-half buzzer sounded. When the shot hit the net, Williams uncharacteristically dashed off the court toward the locker room. But because of her accomplishments in the classroom, she had to turn around and return to the floor to accept Academic All-State recognition at halftime.
Williams had her pick of scholarship offers from the top programs in women’s college basketball before she picked LSU last fall. Even with all of the talent Kim Mulkey has returning and is bringing in after the Tigers’ national championship season, Williams is expected to make an immediate impact in the playing rotation as a freshman.
