JOURNAL SPORTS
After sparking Huntington to a state championship, senior guard Carley Hamilton has been chosen Outstanding Player in Class 5A girls basketball for the 2024-25 season, joining Parkway senior Dakota Howard on the All-State first team.
Three more local girls were honorable mention selection, including Huntington’s Kyndal Graham, who hit the game-winning shot in the state semifinal upset of No. 1 John Curtis. Howard’s Parkway teammate Savannah Wilson was honorable mention along with Shaniya Perkins, who helped Haughton to its first-ever state semifinal berth.
Three Shreveport-Bossier boys earned honorable mention All-State recognition: Antonio Dixon of Huntington, Caleb Evans from Parkway and Ejayden McDonald of Captain Shreve.
The All-State teams are selected by a panel of 12 media members on behalf of the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
Hamilton led No. 4 seeded Huntington to a Division I Select state title, toppling Curtis and defending state champ Woodlawn of Baton Rouge. She scored 27 points in the title game against Woodlawn and was selected as the outstanding player for the game.
Overall, Hamilton averaged 21.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, four assists and four steals.
Parkway’s Howard helped the Lady Panthers earn the No. 1 seed in Non-Select Division I. Parkway reached the state championship game but had to settle for second for the first time in three years.
Howard averaged 23 points, 10 rebounds, 7 steals and 4 assists as the Lady Panthers went 29-5 and extended their long District 1-5A unbeaten streak.
BOYS
First team
Player, School, Ht., Cl., PPG
Ahmad Hudson, Ruston, 6-8, So., 21
Xavier Ferguson, Zachary, 6-1, Sr., 20.4
Malek Robinson, Liberty, 5-10, Sr., 14.5
Jeremiah Lucas, Bonnabel, 6-3, Sr., 25.7
Darren Ford, Ouachita, 6-2, Fr., 20.0
Second team
Jaden Braden, Natchitoches Central, 5-10, Sr., 19.0
Kevon’te Landry, Lafayette, 6-4, Sr., 23
Brysten Martinez, East Ascension, 6-7, Jr., 15.6
Autrail Manning, John Curtis, 6-1, Jr., 13.5
Aaron Miles, St. Augustine, 5-8, So., 15
OUTSTANDING PLAYER: AHMAD HUDSON, RUSTON
COACH OF THE YEAR: WADE MASON, ST. AUGUSTINE
Honorable mention
Jace Conrad, Central; JaDell Demery, Natchitoches Central; Antonio Dixon, Huntington; Ty’Shawn Duncan, Alexandria; Ian Edmond, Zachary; Kedrick Franklin, Central; Caleb Evans, Parkway; Cory Jackson, Ponchatoula; Jordyn Johnson, Alexandria; London Lee, Northshore; Ian Malone, Sulphur; Tate McCurry, Catholic-BR; Ejayden McDonald, Captain Shreve; Kadar Mitchell, H.L. Bourgeois; Brewer Nitcher, Jesuit; Jermaine O’Conner, Denham Springs; Jaquan Raymond, Thibodaux; Rhiange Smith, Terrebonne; Carson Thibodaux, Sulphur; Brady Verdin, Covington; Semaj Whittine, Fontainebleau.
GIRLS
First team
Player, School, Ht., Class, PPG
Carley Hamilton, Huntington, 5-7, Sr., 21.2
Dakota Howard, Parkway, 5-10, Sr., 23
Tiarra McPipe, Zachary, 5-11, Sr. 12.2
Arionna Patterson, Walker, 6-0, Sr., 20
Amijah Price, Woodlawn-BR, 5-9, Sr., 18.2
Second team
Alanna Benoit, Mandeville, 5-9, Jr., 21
Alyssa Hillard, Ponchatoula, 5-9, Sr., 21.2
Ava Raymond, Zachary, 5-10, So., 15.5
Cherie Spencer, Northshore, 5-10, Sr., 25.7
Bailey Timmons, John Curtis, 5-7, Jr., 13.3
OUTSTANDING PLAYER: CARLEY HAMILTON, HUNTINGTON
COACH OF THE YEAR: TAMI MCCLURE, ZACHARY
Honorable mention
Jayla Albert, John Curtis; Cass Antoine, Edna Karr; Thamerin Balthazar, Alexandria; Urijah Carmouche, Southside; A’myja Clark, Terrebonne; Mia Colston, Barbe; Joy Fisher, Neville; Kyndal Graham, Huntington; Maleigha James, Barbe; Ja’Karia Johnson, H.L. Bourgeois; Kira Johnson, Lafayette; Maryah Joseph, Riverdale; Kyra Lacy, Thibodaux; Shaniya Perkins, Haughton; Zariel Pollard, Thibodaux; Koi Ursin, Destrehan; Cianna Williams, Slidell; Savannah Wilson, Parkway.