March 29, 2007

Written for the LSWA
One player won a state title and the other is considered to be the nation's top junior. Kelly Stewart of Glen Oaks and Gregory Monroe of Helen Cox were selected as the Outstanding Player award winners in Class 4A by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.

Many high school basketball recruiting services listed Monroe as the No. 1 junior in the nation. The 6-foot-10 Monroe averaged 19.3 points per game for Cox, which lost in the regional round of the playoffs at eventual runner-up Washington-Marion.

Stewart helped Glen Oaks win its second straight Class 4A girls title in impressive fashion. The Panthers won all their playoff games except one by 10 or more points. She averaged 23 points, 10 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game for the Lady Panthers.

Northside boys coach Devan Clark and Vandebilt Catholic girls coach Kathy Luke notched Coach of the Year honors. Clark guided Northside to the Top 28 and a 32-5 record in his first year at the helm of the Vikings, while Luke led Vandebilt Catholic to the Ladies' Top 28 and a 25-8 record.

Joining Monroe ? a first-team all-stater last year as a sophomore ? as boys first-team selections are a pair of District 4-4A players in LaGrange's Chris Gradnigo (19 ppg, 3.0 steals, 2.0 blocks) and Washington-Marion's Leonard Washington (14.2 ppg, 11 rebounds, 4.0 blocks). Mitchell Hampton (21.4 ppg, 12.2 rebounds, 4.3 blocks) of Ouachita and Peabody's Marcus Simmons (20.2 ppg, 8.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists) round out the first team.

It is Washington's third consecutive year to make first-team all-state, while Gradnigo was all-state in Class 3A last year. Simmons was a second-team selection last season.

Carroll's Terrance Henry, Peabody's Raphelle Turner, DeRidder's Billy Cotton, St. Martinville's Jelani Mitchell and Northside's Warren Fuselier were selected to the second team.

Jasmine Barnes (15.5 ppg, 8.0 rebounds. 4.5 steals) of Broadmoor, Carroll's Kiara Johnson (17.4 ppg, 12.1 rebounds), Vandebilt Catholic's Sumar Leslie (18.5 ppg, 4.2 assists, 4.0 steals) and Jasmine Nelson (17 ppg, 11 rebounds) of McDonogh 35 comprise the girls first team along with GOHS' Stewart.

Johnson and Nelson are repeat selections, both garnering first-team all-state honors last year.

Second-team selections were St. Michael's Lauren Tomchek, Peabody's Alonda Williams, St. Thomas More's Shelly Breaux, Parkway's Chloe Woodington and McDonogh 35's India Chaney.

Stewart, Chaney, Woodington and Breaux were all second-team
selections a year ago.

Girls Class 4A All-State
First team

Name, School	Ht.	Cl.	Avg.
Jasmine Barnes Broadmoor	5-8	Sr.	15.5
Kelly Stewart Glen Oaks	5-6	Sr.	23.0
Kiara Johnson Carroll	6-1	Sr.	17.4
Sumar Leslie Vandebilt Catholic	5-7	Jr.	18.5
Jasmine Nelson McDonogh 35	6-3	Sr.	17.0

Second team

Name, School	Ht.	Cl.	Avg.
Lauren Tomchek St. Michael	5-10	Sr.	15.6
Alonda Williams Peabody	5-6	Sr.	17.0
Shelly Breaux St. Thomas More	6-0	Jr.	16.1
Chloe Woodington Parkway	5-7	Sr.	17.9
India Chaney McDonogh 35	5-9	Sr.	22.0

OUTSTANDING PLAYER: Kelly Stewart, Glen Oaks
COACH OF THE YEAR: Kathy Luke, Vandebilt Catholic
HONORABLE MENTION: Shaunkea Brown, Peabody; Kasheaf Pinder, Tioga; Jordan Rawson, Pineville; Megan Washington, Pineville; Courtney Scott, Glen Oaks; Markeisha Hunter, Xavier; Tiara George, Glen Oaks;
Janet Butler, West Ouachita; Marcy Robinson, Bastrop; Quinishia McDowell, Ouachita; Keri Thomas, Peabody; Courtney Barber, Tioga; Tremeka Ford, Leesville; Appalonia Babineaux, Opelousas; Mallory Gauthier, St. Thomas More; Da'Sheka Johnson, Bossier; Shaquilla Smith, Bossier; Brittney Dukes, Parkway; Shard?enry, LaGrange.


Boys Class 4A All-State
First team

Name, School	Ht.	Cl.	Avg.
Mitchell Hampton Ouachita	6-7	Sr.	21.4
Marcus Simmons Peabody	6-5	Sr.	20.2
Gregory Monroe Helen Cox	6-10	Jr.	19.3
Chris Gradnigo LaGrange	6-6	Sr.	19.0
Leonard Washington Wash.-Marion	6-6	Sr.	14.2

Second team

Name, School	Ht.	Cl.	Avg.
Terrance Henry Carroll	6-9	Jr.	22.0
Raphelle Turner Peabody	6-9	Sr.	18.5
Billy Cotton DeRidder	6-6	Sr.	22.4
Jelani Mitchell St. Martinville	5-9	Sr.	18.8
Warren Fuselier Northside	5-11	Sr.	14.0

OUTSTANDING PLAYER: Gregory Monroe, Helen Cox
COACH OF THE YEAR: Devan Clark, Northside
HONORABLE MENTION: William Spencer, Glen Oaks; Joshua Washington, Istrouma; Carlos Tatum, Tioga; Mel Smith, Tioga; Jonathan Roque, Alexandria Senior High; Craigory Christopher, Morgan City; B.J. Burkett, Salmen; Joseph Harris, LaGrange; Curry Collins, Washington-Marion; Elgin Bailey, Belaire; Randon Green, East Ascension; Marlon Johnson, East Ascension; Zach Kinsley, St. Michael; Courtney Blakes, Ouachita; Jeremy Johnson, East Jefferson; Charles Clark, Tioga; Marcus Rim, Leesville; Joe Turner, Bossier; Greg Shyne, Minden; DeShawn Patterson, Vandebilt Catholic; Charles Hammork, O.P. Walker; Kevin Branch, Washington-Marion.