Madison Prep standout Kobe Julian headlines Class 3A All-State basketball teams

By ADAM HUNSUCKER
Written for the LSWA

How much is one player worth? Ask Madison Prep.

The Chargers proved that even Kobe Julien wasn’t indispensable by capturing a state championship in their inaugural season in Class 3A.

An ACL injury that ended Julien’s senior season prematurely did not keep him from headlining the Louisiana Sportswriter’s Association’s Class 3A All-State team as the boys Outstanding Player.

Julien, a UL-Lafayette signee, averaged 24 points a game for Madison Prep.

JaMya Mingo-Young from state-champion Loranger joined Julien by capturing top individual honors on the girls team. Mingo-Young, a returning All-Stater, led the Lady Wolves with 21 points per game as a junior.

A panel of sportswriters form across the state selected Jimmy Jones as the girls Coach of the Year after leading Carroll to a worst-to-first season in District 2-3A and a quarterfinal appearance. Peabody’s state runner-up finish earned Louisiana legend Charles Smith the boys Coach of the Year award.

Darrell Comanche Jr. (13.4 ppg) from Class 3A semifinalist Wossman, Eric Reed (17.7 ppg) from Division II runner-up University Lab, D.J. Burns (17 ppg) from Sophie B. Wright, another Class 3A semifinalist, and Class 3A runner-up Peabody’s Dwight Simon (15.1 ppg) joined Julien on the boys first team.

Rounding out the girls first team alongside Mingo-Young were Carroll’s Amber Brown (25 ppg), Ashlynn Derouen (18 ppg) from Class 3A semifinalist South Beauregard, Wossman’s Curtessia Dean (22 ppg) and Kennedi Green (17.3 ppg) from Class 3A runner-up Madison Prep.

CLASS 3A
BOYS
First Team
Name School Ht. Class Avg.
Darrell Comanche Jr. Wossman 6-4 Sr. 13.4
Kobe Julien Madison Prep 6-5 Sr. 24.2
Eric Reed University 6-2 Sr. 17.7
DJ Burns S.B. Wright 6-6 Jr. 17.0
Dwight Simon Peabody 6-7 Sr. 15.1
Second Team
Name School Ht. Class Avg.
Randy Jones Carroll 6-5 Jr. 14.5
Darius Smith Peabody 6-4 Jr. 18.4
Gregory Hammond S.B. Wright 6-5 Jr. 16.8
Jailyn Natt Wossman 6-2 Sr. 12.3
Jaylin Walker Washington-Marion 5-8 Sr. 19.1
OUTSTANDING PLAYER: KOBE JULIEN, MADISON PREP
COACH OF THE YEAR: CHARLES SMITH, PEABODY

Honorable mention
Josh Leblanc, Madison Prep; Bryton Constantin, University; Jalen Henry, De La Salle, Sr.; Rylan Theyard, Lusher, Sr.; Prince Campbell, Sophie B. Wright, Jr; Kyle Ross, University; Josh Burnett, Crowley; Jahein Spencer, Madison Prep; Bryton Constantin, University; Travonte Sam, David Thibodaux; Malik Criner, North Vermilion; Coby Wilson, Iota; August Pitre, Northwest; Charlie Russell, Sophie B. Wright; Deven Melancon, Loyola Prep; Kyron Gibson, Peabody; Raymond Guillory, Lake Charles College Prep; Michael Thomas, Washington-Marion; Bailey Hardy, St. Louis; Joseph Smith, Richwood.

GIRLS
First Team
Name School Ht. Class Avg.
Amber Brown Carroll 5-9 Jr. 25.0
Ashlynn Derouen South Beauregard 5-6 Sr. 18.0
JaMya Mingo-Young Loranger 5-8 Jr. 25.7
Curtessia Dean Wossman 5-10 Sr. 22.0
Kennedi Brown Madison Prep 5-8 Jr. 17.3
Second Team
Name School Ht. Class Avg.
Madeline Gatte Iota 5-10 Sr. 21.7
Alyssa Fisher University 5-7 Jr. 20.5
Natalie Kelly Albany 6-3 Sr. 17.0
Chelsea Johnson Loyola Prep 6-1 Jr. 16.1
Teeona Barkley Marksville 5-5 Sr. 31.4
OUTSTANDING PLAYER: J’MYA MINGO-YOUNG, LORANGER
COACH OF THE YEAR: JIMMY JONES, CARROLL

Honorable mention
Shelby Augustine, Richwood; Alyx Hardy, St. Louis; Lauryn Scott, St. James; Mahogany Williams, Albany; Judnissia Straughter, Wossman; Whitney Tate, Caldwell Parish; Tykalon Jacobs, Avoyelles; Sydney Rivers, Loranger; Linsey Ard, Loranger; Rylie Frick, Kaplan; Stacie White, Eunice.