Warren Easton’s Ashaad Clayton named November Athlete of the Month

NEW ORLEANS – Ashaad Clayton, a junior running back from Warren Easton High School, has been selected as the Greater New Orleans Amateur Athlete of the Month for November. Monthly award-winners are chosen in voting by the Greater New Orleans Sports Award Selection Committee, sponsored by the Allstate Sugar Bowl.

In five November games, Clayton rushed 72 times for 780 and 10 touchdowns and caught seven passes for 106 yards and a touchdown in helping lead the Eagles to the No. 2 seed in the Class 4A state playoffs. On Friday, Nov. 30, Clayton rushed 14 times for 265 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Eagles to a 54-14 victory over previously unbeaten Leesville to secure a spot in the Class 4A state championship game against Karr. He was named Metro Prep Player of the Week for his Leesville performance by the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation Quarterback Club, CrescentCitySports.com, WGSO 990 AM and by Friday Night Football (ABC 26 and NOLA 38).

A junior, Clayton already has offers from LSU, Auburn, Georgia, Arkansas, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Oregon State, Texas, Tulane, Georgia Tech, Kansas, UTSA and Western Kentucky. Clayton is coached by Jerry Phillips.

Clayton earned the honor over three other athletes who turned in outstanding November performances. Xavier University volleyball star Kayla Black was named the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Year after leading the Gold Nuggets to the regular-season and tournament championships. Kylan Duhe, a star running back for West St. John High School ran for 555 yards and 12 touchdowns as he led the Fighting Rams to the Allstate Sugar Bowl/LHSAA Class 1A Semifinals. Finally, Tulane cross country star Emmanuel Rotich capped an outstanding senior season by being named the American Athletic Conference Runner of the Year for the second straight time.

The Greater New Orleans Sports Selection Committee has been selecting an Amateur Athlete of the Month each month since 1957. The athlete must be a native of the greater New Orleans area or must compete for a team in the metropolitan region in order to be eligible. Each of the monthly award winners will be honored in the summer at the Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Ceremony, hosted by the Allstate Sugar Bowl.