The hits just keep on coming…………line from Top Gun

Already this year LaDamien Bradford of Jonesboro-Hodge High School has been named to the boys basketball first team in district 1-2A and in Class AA. Now he has earned the designation as All-Area Player of the Year by the Shreveport Times.

As stated by Jimmy Watson of the Times it is hard to argue with success. Over the last two seasons the Texas A&M signee has led the Tigers to two district titles and a state tournament appearance. This season the 6’4” shooting guard averaged a double-double checking in with 24.5 points per game and 13.3 rebounds while also chipping in 5.5 assists and 3.8 steals.
“LaDamien really stepped up his game the second half of district play,” Tigers coach Allen Tew said. “The team played its best during the last month of the season and the playoffs and that was due not only to LaDamien’s talent, but his leadership and making the young players around him better.”

Joining Bradford on the first team is close friend Chanse Robinson (22.9 ppg, 12.2 rpg) of Lincoln Prep Jakemin Abney (23.8 ppg, 8 rpg) of Simsboro, Devonte Snow (23 ppg. 8 rpg) of Natchitoches-Central, Decari Markray (21.7 ppg, 9.4 rpg) of Doyline, Kenneth Bradley (19.6 ppg) of Red River and Thomas Howell (27.1 ppg, 16.2 rpg) of St. Mary’s in Natchitoches

In an unusual move the Times selected two as Coach of the Year in Michael Normand who led Doyline to a 33-2 record and the Class B state title and Stephen Birch of Pleasant Hill who went 27-9 on the season and played in the Class C title game.