NOTE: On October 5th, the Jackson Parish Sports Hall of Fame will enshrine six new members. Also being recognized will be the selection for the Meritorious Service Award and the male and female athlete of the year from the three Jackson Parish high schools. Over the past several weeks the Jackson Parish Journal has featured each of the inductees. Today’s Edition – Jared Stevenson
On a national scale, when one hears the name Jared, the first thing that comes to mind is the brand name of the iconic national jewelry store that has become a household name over the past 20 years.
Locally that isn’t the case though, especially if you followed Quitman High School basketball in the early 2000’s. For those who were fortunate enough to watch the Wolverines play during the 2003 – 05 seasons, the name Jared brings forth another recollection.
Make no mistake, the name still involves a gem but one that shined in an entirely different type of way. Instead of sparkling in a jewelry store showcase, Jared Stevenson was a gem in the gym.
It wasn’t always that way. When Jared first came to Quitman High School as a transfer from Bethel Christian Academy during his sophomore year in 2002 he was like a rough specimen that needed polishing.
“I would challenge him daily,” recalls Quitman High School Principal, Billy Carter, who was the head boys basketball coach at the time. “He would come back and show me how he worked on what I indicated he needed to get better at and would continue to practice at it until he would eventually master the skill.”
It was midway through that sophomore season that Stevenson moved into the starting lineup. Continuing to hone his skills, Stevenson became one of the better players in north Louisiana, averaging 21 points per game his junior year setting the stage for what is one of the best statistical seasons ever produced on the hardwoods of Jackson Parish.
By the time Stevenson’s senior season came around, the one-time “rough cut” was now a polished and poised scoring machine that had people from all over coming to watch him play.
“Jared’s senior season was one of the best I have ever seen,” said Carter when recalling his nearly three-decade career as a high school coach and administrator.
The statistics that Stevenson put up during the 2005-06 season are sparkling proof to the statement. Over the course of the year, Stevenson averaged 29 points per game, second all time in Jackson Parish history for a single season, only behind legendary Bob Hopkins. Three times Stevenson scored 52 points in a game, again second all-time in Jackson Parish single-game scoring records.
“He was such a silky smooth ball handler who could use either hand fluently,” reminisced Carter. “I always knew that if we could get a lead and make the other team “man up” that no one could stop him.”
Stevenson also averaged 11 rebounds per game, impressive in itself in that he stood only 5’10” tall. There was virtually no phase of the game that he didn’t excell in which helped Quitman make a run to the Class B quarterfinals and their best record in nearly 20 years.
“He was phenomenal,” continued Carter. “We just didn’t have the supporting cast to make a deep run that year but the example he set through his work ethic for the younger players on the team was catalyst of our state runner up finish two years later.”
Stevenson would continue his career at Northwestern State University (NSU) where after a red-shirt year he transferred to Louisiana State University – Shreveport (LSUS) where he became a four-year starter. As this was in the days before the “social media” explosion, many of Stevenson’s high school exploits were witnessed only by those who attended the games resulting in him being a true “diamond in the rough”. Regardless, Jared was a gem!