By: Jake Martin
Written for the LSWA
Most athletes desire the spotlight, but few have embraced it with style and grace like Oak Grove’s Caroline Bradley.
You see, there’s more to it than just putting the ball through the hoop. From constant communication with college coaches to all the picture-taking on recruiting visits, Bradley has become a professional as an amateur.
There’s no part of Bradley’s game on the court or approach off it that lacks attention to detail. It’s what makes her a repeat selection for the Farm Bureau Insurance/LSWA Miss Basketball. She’s just the sixth player in the history of the award to repeat as Miss Basketball.
Yes, the LSU commitment is poised beyond her years. Sometimes, that fact intimidates her head coach.
“Oh, I hate doing any kind of interviews in front of her,” Oak Grove coach Lee Johnson said. “To be so young, I can’t imagine how she’s had to deal with all of that.”
Responses confined to “yes ma’am” with big-time college coaches as an eighth grader morphed into a junior speaking to a crowded room at the FCA Night of Champions last December.
“When it comes to things like that, I’m trying to do that more because I know I’ll see more of that at the next level,” Bradley said.
And that’s the point.
Bradley takes no shortcuts in her evolution. That evolution was on display again earlier this week when Bradley committed to LSU during a crawfish boil that exploded into a community event that included her home town and media from across the state.
The numbers explain the reasons for hoopla. The 6-foot-5 forward averaged 27 points, 17.6 rebounds, 3.4 blocks, 2.4 assists and 1.4 steals. Her team’s journey ended with a devastating 46-45 loss to Westlake in a Division III nonselect semifinal.
But don’t feel too bad for Bradley.
She’ll have another crack at winning an LHSAA championship with her teammates in 2027. The 5-star prospect in the Class of 2027 would love to add a state championship to the gold medal she won representing the United States in the FIBA U16 AmeriCup in Mexico.
A gold medal and two Miss Basketball honors isn’t a bad collection for the decorated star.
“There’s a lot of other talented people in the state of Louisiana,” Bradley said. “It just makes me want to continue to work hard and validate it. It motivates me to work harder.”
La. Farm Bureau/Miss Basketball Winners
1996: Judy Clark, Singer
1997: Kisha James, Pineville
1998: Kisha James, Pineville
1999: Ashley Antony, Anacoco
2000: Alana Beard, Southwood-Shreveport
2001: Seimone Augustus, Capitol
2002: Seimone Augustus, Capitol
2003: Katie Antony, Anacoco
2004: Quianna Chaney, Southern Lab
2005: Courtnee Hollins, Fairview
2006: Alexis Rack, Franklin
2007: Tarkeisha Wysinger, Many
2008: Deana Allen, Ellender
2009: Kylie Leonards, Fairview
2010: Theresa Plaisance, Vandebilt Catholic
2011: Tina Roy, Kaplan
2012: Lulu Perry, Benton
2013: La’Dencia Johnson, Rayville
2014: Kalani Brown, Salmen
2015: Kalani Brown, Salmen
2016: Cara Ursin, Destrehan
2017: Cara Ursin, Destrehan
2018: Kourtney Weber, Ursuline
2019: Tiara Young, Walker
2020: JerKaila Jordan, John Curtis
2021: Jeriah Warren, LaGrange
2022: Mikaylah Williams, Parkway
2023: Mikaylah Williams, Parkway
2024: Jada Richard, Lafayette Christian
2025: Caroline Bradley, Oak Grove
2026: Caroline Bradley, Oak Grove