Written for LSWA
Ruston sophomore Ahmad Hudson and Huntington senior Carley Hamilton are the boys and girls basketball players of the year in Class 5A for the 2024-25 season, as selected by a panel of reporters on behalf of the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
The 6-foot-8 Hudson became a two-time first-team all-state selection with 21 points, 14 rebounds and three blocked shots per game – earning him District 2-5A MVP recognition for a team that lost in the state quarterfinals. He holds offers from 17 power conference schools.
Hamilton led No. 4 seeded Huntington to a Division I select state championship as she averaged 21.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, four assists and four steals. She scored 27 points in the title game against Woodlawn-Baton Rouge and was selected as the outstanding player for the game.
State championship winning coaches Wade Mason of St. Augustine and Tami McClure of Zachary were selected as the boys and girls coaches of the year.
Mason guided St. Augustine to the state title in his first season as head coach. He played on the 1995 team at St. Aug that won a state championship.
LSWA CLASS 5A ALL-STATE CHARTS
Boys
First team
Player School Ht. Cl. Pts.
Ahmad Hudson, Ruston, 6-8, So., 21
Xavier Ferguson, Zachary, 6-1, Sr., 20.4
Malek Robinson, Liberty, 5-10, Sr., 14.5
Jeremiah Lucas, Bonnabel, 6-3, Sr., 25.7
Darren Ford, Ouachita, 6-2, Fr., 20.0
Second team
Player School Ht. Cl. Pts.
Jaden Braden, Natchitoches Central, 5-10, Sr., 19.0
Kevon’te Landry, Lafayette, 6-4, Sr., 23
Brysten Martinez, East Ascension, 6-7, Jr., 15.6
Autrail Manning, John Curtis, 6-1, Jr., 13.5
Aaron Miles, St. Augustine, 5-8, So., 15
OUTSTANDING PLAYER: AHMAD HUDSON, RUSTON
COACH OF THE YEAR: WADE MASON, ST. AUGUSTINE
Honorable mention
Jace Conrad, Central; JaDell Demery, Natchitoches Central; Antonio Dixon, Huntington; Ty’Shawn Duncan, Alexandria; Ian Edmond, Zachary; Kedrick Franklin, Central; Caleb Evans, Parkway; Cory Jackson, Ponchatoula; Jordyn Johnson, Alexandria; London Lee, Northshore; Ian Malone, Sulphur; Tate McCurry, Catholic-BR; Ejayden McDonald, Captain Shreve; Kadar Mitchell, H.L. Bourgeois; Brewer Nitcher, Jesuit; Jermaine O’Conner, Denham Springs; Jaquan Raymond, Thibodaux; Rhiange Smith, Terrebonne; Carson Thibodaux, Sulphur; Brady Verdin, Covington; Semaj Whittine, Fontainebleau.
Girls
First team
Player School Ht. Cl. Pts.
Carley Hamilton, Huntington, 5-7, Sr., 21.2
Dakota Howard, Parkway, 5-10, Sr., 23
Tiarra McPipe, Zachary, 5-11, Sr. 12.2
Arionna Patterson, Walker, 6-0, Sr., 20
Amijah Price, Woodlawn, 5-9, Sr., 18.2
Second team
Player School Ht. Cl. Pts.
Alanna Benoit, Mandeville, 5-9, Jr., 21
Alyssa Hillard, Ponchatoula, 5-9, Sr., 21.2
Ava Raymond, Zachary, 5-10, So., 15.5
Cherie Spencer, Northshore, 5-10, Sr., 25.7
Bailey Timmons, John Curtis, 5-7, Jr., 13.3
OUTSTANDING PLAYER: CARLEY HAMILTON, HUNTINGTON
COACH OF THE YEAR: TAMI MCCLURE, ZACHARY
Honorable mention
Jayla Albert, John Curtis; Cass Antoine, Edna Karr; Thamerin Balthazar, Alexandria; Urijah Carmouche, Southside; A’myja Clark, Terrebonne; Mia Colston, Barbe; Joy Fisher, Neville; Kyndal Graham, Huntington; Maleigha James, Barbe; Ja’Karia Johnson, H.L. Bourgeois; Kira Johnson, Lafayette; Maryah Joseph, Riverdale; Kyra Lacy, Thibodaux; Shaniya Perkins, Haughton; Zariel Pollard, Thibodaux; Koi Ursin, Destrehan; Cianna Williams, Slidell; Savannah Wilson, Parkway.
