Top Football Players on the Hardwood

Louisiana has always had dual sport athletes in football and basketball. Players like Tredavious White (Green Oaks/LSU/Buffalo Bills) were all-district or all-state players in basketball as well as football. We have several players in the same vain in the 2021-2023 classes. From the football field to the hardwood, we will take a look at top tier players who perform well in both sports. [player_tooltip player_id="765904" first="Keon" last="Coleman"] | 6’4" | Opelousas Catholic | 2021 Coleman is one of the best in both sports. He is a top ten player on the hardwood and on the football field. While he fields several offers from Division I schools in basketball, Coleman has offers to play wide receiver from practically ever Power 5 school. Michigan State is even considering recruiting him in both sports to get him on campus. That is how talented he is. Coleman can score at all three levels and is ultra competitive. He may take one more stab at a state title after football season. Whatever he does, plenty of schools will be watching. [player_tooltip player_id="530996" first="Brian" last="Thomas"] | 6’4" | Walker | 2021 Thomas is the #1 wide receiver in the state and has offers from several Power 5 schools. While he holds a top five position in the state football ranks, he is also a top ten basketball player. Playing with Walker, Thomas has won a most outstanding player award, a state championship (5A), and played in Marsh Madness three years in a row. While he is a more polished football player, Thomas has an outstanding basketball resume. If a school decided to recruit him for both sports, they might have a steal in a basketball player. [player_tooltip player_id="977253" first="Brian" last="Stewart"] | 5’8" | Woodlawn-Shreveport | 2021 One of the most exciting kick/punt returners on the prep scene is [player_tooltip player_id="977253" first="Brian" last="Stewart"]. He makes people miss in tight spaces and is pretty swift once he gets into open field. While Stewart and the Knights did not have much team success on the gridiron this season, he more than made up for it during basketball season. Stewart was the point guard on the 1-4A district winning team and helped the Knights get to the 4A seminfinals. While he will play football on the next level, his ball-handling and quickness may help Woodlawn return to Lake Charles this coming season. [player_tooltip player_id="530982" first="Tyrese" last="Johnson"] | 6’2" | KIPP BTW | 2021 Johnson is one of the top fifteen players in basketball and football. As a wide receiver, Johnson helped lead KIPP to the second round in a brand new classification. He followed that success with helping the boys basketball team achieve the same thing. Just like the football field, Johnson absorbs contact and makes plays. He has already seen success on the hardwood by helping KIPP play for the 1A title in 2019. I see the Lions mirroring that success in 3A this season and the driving and shooting ability of Johnson will be a key to it. [player_tooltip player_id="931050" first="Bailey" last="Despanie"] | 6’1" | Carencro | 2021 When the Golden Bears needed a someone to step up after [player_tooltip player_id="530975" first="Joe" last="Charles"] could not finish the season, Despanie filled that void. He led the basketball team to the second round of the playoffs pacing them with his scoring. He finished the season as an all-state honorable mention in what is probably his second best sport. Bailey, one of the top corners in the states, has committed to Tulane in football. Just as defense is his a calling card on the hardwood, it is the same on the gridiron. Look for repeat success for Despanie during his senior season as a Golden Bear. [player_tooltip player_id="765941" first="Kashie" last="Natt"] | 6’2" | Rayville | 2021 Natt is one of the best basketball players in 2A. He was named first team all-state along with being an all-district and all-NELA selection. Natt also was the driving force with his two way play helping the Hornets to another 2A runner-up trophy after consecutive state titles. His two way play was his signature on the football field as well with him playing linebacker/safety and wideout. He does not take plays off in either sport and that is a testament to his will to win and how hard he plays. Natt is so good that he may be all-state in both sports in his Rayville swan song. [player_tooltip player_id="970114" first="Demarcus" last="Singleton"] | 6’0" | H.L Bourgeios | 2023 One of the athletes making and impact on the varsity level in football and basketball as a freshman is [player_tooltip player_id="970114" first="Demarcus" last="Singleton"]. He played all over the offense as a freshman and has great promise on the gridiron. What is scary is he was even more successful on the varsity basketball floor. He played on and off the ball helping the Braves to a 5A quarterfinal appearance. His production also garnered him an all-state honorable mention selection. Singleton may be the primary option in both sports next season. If he mirrors the success from 2019-20, he will be just fine. There are other great players in football and basketball around the state. Arch Manning for Isidore Newman comes to mind. Look for other dual sport players to excel in both arenas as the state works its way through Covid-19 procedures to make sure that we have sports in 2020-21.

Louisiana has always had dual sport athletes in football and basketball. Players like Tredavious White (Green Oaks/LSU/Buffalo Bills) were all-district or all-state players in basketball as well as football. We have several players in the same vain in the 2021-2023 classes. From the football field to the hardwood, we will take a look at top tier players who perform well in both sports.

Coleman is one of the best in both sports. He is a top ten player on the hardwood and on the football field. While he fields several offers from Division I schools in basketball, Coleman has offers to play wide receiver from practically ever Power 5 school. Michigan State is even considering recruiting him in both sports to get him on campus. That is how talented he is. Coleman can score at all three levels and is ultra competitive. He may take one more stab at a state title after football season. Whatever he does, plenty of schools will be watching.

Brian Thomas | 6’4" | Walker | 2021

Thomas is the #1 wide receiver in the state and has offers from several Power 5 schools. While he holds a top five position in the state football ranks, he is also a top ten basketball player. Playing with Walker, Thomas has won a most outstanding player award, a state championship (5A), and played in Marsh Madness three years in a row. While he is a more polished football player, Thomas has an outstanding basketball resume. If a school decided to recruit him for both sports, they might have a steal in a basketball player.

One of the most exciting kick/punt returners on the prep scene is Brian Stewart Brian Stewart 5'8" | PG Woodlwan-S'port | 2021 State LA . He makes people miss in tight spaces and is pretty swift once he gets into open field. While Stewart and the Knights did not have much team success on the gridiron this season, he more than made up for it during basketball season. Stewart was the point guard on the 1-4A district winning team and helped the Knights get to the 4A seminfinals. While he will play football on the next level, his ball-handling and quickness may help Woodlawn return to Lake Charles this coming season.

Johnson is one of the top fifteen players in basketball and football. As a wide receiver, Johnson helped lead KIPP to the second round in a brand new classification. He followed that success with helping the boys basketball team achieve the same thing. Just like the football field, Johnson absorbs contact and makes plays. He has already seen success on the hardwood by helping KIPP play for the 1A title in 2019. I see the Lions mirroring that success in 3A this season and the driving and shooting ability of Johnson will be a key to it.

When the Golden Bears needed a someone to step up after Joe Charles could not finish the season, Despanie filled that void. He led the basketball team to the second round of the playoffs pacing them with his scoring. He finished the season as an all-state honorable mention in what is probably his second best sport. Bailey, one of the top corners in the states, has committed to Tulane in football. Just as defense is his a calling card on the hardwood, it is the same on the gridiron. Look for repeat success for Despanie during his senior season as a Golden Bear.

Natt is one of the best basketball players in 2A. He was named first team all-state along with being an all-district and all-NELA selection. Natt also was the driving force with his two way play helping the Hornets to another 2A runner-up trophy after consecutive state titles. His two way play was his signature on the football field as well with him playing linebacker/safety and wideout. He does not take plays off in either sport and that is a testament to his will to win and how hard he plays. Natt is so good that he may be all-state in both sports in his Rayville swan song.

One of the athletes making and impact on the varsity level in football and basketball as a freshman is Demarcus Singleton Demarcus Singleton 5'10" | CG Thibodaux | 2023 State LA . He played all over the offense as a freshman and has great promise on the gridiron. What is scary is he was even more successful on the varsity basketball floor. He played on and off the ball helping the Braves to a 5A quarterfinal appearance. His production also garnered him an all-state honorable mention selection. Singleton may be the primary option in both sports next season. If he mirrors the success from 2019-20, he will be just fine.

There are other great players in football and basketball around the state. Arch Manning for Isidore Newman comes to mind. Look for other dual sport players to excel in both arenas as the state works its way through Covid-19 procedures to make sure that we have sports in 2020-21.