Oak Grove’s Caroline Bradley named Gatorade Louisiana Girls Basketball Player of the Year

by: Vincent Cacioppo // GeauxPreps.com Managing Editor

Caroline Bradley, a 6-foot-5 sophomore from Oak Grove High School, has been named the 2024-25 Gatorade Louisiana Girls Basketball Player of the Year, marking the first time an athlete from Oak Grove has claimed the honor. At just 16, Bradley’s presence on the court and her quiet dedication off it have set her apart as a rising star.

Now in its 40th year, the Gatorade Player of the Year award celebrates the nation’s top high school athletes for their excellence in sports, academics, and community impact. For Caroline, it’s recognition of a standout season where she averaged 21.8 points and 15.1 rebounds per game, leading her Oak Grove Tigers (21-5) to the Non-Select Division III state championship game.

Her defining moment came in the state final against Oakdale, where, despite a 48-43 loss, she went for 38 points—hitting 18 of 26 field goals—while hauling in 22 rebounds and swatting six shots in 31 minutes of relentless effort. Named the state championship’s Most Outstanding Player, she carried her team almost single-handedly.

Bradley’s talent has already earned her a ranking as the No. 5 recruit in the Class of 2027 by ESPN, with 1,595 points and 1,146 rebounds in her young career. Beyond the court, she’s a straight-A student with a 4.0 GPA, juggling basketball with books as she prepares for her junior year. In her community, she’s a familiar face—volunteering at a local food distribution center, umpiring youth softball games, and pitching in with her church youth group as a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Bradley follows Louisiana’s recent winners: Jada Richard (LCA) and Mikaylah Williams (Parkway), and as part of the award, she’ll receive a grant to donate to a social impact partner of her choice.