Two-Sport Force: Stanford commitment Jude Chamberlain thrives for Catholic High
by William Weathers // GeauxPreps.com Contributor
BATON ROUGE – His early game film was an example of the advances Jude Chamberlain made in his game.
Following a 7-on-7 opportunity on June 4 where Catholic High had faced Karr, Zachary, and The Dunham School, Chamberlain could only shake his head in disbelief.
The sight of watching himself trying to block during his freshman season left a lot to be desired, and Chamberlain, now a 6-foot-6, 235-pound senior, was determined to become an accomplished blocker to accent other elements of his improving skill set.
“I was a defensive end coming up and then moved to tight end here,” Chamberlain said. “We pulled up film of me blocking the other day. It was awful.”
Chamberlain praised the efforts of former Catholic tight end Porter Fourrier, the team’s starter in 2023. Fourrier was a great example of the team’s brotherhood, passing down his knowledge of the position to Chamberlain, who saw action in a reduced role and caught two touchdowns.
Their interaction, primarily after practice, was a catalyst in providing the tools for Chamberlain to become an all-around player at such a key position in the team’s offense.
“He was football smart and knew everything,” Chamberlain said of Fourrier. “He played every game with two bad shoulders. If he had to come out, I’d go in for about three drives a game. I owe a lot of my success to him. He taught me a whole lot of stuff that I know.
“I was there at practice with him; he taught me everything,” Chamberlain said. “I could always catch. We would stay after practice, and we would block for an hour. He helped me with offense. I’m really thankful for him.”
What people see now is an accomplished player, and Chamberlain’s considered one of the nation’s top tight ends. He landed 21 Division I scholarship offers for his ability to use his athleticism to catch and block, and committed to Stanford on June 1.
“I don’t know what other tight ends are out there, I don’t think I’ve ever seen another guy as dynamic as him that we’ve coached in terms of being able to block, run, catch all put together,” Catholic High football coach Hudson Fuller said. “It’s impressive. It’s a really big difference when you’re throwing to a really big target of what you can do.
“For every player in our program, we as coaches kind of have a vision for what we think this guy can grow into one day,” Fuller said. “You could see what you’re seeing now from him as an incoming ninth grader. He had skills. He was big. So, now it’s a bunch of hard work that added up over time that’s allowing him to be what he is now.”
Chamberlain’s a three-star prospect rated as the nation’s No. 57 tight end and No. 31 overall prospect in Louisiana by On3. He was second on last year’s team with 25 catches but topped the Bears in reception yards (450) and touchdowns (6), helping his team to a 10-3 record and second straight appearance in the Division I select state semifinals.
His 450 yards rank 17th in school history for a single season, and his 18.0 yards per catch average is also 17th best for a single season.
“I was supposed to be one of the guys that helped to get to where we were,” Chamberlain said of last year’s team. “I started off a little slow. As the season progressed, I started to play well and used that to go into a leadership role. With that, I helped the team become what we could be. It didn’t finish on top.”
Chamberlain is the product of an athletic household.
His father, Matt, was part of two national baseball championship teams under legendary coach Skip Bertman at LSU and was drafted in the 11th round of the MLB Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The elder Chamberlain, who was 14-5 with 137 strikeouts over his final two seasons and was the team’s No. 3 starter on the 1993 national champion, pitched for a couple of years in the minor leagues. He attended LSU medical school in Shreveport and practices family medicine.
His mother, Sara, a former swimmer/triathlete at Northwestern State, is a nurse practitioner and works in a variety of specialties.
“He’s a competitor,” Catholic High basketball coach Derrick Jones. “He comes from a competitive family. His older brother (Max) was a big-time soccer player (at Catholic). Just an athletic family.”
Baseball appeared to be a sport of choice for the younger Chamberlain, who also played football and basketball.
“I was good at it (baseball) when I was 8, and everybody thought I’d be that guy,” he said. “But it didn’t work out that way. Football went hand in hand (with basketball), and I was good at both of them. I’m still good at both, but better at one of them.”
Chamberlain became enamored with former Alabama All-American wide receiver Julio Jones. The 6-3, 220-pounder went on to enjoy a 13-year NFL career, including 10 with the Atlanta Falcons, and was a 7-time Pro Bowl selection known for his ability to make tough catches in traffic.
He used his body strategically to shield defenders, and his strength was also a weapon Chamberlain wanted to master.
“He was my favorite player growing up,” he said. “He would go up and snag that thing, and I’ve always wanted to do that. I’d watch him in my bedroom. I’d throw a ball to myself, and I’d dive and catch it.”
The capacity to pluck footballs out of the air became a mindset Chamberlain’s turned into an art form at Catholic High.
Start with desire. He believes every ball thrown in his direction will be his, whether it’s a key reception to continue a drive or coming down with a touchdown in the corner of the end zone.
“I’ve always thought of 50-50 jump balls as 90-10,” he said. “If you throw it to me, I’m coming down with it.”
Fuller has long admired Chamberlain’s response to competition in difficult situations.
“He’s a competitor,” he said. “He’s always responded when challenged. He loves challenges. He’s obviously got a lot of God-given skills, but who he is as a competitor, and how he responds to a challenge, is what makes him special.”
Watching the evolution of Chamberlain during his junior season was a credit to Fuller and his offensive staff.
Chamberlain was featured in a variety of ways to boost the Bears’ offense – whether it was a physical running attack or a high-percentage throwing game with senior quarterbacks Turner Goldsmith and Baylor Graves.
To find exactly where Chamberlain lined up from play to play requires paying attention.
You can find him attached to the line of scrimmage, on either side of the formation, essentially giving the Bears an additional offensive lineman to lead the way for standout running back Jayden Miles.
Blocking has become one of his greatest strengths and a key to his team’s ability to run the ball behind an aggressive line with a talented group of running backs.
One of the more memorable blocks from last season was in the semifinal with Karr when a completed pass near the 30-yard line of the Cougars came with a crushing downfield pancake block from Chamberlain near the sideline.
Catholic also has a variety of ways to try and get the ball to Chamberlain, who’s turned into a matchup problem for the opposition.
He was lined up in the wing in a 36-14 win over District 4-5A foe Liberty Magnet, motioning over to catch a short pass down the sideline for a 60-yard touchdown.
Chamberlain also lines up in the slot, releases off the line, and works his way downfield on slants and crossing routes. When the Bears truly needed a big play that could shift the game’s momentum, Chamberlain lines up out wide against single coverage.
It was another way Chamberlain’s able to use his frame and substantial catch radius in the middle of the field or make substantial gains for critical first downs or even better, reaching the end zone.
In a season-opening 32-23 win over Destrehan, Chamberlain showed his determination at the conclusion of a crossing route. By the time he finished moving five defenders, the Bears were just outside of the red zone.
“That’s one of the things I love,” Chamberlain said. “To use me and my body to throw in the middle of the field, and I can go make a play at get us some yards.”
A 15-yard TD against St. Thomas More came on a simple release off the line of scrimmage, where he found an open crease down the seam into the end zone.
Chamberlain, who was split out wide, broke out of a tackle and sped 32 yards for a touchdown at West Monroe. He may not have been better than a Week 7 showdown at Central – a game that would play a role in the league’s eventual champion.
Chamberlain scored twice after getting loose off the line of scrimmage and finding plenty of room down the seams for back-breaking scores of 18 and 30 yards, respectively, in a 57-28 victory.
During the team’s second-half dominance in a 44-6 quarterfinal win over Alexandria, Chamberlain showed off a nifty double move for a 40-yard gain to the Trojans’ 5-yard line, which led to a touchdown.
“To make contested catches, to change direction, those things translate,” Fuller said of Chamberlain’s skills on the football field and basketball court.
The road to earning extensive minutes in basketball was similar for Chamberlain, who averaged three to four points as a sophomore but improved by practicing against senior post player Matt Trahan.
“He’s a competitor, he loves to compete,” Jones said of Chamberlain.
With Catholic’s football season playing to the first week of December, the Bears were slow out of the gates in basketball with an uncharacteristic 1-5 start.
Instead of a respite to space out the two grueling sports, Chamberlain was on his team’s bench the following week, the start of a process that gradually improved.
Besides his ability to score around the goal, rebound, and protect the rim, Chamberlain provided the Bears with something far greater.
“Pros carry themselves with a natural confidence that you can’t shake,” he said. “Jude has that. He has a natural confidence in himself and in his ability that you can’t shake. You can’t teach it. You can’t explain it. It’s poured into him by the way he was raised by his parents. He brought that confidence to us. He brought that, ‘we’re not going to keep losing. We’re going to find a way to win it.’”
By the time the season’s calendar turned to January, the Bears were starting to build steam and became the team they envisioned.
Chamberlain averaged 10 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.3 blocks, earning All-District 4-5A honorable mention honors. The Bears won 12 of their last 18 regular-season games before turning to the postseason, where they reached another level.
“He was the focal point of our offense; we played through him,” Jones said. “You don’t see a lot of high school offenses, even college and pro, which play through a guy with his back to the basket anymore. He still had a huge impact because you had to account for him because of his size and athleticism. He was so good in there.”
A lower-than-usual seed of No. 12 sent Catholic on the road for Division I select regionals and quarterfinals, where they upset No. 5 Teurlings Catholic and No. 4 St. Thomas More. They were eliminated 47-39 in the semifinals by eventual state champion John Curtis.
The Bears were 20-7 with Chamberlain in the starting lineup, with five of those losses by less than 10 points. They dropped district games to state semifinalist Central (52-39) and state champion Zachary (68-56).
“His impact was immeasurable,” Jones said. “He was getting double and triple-teamed most nights, which opened up the offense for our guys.”
Following the team’s final game against John Curtis on March 11, Jones urged Chamberlain during a walk in between classes to focus on his football recruiting and identify schools he felt would best suit his interests.
“I told him whatever he does, I supported him 100%,” he said. “I told him if we didn’t have him next year, I still loved him. I also told him if he did come back, that we were going to win state. He looked at me and said I know, coach. I keep telling everybody that, and they don’t believe me.”
Offensive tackle Blaise Thomassie was one of Chamberlain’s teammates for the past two years and signed with Stanford in December.
Chamberlain, a 4.26 student, wanted a similar academic challenge to match the bond he felt with the coaching staff, along with the school’s community and academic support.
“Stanford really checked all of those boxes perfectly,” Chamberlain said. “There’s nothing they lacked in.”
Chamberlain didn’t find out about his scholarship from the prestigious academic institution until coming back out to warm up after halftime of a basketball game. He made eye contact with a friend in the stands who pointed toward his phone, where it showed Stanford had made its offer.
“I went back to my phone afterward and called one of the coaches, and he said they had offered,” he said.
Initially smitten with Florida until they picked up a pair of tight end commitments, Chamberlain wanted to alleviate any pressure before his senior season and secure his spot in someone’s recruiting class.
Stanford, now a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, turned to a new football coach in Tavita Pritchard – an alumnus of the school and former Washington Commanders’ quarterback coach – following five straight losing seasons. Former standout quarterback Andrew Luck remains the program’s general manager.
Chamberlain described the Cardinal’s path as one leaving the runway.
“It’s an upward trajectory,” he said, using his ascending right hand for effect. “They didn’t have a great season last year. With the guys they’ve brought on, and what they have going on, they’re going to go up and up and up. It’s like climbing stairs.”
The team’s chemistry was reminiscent of that of his own school, Chamberlain said. Stanford had a big lead for Chamberlain going into a recent official visit, which helped wrap up his commitment and provide clarity for his future.
“I kind of already knew I was going there,” he said. “Going there kind of secured things that this was the place for me. We talk about brotherhood at Catholic, and everybody on the team is everybody’s brother. At Stanford, everybody knew everybody, and I loved seeing that. That’s what I mean about community and relationships.”
Chamberlain called Jones to inform him of his weekend in Palo Alto, Calif., and his commitment to Stanford, which encouraged him to continue playing basketball instead of graduating early and enrolling in school next January. He’s the second tight end in the Cardinals’ class, along with Ben Kolar of Norman, Okla.
“He’s got a really bright future,” Jones said. “I’m serious that he’ll play in the NFL one day. He’s going to get a Stanford degree and be able to do what he wants to do whenever his playing days are over.”
One of Chamberlain’s main objectives this summer is to lower his time of 4.91 in the 40-yard dash.
“I’m working with a speed coach,” he said, pointing toward a goal of 4.7 and 21.5 miles per hour. “One of the things I’ve worked on this spring was my release off the line. I can do better with that. Just the shiftiness, the second-level stuff.”
Football workouts are intense, front-loading Chamberlain’s schedule each week with 7-on-7 competition later in the week. Summer league basketball has also figured into the picture, playing with the Bears through this weekend’s tournament at West Monroe.
Then it will be all football until the start of the season, Sept. 4.
“I love them both,” Chamberlain said. “I’m better at football. I’ve got a love for both sports. Since I was 4, I’ve said I wanted to play (in college). The first time I watched a game on TV, it was LSU and Alabama, and I rooted for the wrong team. I said I was going to play for Alabama, but I grew up an LSU fan. That was my thing until I was 7, that I was going to play for Alabama, until I grew out of it.”
Catholic’s first big 7-on-7 test of the summer was against Karr, the two-time Division I select state champions.
The Bears scored on their first play and built a two-score lead when Chamberlain, on fourth down, converted a slant route into an 11-yard score. They also added a touchdown when Chamberlain drew attention underneath the coverage for a 35-yard TD pass to another receiver who was behind single coverage.
“As a multi-sport athlete, he’s given his best to what he’s doing when he’s doing it,” Fuller said. “Whatever he’s doing, he’s competing.”
Catholic’s basketball team played six times last week with Chamberlain in the lineup. He’ll play six more times this week.
“I want to focus on football, and whenever it’s basketball time after we win state in football, then go win a state championship in basketball,” he said. “Just one sport at a time. I’ll try to get back into things whenever it’s time.
“My teammates are looking up to me,” he said. “That puts me in a spot to be a leader. I can’t do anything wrong. If I mess up a little, that’s OK. I have to set a good example. That’s the main thing that’s going to carry over.”
Jones has taken the opportunity in the limited time he’s had with Chamberlain to try and expand his game in preparation for the 2026-27 season.
“He’s really worked hard, and his skill levels jumped in both sports,” Jones said. “He has an extremely bright future. We can see his leadership ability starting to come out. Because he has so much respect from his teammates and coaches, they respond to him.
“Jude’s going to be a huge leader for us this year on the football field, on the basketball court,” Jones said. “We’ve also challenged him to step up on campus. I want to see him be a ‘Man of the Year’ based on how they handle their business around campus, with how they do in class.”
A year ago, as a true center, Chamberlain was accustomed to setting high ball screens and getting involved in the pick-and-roll game for baskets that typically took place around the rim.
That was more of the case in the team’s summer league game on Monday against David Thibodeaux of Lafayette, where Chamberlain scored six points and delivered two key blocks. Catholic trailed 19-18 when Chamberlain entered the game, and the Bears went on a 16-0 run over the next five minutes.
He scored inside for a 22-19 lead, blocked a shot that led to a fastbreak basket, and came over to help on defense and forced a missed shot. The run turned a three-point deficit into a 36-19 lead after the third quarter and wound up a 43-25 victory.
“If he committed full-time to basketball, he would be a Division I basketball player,” said Jones, a former college assistant coach for 13 years. “UNO called us after the John Curtis (semifinal) game and said they wanted to recruit our big kid. I told them he had about 16 Power Four (Conference) offers in football. He said he was hoping I wouldn’t say that. That’s the caliber of kid he is.”
Chamberlain’s had the opportunity to play farther away from the basket this summer, working on developing his mid-range and perimeter game, which has already produced a career highlight.
During Catholic’s summer league game last weekend at UNO, Chamberlain found himself in the rare position with the ball behind the 3-point line.
Never had he made a shot from behind the arc at any level, but Chamberlain wanted to space the floor for another teammate and retreated to the corner.
When the ball eventually found him, he knew exactly what to do with it.
“I hit my first 3 ever in a game,” he said, noting Jones immediately called timeout. “The guy sucked in my defender and passed it to me, and I was wide open. It was awesome.”