Baton Rouge Area Weekly Notebook Presented By Trade Construction • June 22
by Jerit Roser // Capital Area High School Correspondent
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Baton Rouge athletes featured prominently in all-state track and field teams
A trio of Baton Rouge area track standouts were among the top honorees in this year’s track and field all-state teams.
St. Joseph’s distance runner Sophie Martin and Parkview Baptist athlete Ariel Pedigo earned the girls’ Outstanding Track Performer and Outstanding Field Performer distinctions, respectively.
And Zachary star Chris Hilton Jr. was voted along with Ruston’s Brandon Green as the top Outstanding Field Performer on the boys’ side.
Hilton finished with Louisiana’s best marks in both the 400-meter (47.50) and high jump (7-0) to headline the Capital City’s performances.
Other top finishes included Catholic teammates Joseph Ellis and Jackson Rimes in the 800 meter (1:56.60) and javelin (208-8), respectively; Live Oak’s Clayton Simms in the pole vault (17-2.25); East Ascension’s Jerrell Boykins in the discus (173-1) and the Woodlawn 4×200-meter relay team (1:26.14).
Pedigo won the javelin (142-3.5), long jump (19-9.75) and high jump (5-10).
And Martin took the 1,600-meter (5:06.50) and 3,200-meter (10:53.43) runs.
Jaydan Jackson of Zachary won both the shot put (44-8) and discus (138-5), and Dutchtown sprinter Ariane Linton’s 11.39-second 100-meters topped all athletes.
Tennessee draws Dutchtown RB commitment
Dutchtown running back Dylan Sampson announced his commitment last week to Tennessee.
The Griffins’ standout, one of Louisiana’s top prospects at his position, would be the state’s first football player to sign with the Volunteers since John Curtis cornerback Brandon Davis in 2018.
Former Acadiana defensive back Kenneth George Jr. transferred to the program from Trinity Valley Community College the same year.
The 5-foot-10, 180-pound Sampson is ranked the No. 31 overall prospect in Louisiana’s 2022 class, according to Prep Redzone Louisiana, including the fourth-highest ranked prospect at his position.
2025 University Lab athlete becoming national prominent prospect
History is starting to repeat itself a bit for a talented young athlete still preparing for his freshman year at University Lab.
LSU, Louisiana Tech, Mississippi State and Alabama have all extended scholarship offers to 2025 prospect Keylan Moses.
Keylan’s older brother, Dylan Moses, drew a slew of college offers before taking his first snaps for the Cubs as a freshman in 2013 before eventually playing collegiately for the Crimson Tide and now moving on to the NFL and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Like his older brother, Keylan is a big athlete for his young age — 6-foot-1, 215 pounds — who possesses impressive speed and agility for his size and projects as a likely linebacker or running back.
Denham Springs moves quickly to replace skipper
Trave Hopkins will succeed longtime coach Mark Carroll at the helm of the Denham Springs baseball program.
The Mississippi native served as an assistant on the Yellow Jackets staff this past spring.
Denham Springs struggled to a 9-19 record and first-round playoff exit in Carroll’s final season.
The Yellow Jackets haven’t reached the semifinals since 2007, with most-recent quarterfinal appearances coming in 2011, 2015 and 2017.
Family Christian makes hoops coaching change
Another Baton Rouge basketball program fresh off a state tournament appearance will be seeking a new coach.
Division-V runner-up will replace Stefson Arnold after just one season, arguably the Flames’ most successful in a decade.
Arnold was told the school “was going to move in another direction,” he told The Advocate.
Family Christian finished 27-14 and reached the state championship game before falling, 60-57, to crosstown rival Jehovah-Jireh.
Local standout takes over Capitol girls program
Former Donaldsonville and Tulane star Delacey Joseph will take over as Capitol’s next girls basketball coach.
The former state champion in high school and conference champion spent the past seven years running the Dream Big Elite program based in her home Ascension Parish and the past three as an assistant at East Ascension.