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GUEST SPEAKER
SEIMONE AUGUSTUS
It is no ordinary story. Seimone Augustus’ story is a Baton Rouge basketball success story that spans more than 20 years, highlighted by National Player of the Year awards in college, four WNBA titles and three Olympic gold medals. It began in 1998-99 when Augustus was a freshman sensation at Capitol High. From there, she became one of the world’s most successful and well-known women’s basketball stars. Augustus averaged 27.4 points per game as a Capitol freshman and led her team to the Class 4A runner-up finish in front of capacity crowds. Sports Illustrated for Women featured Augustus on its cover with the headline, “Is She the Next Michael Jordan?” Augustus scored 3,600 points and pulled down 1,728 rebounds in high school and was Louisiana’s Miss Basketball in 2001 and 2002. She led Capitol to a 138-7 record and two LHSAA championships. As a senior, Augustus was the nation’s No. 1 player. Attendance records set during her final two LHSAA tournament appearances stand today. Augustus starred in the first McDonald’s All-American girls game in 2002 with 16 points and 12 rebounds and was the MVP of the WBCA All-American game days later. She was a two-time Parade All-American and was the Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year twice. A week after Augustus signed to play for hometown LSU, more than 2,000 new season tickets were sold. Augustus led LSU to three Final Four appearances and National Player of the Year honors in her final two seasons. The Tigers were 114-17 during Augustus’ four seasons. She swept the State Farm Wade Trophy, the Naismith Award and the John R. Wooden Award as the best player in women’s college basketball as a senior.
The Minnesota Lynx made Augustus the WNBA’s No. 1 draft pick in 2006. She was soon voted Rookie of the Year. A seven-time WNBA All-Star, Augustus helped the Lynx win four WNBA championships and was the WNBA Finals MVP when Minnesota won its first title in 2011. She played for the Los Angeles Sparks in 2020, her final WNBA season. Augustus won Olympic gold medals with USA Basketball in 2008, 2012 and 2016. She also won gold in the 2014 FIBA World Championships and the 2005 World University Games. In 2016, Augustus was named to the WNBA’s all-time team during the league’s 20th anniversary season. She was inducted into the LSU Hall of Fame in 2011, the Louisiana High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2018 and the National High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2019.
“It’s an honor to be a part of Star of Stars, where it all began so many years ago for myself. To be able to share my knowledge with the youth of today and speak wisdom into their journey has always been a joy for me. I’m excited for the upcoming event, as we celebrate our biggest stars!”
GUEST SPEAKER
SEIMONE AUGUSTUS
It is no ordinary story. Seimone Augustus’ story is a Baton Rouge basketball success story that spans more than 20 years, highlighted by National Player of the Year awards in college, four WNBA titles and three Olympic gold medals. It began in 1998-99 when Augustus was a freshman sensation at Capitol High. From there, she became one of the world’s most successful and well-known women’s basketball stars. Augustus averaged 27.4 points per game as a Capitol freshman and led her team to the Class 4A runner-up finish in front of capacity crowds. Sports Illustrated for Women featured Augustus on its cover with the headline, “Is She the Next Michael Jordan?” Augustus scored 3,600 points and pulled down 1,728 rebounds in high school and was Louisiana’s Miss Basketball in 2001 and 2002. She led Capitol to a 138-7 record and two LHSAA championships. As a senior, Augustus was the nation’s No. 1 player. Attendance records set during her final two LHSAA tournament appearances stand today. Augustus starred in the first McDonald’s All-American girls game in 2002 with 16 points and 12 rebounds and was the MVP of the WBCA All-American game days later. She was a two-time Parade All-American and was the Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year twice. A week after Augustus signed to play for hometown LSU, more than 2,000 new season tickets were sold. Augustus led LSU to three Final Four appearances and National Player of the Year honors in her final two seasons. The Tigers were 114-17 during Augustus’ four seasons. She swept the State Farm Wade Trophy, the Naismith Award and the John R. Wooden Award as the best player in women’s college basketball as a senior.
The Minnesota Lynx made Augustus the WNBA’s No. 1 draft pick in 2006. She was soon voted Rookie of the Year. A seven-time WNBA All-Star, Augustus helped the Lynx win four WNBA championships and was the WNBA Finals MVP when Minnesota won its first title in 2011. She played for the Los Angeles Sparks in 2020, her final WNBA season. Augustus won Olympic gold medals with USA Basketball in 2008, 2012 and 2016. She also won gold in the 2014 FIBA World Championships and the 2005 World University Games. In 2016, Augustus was named to the WNBA’s all-time team during the league’s 20th anniversary season. She was inducted into the LSU Hall of Fame in 2011, the Louisiana High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2018 and the National High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2019.
2023 HYPE VIDEO
SOCIAL MEDIA
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TEAM OF THE YEAR
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SPECIAL OLYMPICS
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STAR SPORTS
AWARD
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AWARD
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CONTRIBUTING
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CONTRIBUTING
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CONTRIBUTING
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ABOUT STAR OF STARS
This is the 37th year The Advocate honors high school athletes from across the Baton Rouge metro area as Star of Stars for their excellence in individual sports. These athletes are selected as the best in their sports for the 2022-2023 school year based on all-district, all-metro and all-state honors, performances at regional and state competitions, along with recommendations of area coaches.
CHOOSING OUR WINNERS
We allow the athletes statistics, achievements and awards to speak for themselves. The Advocate compiles the accomplishments of the top performers in 15 sports sanctioned by the Louisiana High School Athletic Association. The Advocate also asks metro area schools to nominate top boys and girls athletes from their schools. From those nominees, one boy and one girl are chosen as the Athlete of the Year winners. The accomplishments of each athlete, as well as input from area coaches, are considered as The Advocate sports staff makes its final choices. Athlete of the Year nominees must be in grades 10 to 12 and on track to meet the NCAA’s academic qualifying standards.
MEET THE STARS
CLICK ON STUDENT ATHLETE IMAGE TO SEE BIO
D’Wanye Winfield
Football
Lutcher
Rhaia Davey
Volleyball
The Dunham School
Rhen Langley
Boys Cross Country
Zachary
Hannah Vaughan
Girls Cross Country
St. Joseph’s Academy
William DeJean
Boys Swimming
Catholic High
Rylee Simoneaux
Girls Swimming
Episcopal
Thomas Domangue
Wrestling
Catholic High
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Boys Soccer
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Girls Soccer
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Boys Basketball
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Girls Basketball
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Baseball
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Boys Bowling
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Girls Bowling
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Boys Golf
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Girls Golf
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Boys Gymnastics
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Girls Gymnastics
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Boys Powerlifting
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Girls Powerlifting
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Softball
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Boys Tennis
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Girls Tennis
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Boys Track & Field
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Girls Track & Field
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MEET THE FINALISTS
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Girls Coach of the Year Finalist
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Girls Coach of the Year Finalist
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Girls Coach of the Year Finalist
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Boys Coach of the Year Finalist
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Boys Coach of the Year Finalist
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Boys Coach of the Year Finalist
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Girls Team of the Year Finalist
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Girls Team of the Year Finalist
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Girls Team of the Year Finalist
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Boys Team of the Year Finalist
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Boys Team of the Year Finalist
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Boys Team of the Year Finalist
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Courage Award Winner
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Spirit Award Winner
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Girls Special Olympic Athlete of the Year
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Boys Special Olympic Athlete of the Year
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Girls Athlete of the Year Finalist
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Girls Athlete of the Year Finalist
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Girls Athlete of the Year Finalist
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Boys Athlete of the Year Finalist
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Boys Athlete of the Year Finalist
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Boys Athlete of the Year Finalist
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EMCEE – MICHAEL D. “MIKE” SMITH
Mike Smith has served as a public address announcer for LSU athletics events for nearly 31 years. For the past 29 seasons, he has been the “Voice of LSU Gymnastics,” the championship program competing in the Maravich Center in Baton Rouge. He has hosted the “Inside LSU Gymnastics” television show for the past 12 seasons and won two National Telly Awards, recognizing it as the best Weekly TV Sports Program in the country. In 2018, the Southeastern Conference invited Mike to serve as the announcer for the SEC Gymnastics Championships and he continues in that capacity today. Last year, he was nominated for the prestigious Bob Sheppard Award recognizing the best public address announcer in professional and collegiate sports.
By day, he is Founder and CEO of MDSA Strategic Communications – a public and government relations consultancy – service clients in the energy, petrochemical, and transportation industries. Mike has been recognizes as on of “the most influential” public relations professionals by a leading national publication.Follow Mike on his social media pages including @MikeTheTiger70775 on Facebook and Instagram, and Twitter handles @LSUGymVoice for all things LSU Gymnastics and @MDSAonline for everything else.
