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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
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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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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
Hannah Vaughan
Girls Cross Country
St. Joseph’s Academy
Rhen Langley
Boys Cross Country
Zachary
Rylee Simoneaux
Girls Swimming
Episcopal
William DeJean
Boys Swimming
Catholic High
Thomas Domangue
Wrestling
Catholic High
Madison Hitzman
Girls Soccer
St. Joseph’s Academy
Max Cavana
Boys Soccer
Catholic High
Shaila Forman
Girls Basketball
Southern Lab
Dorian Booker
Boys Basketball
Scotlandville
Jaydan Jackson
Girls Powerlifting
Zachary
Luke Miller
Boys Powerlifting
Central
Ashtyn Yoches
Girls Bowling
Dutchtown
Preston West
Boys Bowling
Dutchtown
Sophia Macias
Girls Golf
Episcopal
David Marsh
Boys Golf
Catholic High
Mallory Mitchell
Girls Gymnastics
Dutchtown
Cody Midboe
Boys Gymnastics
Walker
Sophia Manuel
Girls Tennis
St. Joseph’s Academy
Aidan Duffield
Boys Tennis
Catholic High
Makeriah Harris
Girls Track & Field
Scotlandville
Broderick Davis
Boys Track & Field
Scotlandville
Addison Jackson
Softball
St. Amant
Clayton Pourciau
Baseball
Catholic High
MEET THE FINALISTS
Raphael Nunes
Girls Coach of the Year Finalist
Soccer • Parkview Baptist
Donna Pixley
Girls Coach of the Year Finalist
Volleyball • The Dunham School
Brett Shelton
Girls Coach of the Year Finalist
Basketball • Parkview Baptist
Dwain Jenkins
Boys Coach of the Year Finalist
Football • Lutcher
Josh Langlois
Boys Coach of the Year Finalist
Powerlifting • St. Michael
Carlos Sample
Boys Coach of the Year Finalist
Basketball • Scotlandville
Parkview Baptist Basketball
Girls Team of the Year Finalist
St. Joseph’s Academy Swimming
Girls Team of the Year Finalist
The Dunham School Volleyball
Girls Team of the Year Finalist
Lutcher Football
Boys Team of the Year Finalist
St. Michael Powerlifting
Boys Team of the Year Finalist
The Dunham School Football
Boys Team of the Year Finalist
Maria Gonzales
Courage Award Winner
Jimmy Williams
Spirit Award Winner
Jaely Plaisance
Girls Special Olympic Athlete of the Year
Matthew Champagne
Boys Special Olympic Athlete of the Year
Jaydan Jackson
Girls Athlete of the Year Finalist
Zachary
Taylor Douglas
Girls Athlete of the Year Finalist
Holden
Addison Jackson
Girls Athlete of the Year Finalist
St. Amant
Rhen Langley
Boys Athlete of the Year Finalist
Zachary
Bryce Leonard
Boys Athlete of the Year Finalist
Ascension Catholic
C’zavian “Zae” Teasett
Boys Athlete of the Year Finalist
Scotlandville
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.
