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The votes are in, and the Daily Advertiser Reader’s Choice Boys Basketball Player of the Year is Brayden Broussard of Comeaux High School.
In an online poll that closed Wednesday, Broussard received close to 45% of votes cast for a total of 21,774 votes, earning him the title. The senior guard/forward has been a rising star for the Spartans throughout the years and has made his mark.
“It means a lot to me because it really showed me how far I came with basketball,” Broussard said. “I never made my middle school team, I didn’t play varsity for my freshman year either. So it really shows me, like, how far I came from sitting on the bench to being the Player of the Year.”
The unlikely story from nothing into something has led Broussard to a leadership role this season in an uphill battle that was the 2024-25 season.
Broussard didn’t grow up with hoop dreams and initially wasn’t that interested in sports, but his dad encouraged him to play basketball play so he tried out for the L.J. Alleman Middle School basketball team. He didn’t make the cut but somehow basketball still found a way into his heart.
“Slowly, I started getting back interested in basketball and started working hard,” Broussard said. “Watching the NBA, watching college, playing, like 2K (basketball video game) and all that, I started wanting to play basketball like in real life. I started playing against people, playing like pickup and recreational leagues, and that kind of helped me be better playing in high school.”
Playing basketball on his own time helped Broussard develop the skills and as the years went on. Playing for Comeaux, he was also able to develop his confidence on the court. Comeaux head coach Montrelle Taylor played a key role in helping instill that belief in Broussard despite people not believing in him in the past.
“Brayden Broussard has the story that every kid wants,” Taylor said. “This season was bit of a roller coaster but one thing I can say, if we didn't have Brayden, it probably would’ve been a disaster. He was our only scorer who averaged double figures with him even getting double-teamed and triple-teamed, he always found a way to be successful.”
REQUIRED READING: Erianna Ned has been named the Daily Advertiser Reader's Choice Girls Basketball POTY
REQUIRED READING: Northwest's Vanessa Taylor, St. Martinville's Darrel Mitchell inducted in LHSCA HOF
Broussard ended his final season as a Spartan, averaging over 17 points per game and was the only player from the team to earn Class 4A District 4 All-First team honors. Despite his best efforts, Comeaux ended the season with a 9-17 overall record and a 2-4 district record.
“I wouldn’t say I was carrying the load for the team but I was doing anything to try to help my team win,” Broussard said. “The season didn't really end too good or like the way I wanted it, but I feel like we tried the best that we could, and tried to lay it all out on the court and that’s all I can ask for.”
Taylor said Broussard’s All-District finish is one of the best individual seasons a Comeaux boys basketball player has had in the past five years. The Spartans aren’t known for winning a ton of games, but are always competing and giving it their all no matter what the end result will be.
Nobody embodied that role more than Broussard, who is hoping to continue his basketball career in college, where he plans to major in business management and kinesiology.
“I appreciate the people voting for Brayden, they don't understand what this means for him, not right now, but in his journey of life,” Taylor said. “He can give the next set of kids who are getting overlooked or not given the opportunity something to strive for. That's what being a Spartan is all about: facing adversity, fighting through your battles and coming out on top. He's the ultimate Spartan, the ultimate player and the ultimate kid.”
Shannon Belt covers high school sports and the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow her high school and Cajuns coverage on Twitter: @ShannonBelt3. Got questions regarding HS/UL athletics? Send them to Shannon Belt at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Comeaux's Brayden Broussard named Readers Choice Boys Basketball POTY
Continue reading...
In an online poll that closed Wednesday, Broussard received close to 45% of votes cast for a total of 21,774 votes, earning him the title. The senior guard/forward has been a rising star for the Spartans throughout the years and has made his mark.
“It means a lot to me because it really showed me how far I came with basketball,” Broussard said. “I never made my middle school team, I didn’t play varsity for my freshman year either. So it really shows me, like, how far I came from sitting on the bench to being the Player of the Year.”
The unlikely story from nothing into something has led Broussard to a leadership role this season in an uphill battle that was the 2024-25 season.
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Rejected to respected
Broussard didn’t grow up with hoop dreams and initially wasn’t that interested in sports, but his dad encouraged him to play basketball play so he tried out for the L.J. Alleman Middle School basketball team. He didn’t make the cut but somehow basketball still found a way into his heart.
“Slowly, I started getting back interested in basketball and started working hard,” Broussard said. “Watching the NBA, watching college, playing, like 2K (basketball video game) and all that, I started wanting to play basketball like in real life. I started playing against people, playing like pickup and recreational leagues, and that kind of helped me be better playing in high school.”
Playing basketball on his own time helped Broussard develop the skills and as the years went on. Playing for Comeaux, he was also able to develop his confidence on the court. Comeaux head coach Montrelle Taylor played a key role in helping instill that belief in Broussard despite people not believing in him in the past.
You must be registered for see images attach
“Brayden Broussard has the story that every kid wants,” Taylor said. “This season was bit of a roller coaster but one thing I can say, if we didn't have Brayden, it probably would’ve been a disaster. He was our only scorer who averaged double figures with him even getting double-teamed and triple-teamed, he always found a way to be successful.”
REQUIRED READING: Erianna Ned has been named the Daily Advertiser Reader's Choice Girls Basketball POTY
REQUIRED READING: Northwest's Vanessa Taylor, St. Martinville's Darrel Mitchell inducted in LHSCA HOF
Leader of the pack
Broussard ended his final season as a Spartan, averaging over 17 points per game and was the only player from the team to earn Class 4A District 4 All-First team honors. Despite his best efforts, Comeaux ended the season with a 9-17 overall record and a 2-4 district record.
“I wouldn’t say I was carrying the load for the team but I was doing anything to try to help my team win,” Broussard said. “The season didn't really end too good or like the way I wanted it, but I feel like we tried the best that we could, and tried to lay it all out on the court and that’s all I can ask for.”
You must be registered for see images attach
Taylor said Broussard’s All-District finish is one of the best individual seasons a Comeaux boys basketball player has had in the past five years. The Spartans aren’t known for winning a ton of games, but are always competing and giving it their all no matter what the end result will be.
Nobody embodied that role more than Broussard, who is hoping to continue his basketball career in college, where he plans to major in business management and kinesiology.
“I appreciate the people voting for Brayden, they don't understand what this means for him, not right now, but in his journey of life,” Taylor said. “He can give the next set of kids who are getting overlooked or not given the opportunity something to strive for. That's what being a Spartan is all about: facing adversity, fighting through your battles and coming out on top. He's the ultimate Spartan, the ultimate player and the ultimate kid.”
Shannon Belt covers high school sports and the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow her high school and Cajuns coverage on Twitter: @ShannonBelt3. Got questions regarding HS/UL athletics? Send them to Shannon Belt at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Comeaux's Brayden Broussard named Readers Choice Boys Basketball POTY
Continue reading...
