By Eric Narcisse
Written for LSWA
Lafayette Christian’s Jada Richard has won just about every postseason accolade out there. Except Miss Basketball.
Until now.
After a senior season in which she led the Knights to another LHSAA championship, Richard has been selected as the 2024 Louisiana Farm Bureau/Miss Basketball winner by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
“Jada deserves it,” Knights head girls basketball coach Errol Rogers said. “People don’t see how hard Jada works. Jada practices before school in the morning, then goes to practice after school and after that she goes practice for two more hours with Marcus (Onezime). Her work ethic is incredible.”
Richard, an LSU signee, averaged 23 points, six rebounds and five while LCA to the LHSAA’s Division II select championship, it’s fourth title in a row.
“We have worked really hard as a team,” Richard said. “We showed a lot of grit and no matter what we never gave up.”
The Miss Basketball honor puts a perfect bow on a stellar career for Richard, who claimed multiple most valuable player honors.
“I know that I have accomplished a lot in my four years,” Richard said. “But it really hasn’t sunk in yet for me. I knew those things were possible, but I never thought about accomplishing those things.”
Richard is a four-time first team all-district selection, three-time district MVP, three-time championship game MVP, three-time first team LSWA all-state selection, three-time LSWA all-state MVP and Gatorade Player of the Year.
Richard has also excelled in the classroom with a 4.08 GPA and finishes her career at LCA with 2,886 points.
Rogers said he saw the Richard’s full potential revealed during a holiday tournament at Brusly during her sophomore year. Richard scored a combined 107 points vs. two other state powers -- John Curtis (55) and Southern Lab (52).
“That’s when I knew she was going to be special,” Rogers said. “That’s when I knew she had the potential to be one of the best basketball players to ever come out of Louisiana.”
Despite the success, Richard knows there is still work to be done. Despite it all, “doubters” remain.
“I’m self-motivated and if I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it to the best of my ability,” Richard said. “But I also thrive off of the haters and the naysayers.
“My whole life I’ve been told I’m too short, I’m too small or I’m not strong enough. That chip on my shoulder is what has gotten me where I am. I won’t ever let that fade.”
Rogers knows people doubt whether Richard can excel at the next level due to her size. But he warns, “don’t bet against Jada.”
“She’s a small package that’s filled with a lot of dynamite,” Rogers said. “Once she learns the system at LSU, a lot of doubters are going to be silenced.”
Louisiana Farm Bureau/Miss Basketball Winners
1996: Judy Clark, Singer
1997: Kisha James, Pineville
1998: Kisha James, Pineville
1999: Ashley Antony, Anacoco
2000: Alana Beard, Southwood-Shreveport
2001: Seimone Augustus, Capitol
2002: Seimone Augustus, Capitol
2003: Katie Antony, Anacoco
2004: Quianna Chaney, Southern Lab
2005: Courtnee Hollins, Fairview
2006: Alexis Rack, Franklin
2007: Tarkeisha Wysinger, Many
2008: Deana Allen, Ellender
2009: Kylie Leonards, Fairview
2010: Theresa Plaisance, Vandebilt Catholic
2011: Tina Roy, Kaplan
2012: Lulu Perry, Benton
2013: La'Dencia Johnson, Rayville
2014: Kalani Brown, Salmen
2015: Kalani Brown, Salmen
2016: Cara Ursin, Destrehan
2017: Cara Ursin, Destrehan
2018: Kourtney Weber, Ursuline
2019: Tiara Young, Walker
2020: JeKaila Jordan, John Curtis
2021: Jeriah Warren, LaGrange
2022: Mikaylah Williams, Parkway
2023: Mikaylah Williams, Parkway
2024: Jada Richard, Lafayette Christian