The
North Oaks Sports Medicine staff and
North Oaks Physician Group orthopaedic surgeons have selected Li'Neshon Legard, Thomas Shepard, Darilyn Rogers and
Nikol Kalaj as January’s Student-Athletes of the Month for athletic
and academic achievements.
Li'Neshon Legard is a 15-year-old sophomore at Hammond High Magnet
School. As point guard for the Lady Tors basketball team, she averages
12 points and 5 assists per game.
In his nomination of Legard, Coach Carlos Howard states, “Li’Neshon
is a leader on the court and in the classroom.”
Legard has a 3.2 GPA and is enrolled in honors courses and the International
Baccalaureate® curriculum.
From left: North Oaks Sports Medicine Supervisor Jeff Schmitt, Li'Neshon
Legard, Sports Medicine Athletic Trainer Kerrin Sitman and Hammond High
Girls Head Basketball Coach Carlos Howard.
Senior Thomas Shepard, 18, attends Ponchatoula High School, where he is
a fourth-year forward with the Green Wave varsity basketball team. He
also plays defense on the varsity football team. On the basketball court,
Shepard averages 18 points, 15 rebounds and 3 blocks per game.
He maintains a 3.8 GPA. He is also active in his church and works a part-time
job on weekends.
From left: Ponchatoula High School Assistant Principal Mary Beth Crovetto,Thomas
Shepard, North Oaks Sports Medicine Supervisor Jeff Schmitt and Ponchatoula
High School Boys Head Basketball Coach Thomas Taylor.
Darilyn Rogers is a 17-year-old senior at Albany High School with a 3.4
GPA. She is a fourth-year guard on the Lady Hornet’s varsity basketball team.
Over the Christmas break, Rogers was named MVP at the KSA Holiday Tournament
in Orlando, Florida.
She is an active member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, holds
a part-time job, and helps her sister Chelsea Umbach out with the Albany
Middle School girls’ basketball team.
From left: Albany High School Principal Jill Prokop, Albany High School
Girls Basketball Coach Stacy Darouse, Darilyn Rogers and North Oaks Sports
Medicine Supervisor Jeff Schmitt.
Nikol Kalaj is a 16-year-old junior at Walker High School. A member of
the soccer team for 3 years, he averaged 8 goals and 4 assists in the
last three regulation games.
Kalaj’s coach, Delos Turner comments, “Nikol is a team-oriented
person in every aspect of his life. He is always ready and willing to
take time out for friends and teammates who need advice about homework
and studies or nutrition, and he encourages them to make mature decisions
about their future. He is the voice of maturity and reason for teammates
and friends.”
Kalaj maintains a 3.6 GPA and also is an active member of Immaculate Conception
Catholic Church.
From left: Walker High School Assistant Principal Ray Alphonso, North Oaks
Sports Medicine Athletic Trainer Nate Borget, Nikol Kalaj and North Oaks
Sports Medicine Supervisor Jeff Schmitt.
Student-athletes are nominated by principals, coaches and athletic directors
from high schools in Tangipahoa and Livingston Parishes each month during
the academic year. Candidates must: maintain a 3.0 GPA or better; excel
in athletic competition; demonstrate respect for coaches, teammates, officials,
teachers and other students and be active in school and/or community organizations.
In May, North Oaks Sports Medicine staff will select male and female “Student-Athletes
of the Year” from all monthly honorees for each parish.
Nominations Forms are available
here and can be requested from
North Oaks Sports Medicine at (985) 230-5248.