Smalltown, Louisiana, making quite a reputation for itself

A small Louisiana parish is on a roll.

In December, DeVonta Smith of Amite High School and the University of Alabama won the Heisman Trophy. Smith was the first wide receiver to win the award since 1991.

In April, LSU hired Hammond High School legend Kim Mulkey as its new women’s basketball coach. Mulkey, her class valedictorian, won four state high school championships. At Louisiana Tech, she won two championships as a player and another as an assistant coach. As Baylor head coach, she won three NCAA championships, the latest in 2019.

And, in May, Southeastern Louisiana quarterback Cole Kelley won the Walter Payton award as the top player in the Football Championship Subdivision. Kelley led the FCS in passing yards, and in touchdowns scored or accounted for.

Hammond High graduate Benny Latino is now the area supervisor for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He is responsible for scouting in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. He takes special pride that a parish of 134,758 (2019 U.S. census) can produce such special talent.

And, he said, more is on the way.

“Amite High School is a school of 400 students,” said Latino. “They have 90 playing football.”

Ponchatoula, notes Latino, is home to five-star star safety Jacoby Mathews, class of 2022, who has committed to LSU.

Latino said growing up, as a fifth- and sixth-grader, he went to watch Mulkey play at Hammond High.

“I loved her mental toughness, the way she competed,” he said.

Latino said Kelley winning the FCS version of the Heisman will do nothing but help Southeastern Louisiana accelerate its rapidly improving football program.

“Cole Kelley is a great young man,” said Latino. “He is team first.”

He said that Southeastern has the right formula to be a long-time power in FCS football under head coach Frank Scelfo. He said Scelfo will recruit south Louisiana first.

“He has built from the ground up, using local players,” Latino said.

And, even more importantly? “He wants to be here,” said Latino. “He is happy in Hammond, and he has rejuvenated the fan base.”

The future is bright in all sports at Southeastern Louisiana because of director of athletics Jay Artigues.

“Jay outbid everyone to get the Southland Conference baseball tournament here,” said Latino. “He is very good at getting the most out of his resources. No one does that better than Jay.”

Latino said the best is ahead for athletics in Tangipahoa Parish.

“The people here are hungry for sports.”

Ed Daniels is sports director at ABC26 WGNO. He can be reached at [email protected].