Grogan, Augustus earn Class 3A All-State basketball honors

The Patterson Lumberjacks had two senior representatives earn Class 3A All-State honors as Taylan Grogan was a second-team selection and Nehemiah Augustus earned honorable mention status.
Grogan, a 5-foot, 11-inch guard, finished his final season at Patterson with per-game averages of 16.1 points, 2.8 assists and 1.9 steals.
“Taylan had an unbelievable year for us,” Patterson head coach Ryan Taylor said. “He had the attention of just about every team we saw this year. There was a time during the season that it seemed everybody was playing a box-and-1 (defense) against him. He did a good job of handling it. I’m extremely proud of the player he has become. And I am confident he will excel on the next level wherever he ends up. Somebody is going to get a steal, and I cannot figure out why teams are overlooking him.”
Augustus also averaged double figures this season as he scored 13.5 points per game and added 2.9 assists and 1.8 steals per outing.
Taylor said Augustus had a “roller coaster season,” noting it took some time for him to adjust to play in the post, but he was able to transition to the position as the season progressed.
“He is such an amazing athlete,” Taylor said. “There really is not much he cannot do. He is one of the few we have had in my time here that has started for four years. He really grew as a leader and made several big shots for us. The game winners against St. Martinville and Lutcher come to mind immediately.”
Taylor said he was proud of development of Augustus, a Memphis football signee, during his time at Patterson High as a ball player and a leader.
“There is no doubt in my mind he is going to do some big things next year on the football field at Memphis,” Taylor said. “I can’t wait to see him.”
Patterson finished its season with a 23-5 overall mark, including a District 8-3A championship with a 12-0 mark. The Lumberjacks advanced to the quarterfinals where they fell to eventual state runner-up Wossman.
Jalen Johnson of state champion University Lab was named the state’s Outstanding Player, while Wossman’s Casey Jones was named Coach of the Year.
Other District 8-3A representatives earning all-state recognition included Thomas Clement and Kevin Johnson, both of E.D. White, and Blake Turner of North Vermilion.

Class 3A All-State teams
First-Team
Player School Ht. Cl. Ppg.
Jalen Johnson University 6-7 Sr. 21.8
C.J. Jones Wossman 5-10 Jr. 23.3
Wayde Sims University 6-6 Sr. 21.2
Jacoby Ross Peabody 5-11 Sr. 23.0
Larry Owens Carroll 6-8 Jr. 21.0

Second team
Cederic Russell Peabody 6-3 Jr. 23.0
P.J. Hardy St. Louis 6-0 Sr. 22.3
Taylan Grogan Patterson 5-11 Sr. 16.1
Kevin Norman Peabody 6-5 Jr. 17.0
Jonathan Bell Green Oaks 6-0 Sr. 21.7

Outstanding Player
Jalen Johnson, University

Coach of the Year
Casey Jones, Wossman

Honorable mention
Thomas Clement, Kevin Johnson, E.D.
White; Blake Turner, North Vermilion;
Jamison Lumar, Keaton Burham, St. James;
Hayden Gunter, South Beauregard; Kelvin
Henry, St. Louis; Dwayne Levi, Jennings;
Kevin Williams, Eunice; Ignatius Patt,
Breaux Bridge; Tony Dorsey, Loyola;
Stephen Kelly, De La Salle; Marshall
Graves, University; Nehemiah Augustus,
Patterson; Nigel Allen, Port Allen; Sendarius
Patt, Carroll; Anthony Caesar, Wossman;
Zach Smith, Wossman; Justin Williams,
Joseph Smith, Richwood
Bold indicates teams from Patterson’s district
Additional reporting by
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