By ROBIN FAMBROUGH
Written for LSWA
She was the water girl and a fixture on the bus traveling to Oak Grove boys basketball games with her father. When there was a break, Caroline Bradley was that kid. The one who saw the opening, grabbed a basketball and launched a few shots.
Now people line up to see the 6-foot-5 sophomore play. Already a top five national recruit for 2027, the LHSAA Girls Basketball Tournament MVP and the Gatorade Louisiana Player of the Year. Bradley adds one more honor. She has been selected as the 2025 Farm Bureau Insurance/LSWA Miss Basketball by a panel of sportswriters from across the state.
“Especially in high school basketball, you have to figure out the ways you can be effective for your team,” Bradley said. “I came into this year knowing my role would be to take a lot of shots and score more points. I had to be vocal.
“We didn’t win the state championship, but I think we got important things accomplished. And we built relationships I know I will cherish forever. Seeing that next generation of little girls who were excited to watch us play in Hammond (at the LHSAA tourney) was truly incredible.”
Bradley averaged 20.6 points, 14.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.6 blocked shots per game as a sophomore. She dominated play in the Division III nonselect semifinals and final, with two 30-point plus/20-rebound plus performances. Bradley finished with 38 points and 22 rebounds in Oakdale’s 48-43 title-game win over Oak Grove. Her totals included 18 of 26 field goal shooting and six blocked shots.
It was the second LHSAA tourney berth in three years for Bradley and the Tigers from West Carroll Parish, who count the Bradleys as one of the area’s most accomplished sports families. Her father, Josh, the Oak Grove boys basketball coach, was an LSU football signee who went on to excel at Louisiana Tech. Her mother, Emily, played basketball at Louisiana College. Older brother Jackson is a Louisiana Tech signee and an all-state quarterback.
As soon as she began playing organized basketball at age eight, Bradley stood out. And not just because of her height. Bradley gave up her second sport, softball, after her seventh-grade season to focus on basketball. Bradley plays for the Arkansas Mavs AAU program and was part of a USA Basketball training program during the recent NCAA Women’s Final Four in Tampa.
“Her attention to detail is something to see,” coach Lee Johnson said. “She works on it until she gets it. She will work on mobility, post moves, ball-handling … whatever she needs to do. And after that camp in Tampa, she’ll come back in with more things to work on.”
Oakdale coach Renotta Edwards got to see Bradley on film and in person at the Division III nonselect final. Though the plan was to let Bradley score and limit her teammates, Edwards acknowledged the challenge and praised Bradley.
“The sky is the limit for her because she’s only in the 10th grade,” Edwards said. “She has soft hands, a great shooting touch around the rim but you also know she can shoot the three. You can see she’s a good teammate. And you know she is going to add to her game.”
La. 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
2025: Caroline Bradley, Oak Grove
