North Oaks Sports Medicine Honors January Student-Athletes

The North Oaks Sports Medicine staff and North Oaks Physician Group orthopedic 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.