April 16, 2005

Taking it to the next level

Destrehan's Montgomery, Hahnville's Scott begin their trek towards possible college basketball stardom

By Eric LeBlanc
Sports Editor
(Photos by ERIC LEBLANC)

The string of talented St. Charles Parish basketball players moving on to college continued Wednesday as Destrehan’s Trey Montgomery and Hahnville’s Whitney Scott each signed letters of intent at the School Board Office in Luling.

Montgomery signed with Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. The 6’ 4”, two year starter was an All-District and All-River Parishes selection this season while averaging 13.2 points per game and six rebounds per game. He also carries a 3.1724 grade point average.

"We're very excited to have a player of Trey's ability, character and academic background join our basketball program," said Samford head coach Jimmy Tillette in a press release. "Trey is a superior ball-handler with excellent vision and court awareness. His versatility will give us additional length and athleticism in our backcourt. We feel like Trey will really thrive in both our offensive and defensive schemes."

Montgomery had other choices, but Samford won out. “I chose Samford because of the academics and it is a Division I school,” said Montgomery. “I got along great with the coaches and the players.”

Montgomery will major in pre-med and plans to attend medical school to become a neurologist.

“I want to be able to do the best that I can on the court and off of the court at Samford,” he said. He also said that he was most influenced in basketball growing up by his father.

The Samford Bulldogs are coming off of a 15-13 season and a fourth place finish in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Montgomery is the son of Pearson and Sedera Charles Montgomery of Destrehan.

Hahnville’s Whitney Scott signed with Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Wesson, Mississippi. Scott was a All-District and All-River Parishes selection this season while averaging 9.6 points per game.

Scott had other offers but her decision came down to academics. “The others didn’t have the field that I want to go into, radiology.” Scott plans to get an associate’s degree in radiology at the school.

“I just want to be able to help out at the next level,” she said regarding her future in basketball at Copiah-Lincoln.

Scott says that she was influenced in basketball most by her biddy basketball coach Dean Hill who she says still helps her occasionally.

Scott is the daughter of Dwight and Sharon Scott of Hahnville.

Eric LeBlanc can be reached at EricL@heraldguide.com or at (985) 758-2795, ext. 219.