High School Sports Realignment: Changes in Select/Nonselect Divisions for Football and Basketball in Louisiana, US

At long last, LHSAA member schools and others got the to see the breakdown of select/nonselect schools for the next two-year classification cycle. The release of the basic schools list and what the select/nonselect divisions will look like for football and basketball has been eagerly awaited. Most notable changes were anticipated based on enrollment shifts than school structure changes. Enrollment numbers submitted by all schools last October were used. Two very different local schools located just a few miles apart will be in Division II select football together — University High and McKinley. U-High has long been in Class 3A. The Cubs played in Division II under the old select/nonselect system that had fewer select schools. In this alignment, UHS has the smallest school enrollment wise (492 students) in the new Division II select. McKinley was in the uncomfortable position of being Division II for many things but bumped up to Division I for football the last two years. The Panthers (742 students) are comfortably in Division II for football now. Also notable — Tara (846 students) is the largest Division II select football school. Teurlings Catholic moves into select Division I after being a 4A school or lower for decades. Moving Tangipahoa schools from nonselect to select is another notable move, though the Tangy schools have offered magnet programs and other options for students for quite a while. After winning the last two Division I nonselect basketball titles, Ponchatoula moves to the select side of the ledger. Traditional football powers Kentwood and Amite move to select too. Catholic High is set to host the Louisiana High School Lacrosse League’s championships starting Friday. Top-seeded Jesuit plays No. 4 St. Thomas More at 4 p.m. Friday followed by No. 2 Catholic facing No. 3 Newman at 7 p.m. in Division I semifinals. Division II and Division I finals follow at 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Varsity Sports Now will broadcast all games. Tickets can be purchased online through i2tickets.com at $10. Tickets at the gate are $12 via credit card or Apple Pay. St. Joseph’s Academy has hired veteran track coach Vernon Langley Jr. as a its new track coach for 2025. Langley, a former Glen Oaks athlete and head coach, is currently an assistant coach at Catholic High. He has coached track, cross country and football, including a successful stint as girls track coach at GOHS.