For some LSU football players, high school was spent playing more sports than just football.
Sophomore defensive end Sam Montgomery entered Greenwood High School in Greenwood, S.C. primarily playing basketball. During his junior year, Montgomery added football to his repertoire and played both until he graduated. His accomplishments in basketball led him to play alongside future first-overall NBA draft pick John Wall.
Montgomery said playing basketball with Wall helped improve his overall athleticism.
“He made me learn how to dribble and do finesse moves and learn how to pass and shoot,” Montgomery said. “He made me expand my game to the next football.”
Junior wide receiver Rueben Randle said the other sport he played at Bastrop High School in Bastrop, La. didn’t help much with football, but it didn’t keep him from enjoying it.
“Baseball was my No.1 sport coming up,” Randle said. “It was the sport I played starting as a 3-year-old playing teeball and then on up to high opportunity.”
Sophomore defensive end Barkevious Mingo participated in basketball and track at West Monroe High School in West Monroe, La. and said doing both helped him have success in football.
“I think basketball definitely helped my athleticism and the track helped my speed,” Mingo said. “I had the most success at football so I figured I would just ride that one out. It led me here and this is a great place to