BATON ROUGE – The Cox Communications Academic Center for Student-Athletes honored six LSU student-athletes as part of their academic achievements and community service for January.
Each month, five student-athletes are recognized for their academic improvement, dedication and proven ability. In addition, one student-athlete is chosen through LSU’s Student-Athlete Affairs program for their volunteerism and commitment to the community.
January’s student-athletes of the month are Lloimincia Hall [Gymnastics], Bianca Lutley [Women’s Basketball], Zach Mettenberger [Football], Corey White [Football] and Kendra White [Track & Field]. LaSondra Barrett [Women’s Basketball] was selected as the Shaquille O’Neal CHAMPS/Student-Athlete Affairs Athlete of the Month.
Hall is an accounting major whereas Lutley is majoring in general studies. Mettenberger and C. White are majoring in interdisciplinary studies, K. White is a chemistry major and Barrett is majoring in sports administration.
A senior forward from Jackson, Miss., Barrett has proved herself as one of the top post players in school history, earning three straight seasons on the All-SEC team along with candidacy for both the 2012 John Wooden Award and 2012 State Farm Wade Trophy. She is averaging team-bests 12.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, both among the SEC’s Top 15.
Outside of her extremely impressive LSU career, Barrett also leads the team academically, as she has earned 2009 SEC Freshman Academic Honor Roll and SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll in both 2010 and 2011, leading up to her recent graduation in December. She has continued to serve the community throughout her years at LSU as well. She recently joined her team to volunteer with the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, and visited patients at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital.
Hall, a freshman all-around gymnast from Dallas, Texas, competed as a level 10 gymnast in high school. She won all-around titles in the 2011 Texas State Championships and 2011 Region 3 Championships. She proved a huge asset to her team at the season-opening Cancun Classic, where she led her team in Vault with a score of 9.90 and Floor with a score of 9.850.
A junior guard from Pensacola, Fla., Lutley is a crucial part of her team’s nine-game winning streak. She recently posted a season-high 11 points and career-best seven rebounds during the win against Lamar on Dec. 18. She also recently joined her team to volunteer with the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank and Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital.
Mettenberger, a redshirt sophomore quarterback from Watkinsville, Ga., played in five games during his first season at LSU. He tossed his first career touchdown during the Sept. 10 win versus Northwestern State. Before attending LSU, he was the starting quarterback for Butler Community College in Kansas, where he led the team an 11-1 overall record and finished No. 2 in the nation which landed him the No.17 spot on the JUCO Top 50 list.
A freshman offensive lineman from Baton Rouge, La., C. White achieved numerous accolades during his high school career, including being named to the 2011 PrepStar All-American team, being selected to the Baton Rouge Advocate’s Super Dozen and earning a spot on the 2A All-State team. Rivals.com listed him as a four-star prospect and as the No. 11 offensive guard.
K. White, a freshman sprinter from St. Louis, Mo., is expected to be a great talent for LSU, as she was one of the nation’s elite prep quartermilers for the class of 2011. Her impressive resume includes 2011 USATF Junior Olympics Champion in the 4×400 and 2010 Youth Outdoor Champion in the 400m and 4×400. Within the top 10 of her graduating class, she was also named the 2011 St. Louis Post-Dispatch Scholar-Athlete of the Year at her high school.
For putting forth extra effort in the classroom and community in addition to their rigorous academic and competition schedules, these six student-athletes will have their pictures displayed on the wall in the Cox Communications Academic Center for Student-Athletes.