NEW ORLEANS (July 29, 2024) – The Allstate Sugar Bowl is scheduled to welcome five inductees into its Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame at its annual awards banquet on Saturday, August 3 at the Caesars Superdome. In addition to the Hall of Famers, the annual James J. Corbett Awards for the top male and female amateur athletes in the state of Louisiana will be presented along with honors for 24 other individuals and two teams. The New Orleans Sports Awards Committee selects all of the honorees.
 
Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame, Class of 2024:
Chris Duhon, Basketball, Salmen HS/Duke/NBA, 1997-2013
Jahri Evans, Football, New Orleans Saints, 2006-17
Matt Forté, Football, Slidell HS/Tulane/NFL, 2000-17
Carmen Jones, Basketball, McMain Magnet HS/Tulane, 1982-90
Paul Thompson, Basketball, Tulane/NBA/Europe, 1979-99
 
Corbett Award – Female: Haleigh Bryant, LSU Gymnastics
Corbett Award – Male: Jayden Daniels, LSU Football
 
Jimmy Collins Special Awards: Kyle Blankenship, LSU Shreveport Basketball
Outstanding Girls' Prep Coach of the Year, New Orleans: Scott O'Brien, Archbishop Chapelle Softball
Outstanding Boys' Prep Coach of the Year, New Orleans: Jonathon Orillion, Jesuit Wrestling
Outstanding Female Amateur Athlete, New Orleans: Camryn Chatellier, Dominican Volleyball
Outstanding Male Amateur Athlete, New Orleans: Harlem Berry, St. Martin's Episcopal Football
Outstanding Boys' Prep Team, New Orleans: Willow School Soccer
Outstanding Girls' Prep Team, New Orleans: Warren Easton Track & Field
Outstanding College Coach, Louisiana: Jay Clark, LSU Gymnastics
 
Women in Sport Scholarship Honorees:
Kayla Benedic (Pope John Paul II)
Camryn Chatellier (St. Mary's Dominican High School)
Nadia Jones (Louise S. McGehee School)
Jaeshaun Martin (Riverdale High School)
Addison Riddell (Lakeshore High School)
Zoe Zechenelly (Pearl River High School)
 
Greater New Orleans Amateur Athletes of the Month, 2023-24
June, 2023: Cade Beloso, LSU Baseball
July, 2023: Olivia Pierce, St. Mary's Dominican High School Gymnastics
August, 2023: Kyron Bussey, S.A.C.S. Track & Field Club
September, 2023: Harlem Berry, St. Martin's Episcopal High School Football
October, 2023: Dedric Lastie, Riverside Academy Football
November, 2023: Nate Sheppard, Mandeville High School Football
December, 2023: Kevin Cross, Tulane University Basketball
January, 2024: Jerkaila Jordan, Mississippi State University Basketball
February, 2024: Spencer Lanosga, Jesuit High School Wrestling
March, 2024: Seth Alexander, Xavier University Track & Field
April, 2024: Kayla Giardina, Archbishop Chapelle High School Softball
May, 2024: Germain Smith-Mata, Warren Easton High School Track & Field
June, 2024: Ryan Darrah, K's For Kids Baseball
 
The New Orleans Sports Awards Committee came together when James Collins spearheaded a group of sports journalists to form a sports awards committee to immortalize local sports history. For 13 years, the Committee honored local athletes each month and a variety of annual award winners. In 1970, the Sugar Bowl stepped in to sponsor and revitalize the Committee, leading to the creation of the Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame in 1971, honoring 10 legends from the Crescent City in its first induction class. While adding the responsibility of selecting Hall of Famers, the Committee has continued to recognize the top amateur athlete in the New Orleans area each month as well as a range of annual awards – the honors enter their 68th year in 2024.
 
The Allstate Sugar Bowl has established itself as one of the premier college football bowl games, having hosted 29 national champions, 107 Hall of Fame players, 52 Hall of Fame coaches and 21 Heisman Trophy winners in its 90-year history. The 91st Allstate Sugar Bowl Football Classic, which will double as a College Football Playoff Quarterfinal, is scheduled to be played on January 1, 2025. In addition to football, the Sugar Bowl Committee annually invests over $1 million into the community through the hosting and sponsorship of sporting events, awards, scholarships and clinics. Through these efforts, the organization supports and honors thousands of student-athletes each year, while injecting over $2.5 billion into the local economy in the last decade. For more information, visit www.AllstateSugarBowl.org.