Bogalusa High School’s DaJuan Powell

DaJuan Powell is a senior at Bogalusa. Powell is a guard for the Lumberjacks’ basketball team.
Last season, Powell was a second-team all-district player.
“DaJuan is a valuable point guard for us,” Bogalusa coach Randall Ginn said. “He used to go to Bog, he transferred to Salmen and somewhere in Texas and then wound up back here in his junior year. He’s a very competitive little point guard. I say little because he’s only 5-6. Very competitive. He’s not scared of anything on the floor. Sometimes that gets him in a little trouble. Sometimes he penetrates a little too deep before he shoots or gives the ball up and his competitiveness leads him into a few unforced errors sometimes, but you never have to worry about him laying down being scared of the other team. He has the ability to hit the three. I wish he had a little more leadership ability at times, but we’ve got quiet leaders on the team usually and everybody’s not born to be a verbal leader. He’s done a better job in district of stepping up to be a leader.”

What do you enjoy most about playing your sports?
Really everything about it. It’s fun, I like the intensity, I love the competition and I like to compete.

What do you like best about being a student athlete?
You get excused out of class a lot for games and stuff.

Who has been the most influential person in your school sports career? Why?
My paw paw (Terry Byrd) and my middle school coach from Texas (coach Powe). They coached me a lot. I was about to quit my seventh-grade year, so they pushed me through it. My paw paw, he wanted me to play sports before he passed.

Who is your favorite athlete? Why?
Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul. He’s been my favorite since he was with the Hornets (New Orleans Pelicans former team name) whenever he got drafted. That’s who I always grew up to look at and he’s a point guard, so I look at myself as him, playing like him.

Favorite team?
Houston Rockets, New Orleans Pelicans and New Orleans Saints.

Best thing about living in Washington Parish?
The sports. The sports keep me out of trouble and stuff. There’s not a lot to do in Washington Parish.