By T. Scott Boatright
Once upon a time, Louisiana Tech had a talented point guard named Reni Mason.
Now another talented Lincoln Parish point guard – Choudrant’s Parker Batterton – will also be playing basketball at a nearby college after signing on Monday to continue living his hoops dreams at Louisiana Christian University in Pineville.
And there Batterton will be mentored by Tigers athletics director and head men’s basketball coach – Reni Mason.
“I’m very excited to play for him and play there next season,” Batterton said. “I liked everything he told me. I like the facilities and the school. I liked everything that I saw there and I’m looking forward to seeing what I can make happen there.”
Batterton said he also considered Hendrix College in Arkansas.
“My Choudrant assistant coach – Dennis Hunt – went there and he called the coach there and they talked about me,” Batterton said. “ But after I saw the LC campus and met the people there, it just felt like the right place for me. I feel really good about it.”
Batterton said he expects to go to LC a couple of times this summer for training before heading down in August to start classes.
Choudrant athletics director and head coach Ryan Smith said Louisiana Christian is getting a solid player in Batterton, who averaged 17.3 points and 3.0 assists per game as a senior.
“He never gets too high and never gets too low,” Smith said. “He knows what he’s capable of. He knows what his teammates are capable of, and having that steady demeanor he brings has really been a game-changer for us.”
Batterton said that playing for Mason, who started his college career at LA Tech before transferring to the University of New Orleans and who is known for his stressing academics as much as athletics, is something he’s looking forward to.
