East St. John High School senior basketball player Briana Thompson signed a National Letter of Intent April 12 to play for Southern University. The 6-foot-2 power forward/center averaged 8.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game for the Lady Wildcats this season, helping the team reach the Class 5A semifinals for the first time since 2004. ‘I felt like Southern was the best program that fit me,’ she said. ‘I felt like I belong there. It’s close to home. I didn’t want to go far. It’s perfect.’ (Lori Lyons/L’OBSERVATEUR)