Madeline Gatte has done just about everything on the hardwood during her four-year prep career at Iota High School.
From earning All-District, All-Parish and All-State honors to competing in the All-Star game two months ago, Gatte has racked up nearly every accolade there is.
Now, the 5-foot-9 guard will start a new chapter in her athletic and academic career when she begins the fall at Southwest Mississippi Community College where she recently signed a scholarship to play for the Lady Bears’ basketball team.
Gatte averaged 21 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and three steals per game during her senior campaign in helping lead the Lady Dogs to a 27-8 record and an appearance in the Class 3A quarterfinals.
Gatte played a pivotal role in helping lead the Lady Dogs to a share of the District 5-3A title and was named the league’s Most Valuable Player. She was also tabbed to the 3A All-State team and was the All-Acadia Parish MVP this season.
“Maddi is a great defender and a triple-threat player that can do it all,” said IHS coach Meghann LeJeune.
Lady Bears’ coach Brent Harris had nothing but praise for his prize recruit.
“She has chosen Southwest Mississippi Community College to further her career,” said Harris of Gatte. “She is an exceptional athlete who will compete at multiple spots in our lineup. She is a taller guard who can shoot the three or post a smaller defender."
Harris also said Gatte can "create for herself or others offensively and will give us the ability to have a bigger lineup at times. She comes from a storied Louisiana High School program. I recruited her coach while at Southeastern Louisiana (University-Harris served as an assistant at SLU prior to his arrival at Southwest) and she was a fierce competitor and she brings that fire to her coaching style."