By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

East St. John’s Christin Hildreth is moving on to play basketball at the next level.

Hildreth, a two-time team captain for the Ladycats, recently signed with Delgado on a basketball scholarship to continue her playing career.

The senior center was a two-time All-District selection for Ladycats Coach Troy Giordano, as well as a selection to the L’Observateur’s All-St. John Parish team.

“I’m really excited. It’s going to be a new experience for me,” Hildreth said. “I’m looking forward to meeting a lot of new people.”

Hildreth posted averages of eight points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.4 steals and 1.2 blocks per game this year in helping to lead East St. John to the postseason.  

Giordano said that he considered Hildreth the backbone of his defense the last two seasons, and as valuable for her leadership on and off the court as for her play.

“You don’t always see what she brings in the box score,” he said. “She brings major intangibles and leadership to a team.

“She’s got a great attitude and never has been a problem. She’s never in trouble. She’s got a nice personality and is just a great person to be around.”

Hildreth’s mother, Marva Hildreth, credited Giordano for helping Hildreth mature both on and off the court.

Hildreth didn’t make the team in her freshman season. In her sophomore season, she was mostly relegated to JV duty. But in her junior and senior seasons, she blossomed into one of ESJ’s most dependable players, something that speaks to her work ethic, Giordano said.

“Some kids quit in that situation,” he said. “But she had the drive, and she came up the hard way. I think that’s part of why she became such a good leader. She appreciated it all because she had to work for it.”

Said Hildreth: “I’ll never forget my experiences here. These were some of the best times of my life.”