Running back/slot receiver Lawrence Breaud (5-10, 185, 4.5) of Marrero (Archbishop Shaw), La., is considered one of the premier athletes in the New Orleans area. While in town for an AAU basketball tournament this weekend, Breaud made his way to Dallas for an unofficial view on the Hilltop.
Breaud's AAU team is playing in the Primetime Sports Classic at Ryan High School in Denton, but his brother lives in Carrollton and brought him to the Hilltop. Breaud said he likes what he sees.
"SMU is my main choice," he said, adding that if SMU extends a scholarship offer, he'll talk it over with his family but expects that he would accept the offer right away.
Breaud said he rushed for about 1,300 yards during the 2009 season, and added about 350 more yards as a pass receiver. He scored 17 touchdowns last season, including one on a kickoff return.
Breaud said the main reasons he is interested in SMU include the the fact that his brother lives nearby, the improvement the program showed over the last year, his fondness for the coaches and players, and the campus.
Breaud said he hopes to major in sports medicine, and said he could be part of a package deal; New Orleans (St. Augustine) offensive lineman Jonah Austin (6-7, 305) is one of his best friends, and the two have talked about playing together in college.
"I'd like to play for SMU," Breaud said, "but if we could both play there, that would be even better."
