Top football recruit took home state titles in football, high jump, long jump and triple jump last year, which makes him one of our Reebok Dynamic Athletes.
A top football recruit in the class of 2014, Malachi Dupre also showcases his superior talent on the basketball court and on the track.
Photo by Todd Shurtleff
With 520 career wins, 25 state titles and 13 unbeaten seasons to his credit, J.T. Curtis of
Curtis (River Ridge, La.) is regarded as one of the greatest coaches in high school football history.
During his storied run at the school named after his father, Curtis has helped groom NFL talents like Reggie Dupard, Chris Howard, Joe McKnight and Jonathan Wells.
Dupre was part of a national champion Curtis squad.
Photo by Roddy Johnson
But in terms of raw talent and athleticism, rising Patriot senior
Malachi Dupre may be at the top of the list.
Dupre, a 6-foot-3, 185-pound wide receiver, helped John Curtis Christian
win state and national titles as a junior as part of a 14-0 campaign.
See the special Malachi Dupre photo galleryHe was also a star performer for the New Orleans-area school in basketball and track and field.
"I go from one sport to another all year around," Dupre said.
SEC football powers are fighting over Dupre's services, but a future on the gridiron wasn't necessarily a given a few short years ago.
"I didn't know which sport I was going to pursue," Dupre said. "I'm kind of tall but people my height in the NBA play point guard. I like dunking on people and being down low and getting rebounds.
"That ties in hand and hand with playing receiver, going up and getting the ball at the highest point. I'm pretty good at football and just decided to stick with it."
Not a bad choice. He's the No. 3-ranked wide receiver in the Class of 2014 nationally by 247Sports and the No. 36 overall prospect.
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MALACHI DUPRE BIO
Dupre is being recruited by many top schools.
Photo by Roddy Johnson
River Ridge, La.
School: John Curtis Christian High School (enrollment 804)
Sports: Football, basketball, track and field
College plans: Dupre is undecided and in the middle of a fierce recruiting battle between schools from nearly every corner of the country.
247 Sports sees LSU and UCLA as the front-runners with Alabama, Clemson, Florida State, Notre Dame and Texas A&M still in the mix.
Favorite athletes: Dupre keeps a close eye on some of the NFL's elite receivers, including A.J. Green, Calvin Johnson and Julio Jones.
"My frame is more like A.J. Green, kind of slim, and I feel like I could play like him. I hope that I could reach that level one day."
Double duty: Dupre was chasing down a pair of titles simultaneously in February. In the same week he helped John Curtis Christian reach the Class 2A basketball quarterfinals, the super-recruit also helped the Patriots capture the Division II indoor track and field state title by winning the long jump and high jump. Dupre also finished second in the triple jump.{PAGEBREAK}
DUPRE ON THE GRIDIRON
Dupre was a deep-ball threat for Curtis last season, allowing the Patriots to win by an average of 44 points per game.
Photo by Todd Shurtleff
John Curtis Christian is 40-2 with a pair of state titles since Dupre stepped on campus as a freshman. The 2012 Patriots brought head coach J.T. Curtis his first national title after going 14-0 and outscoring opponents by an average margin of 44 points per game.
Expectations for Dupre and the Patriots will be high again in 2013. They enter the season riding a 28-game winning streak and
ranked No. 8 nationally by MaxPreps.
More on Dupre's efforts on the gridiron:
* Earned MaxPreps Junior All-American honors last fall after tallying 816 yards and 15 touchdowns on just 36 receptions (22.6 yards per catch). Run-oriented John Curtis Christian has never produced a 1,000-yard receiver.
* Dupre's big play ability helped Patriots average 48.3 points per game in 2012.
* Earned Times-Picayune Small Schools Player of the Week last November after piling up 136 yards and two touchdowns – including a 72-yarder – in a victory over North Webster.
* Hauled in 36-yard touchdown pass as sophomore in state semifinals against Evangel Christian Academy of Shreveport.{PAGEBREAK}
DUPRE ON THE TRACK
Dupre is a winner on the track as well, picking up state titles in high jump, long jump and triple jump.
Photo by Todd Shurtleff
Dupre reportedly possesses a 42-inch vertical leap — and he's put that spring in his legs to good use as a member of John Curtis Christian's track and field team.
The dynamic multi-sport star has four individual track and field titles and two team titles entering his senior year.
Here are some more of Dupre's track and field accolades.
* Dupre captured Class 2A state titles in the spring in the high jump (6-6), long jump (23-05.75) and triple jump (44-02.25).
* As a sophomore, he took home 2A state title in the triple jump (45.06.75) while finishing second in the high jump (6.5) and fourth in the long jump (21.11.25).
* Thanks in part to Dupre's prowess in the jumps and a bevy of sprinters from the football team, John Curtis Christian took home the boys 2A team title in 2012 and 2013. The Patriots outdistanced the second-place team at the 2A state meet this spring by an astonishing 107 points.
* Though Dupre's efforts on the football field and track receive the most attention, he's no slouch on the hardwood. Dupre and the Patriots went 24-6 in 2012-13 and reached the 2A quarterfinals before bowing out to eventual champ Riverside Academy (Reserve). He led Curtis with 22 points in the season finale and was a threat to post a double-double every night out.{PAGEBREAK}
VIDEO ON DUPRE
