Lake Charles College Prep standout Javon Vital, one of Southwest Louisiana’s most versatile athletes, pledged his future to the University of Southern California football team Thursday. Vital made the announcement at noon at the Ward 3 Recreation building. While the commitment signals his intentions, it is non-binding. He will be eligible to sign a National Letter of Intent starting Dec. 3 during the early signing period.

Vital, a 5-foot-9, 185-pound junior who excels in multiple positions, drew offers from more than a dozen programs nationwide, including LSU, Ole Miss, UCLA, and Kentucky. Ranked No. 34 nationally among athletes and No. 17 in Louisiana by 247Sports.com, he initially played at Hamilton Christian Academy before transferring to LCCP after the 2025 football season. He guided the Warriors to consecutive district titles in 2024 and 2025 and helped secure the Select Division IV state basketball championship in 2024-25.

The American Press named Vital Male Athlete of the Year as a sophomore in 2025. That season, he earned Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 1A all-state MVP honors in basketball, posting averages of 15.5 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, and four steals per game. In football, he earned first-team all-state recognition as a kick returner. In his final year with the Warrior football team, he led them to an undefeated regular season and a berth in the Select Division IV quarterfinals last fall. Over two seasons as starting quarterback, Vital helped the Warriors amass a 19-3 record.

During his five years at Hamilton, beginning as a seventh grader in 2021, Vital accounted for 116 total touchdowns, including 47 as a sophomore and 48 as a junior. He accumulated 3,656 rushing yards, 2,990 passing yards, and 344 receiving yards over his career.

On the hardwood, Vital contributed as point guard for LCCP’s basketball squad this season, averaging 9.3 points, 5.4 assists, and three steals per game. He led the Trailblazers to a 21-6 record and the No. 5 seed in the Select Division II playoffs.