Morgan Johnson Will Lead the 78^th Annual Session of Civics Program

ARLINGTON, Va., July 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — A rising high school senior from Wagoner, Okla., was elected president of the 2024 session of American Legion Boys Nation. Morgan Johnson received a majority of the votes from his fellow Boys Nation “senators” to earn the top office at the 78^th annual session of the civics program, held annually in and around the nation’s capital.

Johnson, a senior this fall at Wagoner High School, entered the week as one of 100 young men from 49 states and the District of Columbia who were selected from their respective Boys State programs to spend a week at the campus of Marymount University in Arlington, Va., as senators in the Boys Nation program.

The 100 senators are divided into two parties, the Federalists and the Nationalists — one from each state. Johnson earned nomination from the Federalist Party and defeated Nationalist X’zaeviun Sims from Pine Bluff, Ark., in Wednesday morning’s election.

Johnson was sponsored to Oklahoma Boys State by American Legion Post 153 in Wagoner, Okla.

During their week at Boys Nation, the 100 young men create their own version of the U.S. Senate, introduce and discuss bills, and elect a president, vice president, president pro tempore and secretary of the senate. They also meet with their home state’s senators and staff, and visit several landmarks in the area. They also have the opportunity to interact with their counterparts at Girls Nation, sponsored by The American Legion Auxiliary.

Also elected to office at Boys Nation 2024:

• Vice President Rohan Parekh of Vestavia Hills, Ala., who attended Alabama Boys State.
• President Pro Tempore Eshaam Bhattad of Buffalo Grove, Ill., sponsored to Illinois Boys State by American Legion Post 964 in Lake Zurich, Ill.
• Secretary of the Senate Charan Bala of Clarksville, Md., sponsored to Maryland Boys State by American Legion Post 300 in Columbia, Md.

Media Contact: Andy Proffet, (812) 350-9526, [email protected]

SOURCE The American Legion

One of the best dual-sport athletes in the Bay Area committed to Oklahoma on Tuesday afternoon. 

Alec Blair, a rising senior at De La Salle, announced on a YouTube livestream with 247Sports that he will play basketball and baseball for the Sooners.

The 6-foot-6 wing is ranked as the 38th-best high school basketball player nationally — and fourth-best in California — in the class of 2025, according to 247Sports.

“I like to think I have one of the best midrange games in the nation, that’s what I do with the fadeaway and all that stuff,” Blair said. “I’ve definitely improved as a shooter since the last time you guys have seen me.”

The wing-sized prospect described himself as a “tall point guard” who is adept at running the pick and roll. The lefthander also said he “takes pride in his defense” and expressed a willingness to guard the other team’s best player, which he has done consistently in high school. 

Blair averaged 18 points, six rebounds and four assists per game while shooting 54% from the field as De La Salle’s basketball team reached the NorCal Open Division playoffs. 

He was named to the all-Bay Area News Group basketball team for the third year in a row. 

Blair also had offers from Texas A&M, Cal, Clemson, Oregon and other top programs. The Sooners have enjoyed seven consecutive winning seasons, the last three coming under coach Porter Moser. 

When the season changed from basketball to baseball, Blair excelled as an outfielder for De La Salle’s powerhouse baseball team.

He hit .373, belted three home runs and had 18 RBIs despite playing in only 18 games because of an injury suffered during the basketball playoffs. 

“Baseball-wise, you’re getting a guy who just has a bunch of tools,” Blair said. “I’m tall and lanky, and when I walk on the field, I’m bigger than everyone else. … I hit for average, I hit for power, I play really well in center field, I’m fast and I have a big arm.”

Oklahoma’s baseball team went 40-21 and reached the NCAA regionals this past season.