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For the third year, Haik, Minvielle, Grubbs and D’Albor have teamed up with local student-athletes on NIL partnerships.

The firm introduced its newest “Home Team” on Thursday. Football players Harvey Broussard (St. Martinville HS, UL), Zylan Perry (Franklin HS, UL), De’Myrion Johnson (Westgate, LSU), Ty Olivier (Acadiana Christian, Northwestern St.) and Kaine Olivier (Loreauville, Northwestern St.) were joined by Highland Baptist softball star Rylee Guthrie, who signed with Baton Rouge Community College.

“We want to support these kids who have had local success, acknowledge their accomplishments and watch them succeed,” Eric Haik said. “Our mission is to hire local, stay local and support local.”

Perry and Broussard are returning lettermen at UL. The other four will be entering college this fall. Broussard, the Cajuns’ fifth-leading receiver as a true freshman, was also a member of last year’s HMGD Home Team.

“Harvey truly embodies everything we’re trying to portray,” Haik said. “He had 30-plus scholarship offers from around the country and decided to stay home. That’s exactly the model we’re trying to portray with this NIL opportunity.”

NIL is an acronym for “Name, Image and Likeness,” which allows businesses to compensate student-athletes for promotional services. The Home Team, which began with UL football players Zi’Yon Hill and Trey Amos, expanded to a roster of six last year. Guthrie is the team’s first female student-athlete.

“It really is an honor to break ground on things like this,” Guthrie said. “I’m not one to always want to be the center of attention, so it’s definitely something new, but it’s something I’m going to have to get used to if I want to make it big.”

The student-athletes convened at HMGD’s offices for multiple photo shoots, interviews and lunch. They’ll represent the firm over the next year in a business capacity, but the program goes much further than that.

“The kids have an opportunity to come into our business in a relaxed setting,” Haik said. “We talk about the good, bad and ugly of life. Not just about sports. About academics, about the challenges life is going to throw at them, about how God allows you to meet certain people at the right time. I truly believe some of these kids were led here today to meet with us.”

When choosing the team, Haik was looking for student-athletes at in-state colleges who best represent the firm’s values and commitment to do things the right way.

“He told me he loved how I handled my business on and off the field as a freshman,” said Broussard, who first caught Haik’s attention in a basketball slam-dunk contest.

Guthrie, the first non-football player to join the Home Team, is also the first participant from Highland Baptist.

“Rylee is a hell of a softball player,” Haik said. “That’s what makes her stand out. But she is also a great person. She has a very bright future, and we’re very excited to have her on the team.”