Bariate Kara was all smiles when he celebrated his signing to play college football for the Duke Blue Devils. He early enrolled in January 2025. (LCA Photo)
Wednesday, December 4 was no ordinary day for Bariate Kara. The 4-star edge rusher, commonly referred to as Ate, signed his national letter of intent to play Division I football.
Ate is an early enrollee with the Duke Blue Devils and began his collegiate journey in January 2025.
For Ate, putting pen to paper was a culmination of what Loganville Christian Academy (LCA) has done for him and his family. A sizable attendance number on hand to witness this momentous occasion was icing on the cake.
“It meant so much to me that so many people came to show their love and support,” Kara said, “and it just shows how much of a strong community I have around me that pour and care so much into me.”
Ate has been a Lion since his sixth grade year and, in addition to taking to the gridiron, also performed on the basketball court.
More so than athletics, Ate recognized the foundation LCA has given him while in pursuit of his football aspirations.
“LCA has helped me grow a lot as a person and has shaped me greatly in who I am today. It has given me a great Christian foundation to lean on and has grown me so much closer in my walk with God,” Ate said. “I have met so many great people here and am so grateful for all it has done for me.”
Ate’s mom, Leton Kara, was looking for a change of scenery when they toured LCA a few years back. Leton shared how they both fell in love with the idea of being a Lion and decided to enroll Ate.
It is a decision Leton is happy they made.
“It has been very beneficial,” Leton said. “I see him growing in his walk with God, which is very important to me but also I see him making so many friends and being pushed academically and in athletics.”
Numerous people were mentioned by Ate and his mom as ones who were influential on Ate’s time as an LCA Lion.
“It has given me a great Christian foundation to lean on and has grown me so much closer in my walk with God...”
In addition to his mom and his sister, Ate highlighted Mrs. Kristin Bailey as the teacher who had the biggest impact on him academically. Basketball coach Blythe and football head coach Nathan Murphy were acknowledged as significant individuals on Ate’s journey.
But people who are appreciated by both Ate and Leton Kara are the Pourchier family, Andrew and Nicole.
“The Pourchiers have been a massive help to Ate and are truly like family to us,” Leton said.
Now, Ate traveled six hours up to Durham, North Carolina and has become a Duke Blue Devil.
Ate Kara was featured on Duke football’s official Instagram account in a post highlighting early enrollees’ arrival to campus. (Duke Football Instagram screenshot)
Ate departed LCA as an All-State honoree by the Georgia Independent Athletic Association (GIAA). He received First Team defense All-Region recognition as well.
In his last hurrah, Ate compiled 56 total tackles (41 solo), eight tackles for loss and three sacks.
Aside from the statistics, Ate hopes there is a greater takeaway from his journey for Lions who follow after him.
“To trust God and his plan for you,” Ate said, “and know that if you put your faith in him, blessings will follow.”
Ate is tackling the next chapter of his career in North Carolina. He does so with great enthusiasm.
“How much I will learn and grow as an athlete and a person excites me the most about Duke,” Ate said. “The coaching staff is great and I know that I will learn so much from them and grow a lot as a player. I am also excited for the degree I will get from Duke and the opportunities that come with it.”
