Mr. Basketball Candidate: Javonte Smart
Editor’s Note: We will be profiling a number of Louisiana basketball players who are candidates for Mr. Basketball throughout the summer. There will be a power ranking of those players as the season approaches. Player: Javonte Smart, Scotlandville, 6’4 PG Previous…
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Continue ReadingEditor’s Note: We will be profiling a number of Louisiana basketball players who are candidates for Mr. Basketball throughout the summer. There will be a power ranking of those players as the season approaches.
Player: Javonte Smart, Scotlandville, 6’4 PG
Previous Season: 33-4, 5A State Champions, 5A 1st Team All-State
Why Will He Win? He was recently ranked #5 in the Nation in 2018 by ESPN and was the MVP of the 5A title game last year as a freshman. After being on the 5A All-State team and leading Scotlandville to yet another title, he followed it up with a Gold Medal for Team USA. With an evolving game that has already seen him take over late in the state playoffs once, he may be a favorite to win Mr. Basketball at a very young age.
Why Won’t He Win? Only two juniors have won the award and the rest have been seniors. Javonte Smart will be a Sophomore so that will be a tremendous hurdle for him. Landry-Walker also moves up to 5A and want nothing less than their 3rd straight state title (talent to get it as well). If he wants to be Mr. Basketball, he’ll have to win a state title and be the most dominant player in the state despite his young age. If they can win marquee match-ups throughout the year and the 5A title, history could be made!