LHSAA Class 5A Tournament Preview
2016 Allstate Sugar Bowl/LHSAA Boys' Top 28 Basketball Tournament Class 5A Above you’ll see the link to get to the bracket for the respective class in this article. This is one of the deepest fields in any class I’ve seen…
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Continue Reading2016 Allstate Sugar Bowl/LHSAA Boys' Top 28 Basketball Tournament Class 5A
Above you’ll see the link to get to the bracket for the respective class in this article. This is one of the deepest fields in any class I’ve seen in Louisiana in quite some time. Class 5A has two teams who won a state title last year and another who was a runner-up. All three teams return a vast majority of their roster so it’s got the makings for an intense tournament. Couple that with a host of 20+ win teams and a team on a 29 game in state win streak and you’ve got yourself a ton of ingredients for an amazing recipe. All roads lead to Lake Charles where the final four for each of the seven classes make up the Top 28. With future changes on the horizon, this may be the last season we see things play out this way in the state of Louisiana.
Class 5A
Oh what a joy these playoffs will be. The talent is undeniable, the rosters filled, and the depth of teams who believe they belong in the Top 28 is absolutely incredible. All season there has been a race to stay at the top and quite frankly the top 4 teams and seeds have been pretty solid for quite some time. The group of challengers below them was so deep that we added a watch list for the Top 10 at the very beginning. There are teams from across the state that have laid claim to top 10 rankings at some point and those that will be on the road in round 1 that still feel like they could be playing in Lake Charles in March.
In fact, the number 1 seed is Natchitoches Central who was the Class 5A runner-up last season and had a big transfer in 6’9 Cameron Lard (Iowa St Commit) leave to go to Landry-Walker who is the 3 seed. Nonetheless, they still have a 2017 star guard in 6’5 Brandon Rachal who has proven himself throughout the summer and season. Senior 6’0 guard Kendarius Aaron will help shoulder the load scoring wise and this team is sure to play defense with 6’5 senior forward Austin Guy (Northwestern St FB commit) and Rachal making one heck of a defensive duo. Their 2nd round match-up will be either Walker, led by 6’2 sophomore point guard Dalton Moore or they will have to travel to Chalmette to face on the of the best players in the state in 7’0 junior forward/center Mitchell Robinson.
The defending 5A state champion is the 2 seed in Scotlandville, led by 6’4 sophomore phenom Javonte Smart. The point guard is averaging 22.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 5.5 apg, 2.1 spg and 1.3 bpg and having some monster nights. Then you have the two seniors in 6’5 forward Garrick Green (11.9 ppg, 8.8 rpg) and 6’2 shooting guard Jordan Adebutu (15.4 ppg, 41% from 3). They are one of the best defensive teams in the state while averaging 73 points a contest. They will see either district 3-5A winner New Iberia with junior 5’11 shooter Chamaje Barideaux or Catholic (BR) led by senior 6’2 guard Toliver Freeman.
The defending 4A state champion is the 3 seed in Landry-Walker, led by 6’0 senior point guard and Mississippi State signee Lamar Peters. He is one of the best scorers in the state and an absolute handful in any big game. That semifinal match-up could be one of the best of the tournament if it comes to fruition. That is where 5’8 UNO commit Lamont Berzat (2017 PG) and 6’5 Mississippi St commit (for football, quarterback) Keytaon Thompson (2017 F) will have to continue their impressive play on both ends. They could travel to district opponent Bonnabel with junior 6’9 forward Joseph Thompson and sophomore 6’3 guard Terry Collins or play East St. John led by 6’3 senior guard Troy Green.
One of the more impressive runs is that of St. Paul’s since their season opening loss to Parkview Baptist. They’ve gone 29-0 in state since and are led by one of the larger teams in the state. They have 5 players in double digits and are led by junior 6’2 guard Timothy Bedford and senior 6’7 forward/center Harrison Prieto. Most of this roster is comfortable playing inside or out but their size will give most teams trouble. They are sure to see a high scoring guard in round two with either Denham Springs and 6’2 senior guard Torez Kinchen or East Ascension and 6’1 guard LeAaron Cain. EA also has multiple bigs to throw at the front line of SPS.
Other first round games include:
9 McKinley (6’2 2018 G Tyrece Radford) vs 24 Zachary (5’10 2018 G Calvin Adams)
8 HL Bourgeois (6’2 2017 G Chance Gasery) vs 25 Barbe (6’7 2016 F/C Steve Henderson)
11 Ouachita Parish (6’6 2017 F Jay Head) vs 22 Slidell (6’4 2016 F John Paul Fugate)
6 West Jeff (6’5 2016 F Ray Anderson) vs 27 Brother Martin (6’1 2017 G Tre Swilling)
5 Ruston (6’3 2016 G Tykeem Anderson) vs 28 Parkway (6’4 2019 F Kamren Davis)
12 Southwood (5’9 2016 G Kajuan Johnson) vs 21 Central Lafourche (6’3 2016 G/F Quindon Charles)
7 Comeaux (6’5 2018 G/F Devaughn Thomas) vs 26 Helen Cox (6’5 2016 F Roydell Brown)
10 St. Augustine (6’1 2016 G Devante Jones) vs 23 West Monroe (5’10 2016 G Jake Norris)