Louisiana 2019 Rankings: Best Guards
Jahein Spencer 6’4 Madison Prep
Ranking: 8
This has been Spencer’s first year at Madison Prep after transferring in from Assumption, and he has spent the year adjusting to playing with more talent around him, as well as playing a much tougher schedule. There have been times that he has looked absolutely excellent this year, but there have also been times he has looked lost on the court. I look forward to see how he plays this upcoming grassroots season with LA Elite, as his senior season at Madison Prep where I expect the ball to be in his hands more with 3 D1 players graduating.
Norris Williams 6’1 Hannan
Ranking: 9
Sadly Williams has spent all of 2018 out so far with a separated shoulder, so we haven’t been able to see exactly how good he can be, but he was recently medically cleared, so he is good to go for the playoffs. He is a shifty pass first point guard that is just as capable scoring as he is passing.
Jacoby Decker 5’8 Bossier
Ranking: 10
Decker has had a really big year so far with Bossier, and has lead them to the 2nd seed in a very tough 4A. Despite his small stature, he plays with an absolute heart of a lion, and there is no backdown coming from him. He had his biggest game this year going up against district rival and ranking rival Woodlawn-Shreve with Tra’Michael Moton (who you will read about in just a second). Decker finished the game with 37 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists, in a game that ultimately came down to who got the 2nd vs. 3rd seed in the playoffs.
Tra’Michael Moton 6’1 Woodlawn-Shreve
Ranking: 11
Moton is a very bouncy lead guard that has the skills to play either guard position. He is capable of scoring with ease at all three levels. He has the athleticism to finish high above the rim both off the bounce and off of lobs. One of the most surprising stats that I found from the Under Armour Association was that Moton was one of the leading guards in the circuit as far as assist rate is concerned, showing just how talented he is at passing the ball.
Darius Smith 6’3 Peabody
Ranking: 13
Smith is half of the 2019 backcourt for Peabody that is next up for what is arguably the most talent rich program in history. Smith leads the team in points and assists, while also averaging 7 rebounds per game despite playing alongside two players over 6’7. Smith is an absolute lockdown defender, and might be one of the best defenders in the state in his class. Peabody is going to need both him and Kyron Gibson to play well though the playoffs in order to take home back to back 3A state championships in the toughest class in the state this season.
Rodney Munson 6’1 Bonnabel
Ranking:17
Munson is also a member of an incredibly tough backcourt, and the backcourt that he and senior TJ Collins share is arguably the best backcourt in the state. Munson is an incredibly talented scorer that can play either guard position, and is tough to handle for even the best of defenders. He can get heated up in a hurry, and when he does there isn’t much that the defense can do to stop him.