Mr. Basketball Contenders & Dark Horses (Volume 2)
The high school season is now into the month of December. Throughout the beginning of the season, there have been performances from numerous players on the Mr. Basketball contender list that have put people on notice. In this article, we…
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Continue ReadingThe high school season is now into the month of December. Throughout the beginning of the season, there have been performances from numerous players on the Mr. Basketball contender list that have put people on notice. In this article, we will update the contender and dark horse list for Mr. Basketball and discuss who can make a serious run at the title.
The Contenders
Mylik Wilson / 6’3″ / Rayville High School / 2019
All the University of Louisiana-Lafayette signee has done is lead his team in scoring and be probably the best help defender in the state. Wilson has shown the ability in tournament wins against the likes of Landry-Walker, Ouachita, and Wossman to take over segments of the game and totally change the outcome. His combination of driving and leaping ability is what makes him an offensive threat at all times. Whether it is a put back dunk, a pull up jumper, or a drive to the cup, Mylik keeps opponents off balance. On defense, he is the eraser. Wilson can be seen blocking shots is the primary defender gets beat. If he is playing the ball, it is a good chance that he gets a steal or creates an errant pass. He plays both ends very well and that is a leading reason why he is on this list.
Reece Beekman / 6’3″ / Scotlandville Magnet High School / 2020
Beekman has been every bit as good as advertised beginning this junior season. The Hornets are undefeated at this point in the season and he is the main reason why. Whatever his team needs, Reece gives it to them. If it is a night that he needs to take the scoring load, he will go out and score thirty. In other games he is the facilitator that goes out and gets his other teammates going. There have been other games where Beekman has done both and he ultimately ended up with a triple double. Reece is a point guard who can do it all on the offensive end. He is the unquestioned leader of the team and he definitely belongs on the list of contenders.
Jalen Cook / 6’0″ / Walker High School / 2020
When a player leaves the football field after a long season and step right onto the basketball court and be one of the best players in the state, you know he is ultra-talented. That is the case for Jalen Cook. He is one of the best point guards in the state and he shows it night in and night out for Walker. Cook has also put up some jaw dropping performances in the beginning of this season that have put people on notice. Fifty against Landry-Walker and 37 against Sophie B. Wright (with 17 in the 4th quarter) were performances that the average player can not replicate. Walker is the top team in 5A right now and he is the biggest reason. If they continue to have this success and end up winning it all like last season, Jalen may indeed walkaway with the Mr. Basketball title.
Chanse Robinson / 6’0″ / Lincoln Preparatory School / 2020
One person who is putting up big time numbers is Chanse Robinson. He has led his team to the #4 ranking in 1A and Lincoln Prep defeated number one Jonesboro-Hodge this week. Robinson is super athletic and plays both ends of the floor. At the end of the night Chanse usually fills the stat sheet. He will have a handful of assist, a number of steals, and at least two rim-rocking dunks. Robinson is the leading scorer on most nights. Against some of the stiffer competition, Prep needs all of his points to secure the win. If Lincoln can get Robinson to continue this production, a state championship is well within their grasp. The title of Mr. Basketball might very well be also.
Jacoby Decker / 5’9″ / Bossier High School / 2019 (pictured above)
Decker has been the best player on 4A’s number one team. He is like a new era version of Vinnie ” the Microwave” Johnson from the standpoint that he is hot from the time he steps on the court. Decker is a threat from the time he passes half court to score. Jacoby can light up a defense from distance or get to the basket. He is so explosive that when he is on, the other team might as well forget it. Decker can push a six point run to twelve or fourteen with his offensive prowess. His ability to score is really unmatched on this level in Louisiana. If he continues on this pace to be the leading scorer of 4A’s top team, Mr. Basketball might fall in his lap. He is truly that gifted.
Dark Horses
LaDamien Bradford / 6’5″ / Jonesboro-Hodge High School / 2020
The number one team in class 1A is Jonesboro-Hodge. A large part of that reason is the play of point guard LaDamien Bradford. He is a walking double-double or potential triple-double when he walks on the court. The question is how is he going to get it. Bradford scores in multiple fashions so he hurts defenses in that way. However, it is the other things that make him a Mr. Basketball candidate. On one night he may get double digit assist. The next game he might get double digit rebounds. Realistically, he is probably the biggest match up problem in north Louisiana because of everything he can do. Bradford will place everyone on notice if he can guide Jonesboro-Hodge to a state title. If that happens, Mr. Basketball will not be hard to conceive.
Damiree Burns / 6’6″ / Sophie B. Wright Charter School / 2019
Sophie B. Wright has so much firepower on offense that they are very tough to stop even if everyone is locked in. That being said, they only have one anchor on the inside and that is Southern commit Damirree Burns. He punishes defenses with his brute strength and athletic ability. Burns also has tons of energy and a motor that will not quit. Gathering rebounds is about as easy as breathing for him. He has also developed and outside game and passes better when he is doubled. Burns is definitely SBW’s most complete players. To be honest, it may be hard for Burns to win Mr. Basketball because he does have other Division 1 level talent on his team. However, if they continue to win, he might just pull it off.
Kyron Gibson / 6’0″ / Peabody High School / 2019
The state is full of good point guards and there is none better than Kyron Gibson of Peabody. Going into last year he was known more for his defense and distribution. Then came the championship game against Madison Prep and he displayed the ability to score in bunches. From that game, he has carried into this season that ability to score with those other two traits. Now what Peabody has is a complete guard that can take over the game on either end of the floor. That is pretty scary. As the lead guy on the top team in 3A, he is going to be challenged in head-to-head contest with other top guards. If he can come out of those games as the winner, he may continue to move up the list of contenders. It will not be a surprise if he wins Mr. Basketball. It will be a testament into the work he has put in to improve his game.
Tramichael Moton / 6’1″ / Woodlawn High School (Shreveport) / 2019
There is not another point guard/combo guard who has his hands on the ball more the Tramichael Moton. He has been the unquestioned leader of the Woodlawn team and his floor game has shown it. There are of course nights when he is the top assist guy. Now he has become a better scorer with his constant work on his jumper. If he has a good first quarter, he usually has a game that uplifts his team. In the Mr. Basketball conversation, the only question will be if he has too much floor time when the latter part of the season arrives. Right now, he is playing as good as anyone on this list. If he takes his play up another notch, this Woodlawn team may end up in the same position they did last year. That will put him in clear discussion for the Mr. Basketball title.
Jahein Spencer / 6’4″ / Madison Prep Academy / 2019
The glue in the Madison Prep attack is UAB signee Jahein Spencer. Spencer plays both ends of the floor and gives his all. As a gift jump shooter, he does not drive to the rack like a lot of other guys on this list. However, he makes up for it by being a tenacious rebounder. His arms and shoulders are solid and he takes abuse in the paint. A wing guard who can rebound is a definite plus. He is one of a kind in that sense. Because he plays both ends of the floor so hard and so well, he galvanizes his teammates to do the same. It helps that he leads the team in scoring more times than not as well. Jahein is a star who plays like he is a role player. He is just a winner. If Prep keeps winning, Mr. Basketball might be another moniker you can add to his list.
There are other candidates that may move on this list as the season goes further along. Players like E’maryeon McDonald (Red River) and Aaron McGhee (Avoyelles Charter) come to mind as players who can place teams on their backs at times. I know it will be fun to watch. One thing is for sure, Prep Hoops Louisiana will be along for the ride to cover it.