New Faces from the Benton High Team Camp
Benton High ended June high school play in NWLA with their team camp this past week. North Desoto, Homer, and Parkway participated in this camp along with teams like Calvary Baptist and North Caddo who seemed to have played in…
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Continue ReadingBenton High ended June high school play in NWLA with their team camp this past week. North Desoto, Homer, and Parkway participated in this camp along with teams like Calvary Baptist and North Caddo who seemed to have played in every camp. Throughout the three day camp, players from all of the participants showed they have an abundance of talent as well. At the end, I saw players who I considered hidden gems from June because they did not play alot. These standout gems will be players that will make their mark when the high school season rolls around.
Cortez Collins / 6’6″ / North Caddo / 2021
Collins was a freshman who did not see the floor in the state champions two years ago when North Caddo lost to Rayville. Fast forward two years and Collins is now a post presence for the Rebels. In games against Calvary and Plain Dealing, Collins had his own block party. He has great awareness when it comes to blocking shots and is good at not fouling when doing so. Collins also pounds the glass and is hard to box out. On offense, he may not have any real post moves. However, he can get his own off the glass. Collins will either get fouled or make the bucket. Once his offense catches up with his defense, Collins will be a steady anchor and dominate force in the paint.
Star’Corius Thomas / 6’0″ / Homer / 2020
Homer is a very young but talented team without guard Jayshun Miller. They do have a “star” in their midst that helps keep the team afloat while he is gone. Star Thomas is a guard who can manuever his way in and out of traffic with the best of them. Taking defenders off the dribble is what he does best. Thomas constantly drove to the basket. Every time he got into the paint, he was on balance. He either finished at the basket or got fouled. Thomas is a football player also and by the way he absorbed contact on his drives, I could tell he is used to physicality. He is also very quick on the defensive end with his lateral movements. Look of Thomas to spend plenty of time at the foul line when basketball cranks back up for them.
Reggie Martin / 6’1″ / North Caddo / 2020
A standout gem to me is that rare player that slides under the radar but can handle his or her own against the best. When I think of a rare gem, Reggie Martin is that player. Martin had a matchup against Plain Dealing’s Darrien Perry on Thursday afternoon. He was able to go play for play against Perry for the majority of the game. Speaking of his game, it was very impressive. Martin scored at all three levels and at times was a one man fastbreak. He is a very good one-on-one player and can get his shot almost when he feels like it. When Martin scores, it was not him dominating the ball and taking a shot. He scored within the flow of the offense. Martin will be a key part of the Rebels success. They will definitely win more than two games with him on the floor.
Bryce Roberts / 5’9″ / Parkway / 2021 (photo cred Tammy Hays)
Roberts was a pleasant surprise to see at the Benton team camp. He is a guard who is very crafty and works well within the offense. Roberts makes the extra pass when he is supposed to and shoots it when needed. He has an unorthodox release but the result is as pure as any other shot. From three he shot very well. Roberts found a way to get to the rim on a couple of occasions but it seems like the three point shot is his calling card. He is not a liability on defense either. Roberts is solid and keeps his man in front of him. Parkway will be a guard oriented offense who will rely on the drive to score. When they kick it to Roberts, he will definitey knock down the open shot on a regular basis.
These four players are some of the new faces on the prep scene in northwest Louisiana. Look for other standout gems and new faces to breakout when the high school season starts.