Eight Takeaways from The Statement Session
The Statement Session held at Southside High was a great event that saw thirty top preps play in an organized and structured setting while receiving tutelage from college coaches. From my perspective, it appeared that all who participated got something…
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Continue ReadingThe Statement Session held at Southside High was a great event that saw thirty top preps play in an organized and structured setting while receiving tutelage from college coaches. From my perspective, it appeared that all who participated got something from the Statement session. I got something out of the Statement session as well. Here are my takeaways from what I saw on Sunday.
#1 Derrick Tezeno Derrick Tezeno 6'5" | SF North Central | 2021 State LA is becoming a complete player
I do not know a better way to put it. Tezeno has gone from a guy who just rebounds and plays defense to a certified problem on both ends of the floor. His full repertoire was on display Sunday. He rebounded the ball and got it to a guard. Tezeno switched onto smaller or taller players during defensive sequences. He nailed mid-range jumpers and attacked the rim from the baseline which he got several dunks from. With his athleticism and willingness to do anything on the floor that is needed, it was easy to tell why he is the top player in his class. With plenty of observers, we will see how many pursue the North Central wing.
#2 Nicholls State found a good one
Jon’Quarious McGhee was a player that all of the scouts in Louisiana got on late. However, his accent to the top of the ranks is truly warranted. Sunday was a display of that. McGhee attacks the paint via baseline, middle pick and roll, or just by beating his man off the dribble. He can get to the rim and finish around or over defenders. McGhee also knocks down three point shots with regularity. On the defensive side, he is excellent in trap situations and plays above average man-to-man defense. He is truly a guard that causes major problems for defenses. Sunday was a definite example of that.
#3 Louisiana has point guards
If you are a college or university and are looking for a point guard, Louisiana’s got you. It is just a matter of what kind of PG you want. If you need a guard who is quick and can stretch the floor from deep, we have Gage Larvadain Gage Larvadain 5'9" | PG Riverside | 2021 State LA . A school can be looking for a guard who understands pace, spacing, and knows how to get you into your sets, Kendrick Delahoussaye Kendrick Delahoussaye 6'0" | PG Lafayette High | 2021 State LA can do that. If a school is looking for a guard who reads screens well in the pick-and-roll and is creative enough to pass or get their own shot, Rayshun McCullar Rayshun McCullar 6'1" | PG Huntington | 2022 State LA and Tawasky Johnson Tawasky Johnson 6'0" | PG Port Allen | 2021 State LA do that. Whatever a JUCO or four year school wants in point guards, we have it. Sunday should have opened plenty of eyes to that.
#4 St. Thomas More is in good hands
There are two reasons Danny Broussard at St. Thomas More is going for his fourth straight state title…. Carter Domingue Carter Domingue 6'3" | PG St. Thomas More | 2021 State LA and Jaden Shelvin Jaden Shelvin 6'2" | CG St. Thomas More | 2021 State LA . Domingue got an invite to the Statement Session while Shelvin served as an alternate. Domingue, from the start of the day, was in command of his team’s offense. He made the proper reads and passes for his teammates while scoring when he had opportunities. Shelvin fit in (without a jersey by the way) with an athletic group and played off the ball hitting shots from various places on the floor. Apart they are pretty good players. Together, they are almost unfair. Sunday might have been an introduction to some but these two are as good as it gets in the Boot.
#5 Will Allen Will Allen 6'7" | PF Bonnabel | 2021 State LA is…..
Will Allen Will Allen 6'7" | PF Bonnabel | 2021 State LA is the best post player in the classes of 2021 and 2022. His work in the pick-and-roll on Sunday was impeccable. He displayed how the post should work the pick-and-roll. He set hard screens and made himself available for the guards passes. His ability to slip the pick under control and finish at the rim was also great. Allen has a motor that is second to none in either class. He may not be the most athletic or have the highest ceiling of the bunch, but Will Allen Will Allen 6'7" | PF Bonnabel | 2021 State LA is as good as it gets for post players. There is a reason he was all-state and that Louisiana Tech loves him. His work in the paint and the pick-and-roll are good guesses why.
#6 More than just an athletic wing
There were other athletic wings in the building outside of Derrick Tezeno Derrick Tezeno 6'5" | SF North Central | 2021 State LA . Da’tayvious Gabriel Da’tayvious Gabriel 6'5" | SF St. Martinville | 2021 State LA (St. Martinville), Jacob Wilson Jacob Wilson 6'5" | SF Liberty | 2022 State LA (Liberty) and Shammah (Cinco) Bryant (Bossier) were three of the other wings who displayed other eye-popping athleticism on the day. Bryant had and empathetic dunk on a breakaway early in the session that brought ohs and ahs from people in attendance. Gabriel was a track star on Sunday. He can run a lane faster and better than a lot of wings in the state and his finishes above the rim are hard and loud. Wilson was a guard in a wings body. He took other wings and bigs off the dribble time and time again. All three also showed an ability to take (and make) jumpers from the mid-range and deep. While these three can create highlights, the development in their all around game will catch some eyes for sure.
#7 From way downtown
Daniel Ortiz Daniel Ortiz 6'1" | CG Calvary Baptist | 2021 State LA (Calvary Baptist) and Gage Larvadain Gage Larvadain 5'9" | PG Riverside | 2021 State LA (RIverside) came into the Statement Session known as a gunners from deep. Add Avontez Ledet Avontez Ledet 6'3" | CG Cecilia | 2021 State LA (Cecilia), Taj Gilyot Taj Gilyot 6'3" | SG McMain | 2021 State LA (McMain), Alex Hammond Alex Hammond 6'3" | CG McMain | 2022 State LA (McMain), Lance Waddles Lance Waddles 6'3" | CG Victory Rock Prep | 2022 State LA (Evangel), and Carter Domingue Carter Domingue 6'3" | PG St. Thomas More | 2021 State LA (St. Thomas More) to those two and you have a gang of bombers on each team. All of these players displayed the ability to stretch the floor whether off the dribble or in catch and shoot situations. When you think of shooters, these players should be at the top of the list.
#8 Defense is the name of the game
While their offensive games are constantly improving, Joe Manning (Bossier) and Reginald Stoner Reginald Stoner 6'1" | CG North Central | 2022 State LA (North Central) are two of the better defenders we have in the state. Manning makes it diffcult to drive against him or get a shot off over him. He attempts to take away all offensive options when defending someone. While Manning gives guards a headache, Stoner makes people flat out sick. He shut down Kansas commit Noah Shelby earlier this summer and gave everyone on Sunday the blues. Stoner stole the rock by shooting through passing lanes and straight up robbing the ball from players. He backed up his performance against Shelby tenfold. When a school needs a perimeter defender who can turn defense into offense, these two should be on a short list.
The Statement Session was a much needed breath of fresh air on the prep hoops scene. Mal Mundy and company put on a first class event during this time of Covid. Two and four year schools should have these players on their radar as recruiting begins to pick up this fall.