Post-Thanksgiving Report Next Wave Part 1
Festgivings is a great time of the year to relax, catch up with relatives and watch some quality basketball. This year featured an outstanding crop of Louisiana basketball talent. I know as players and even fans you sometimes get tired…
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Continue ReadingFestgivings is a great time of the year to relax, catch up with relatives and watch some quality basketball. This year featured an outstanding crop of Louisiana basketball talent. I know as players and even fans you sometimes get tired of hearing the same old names. You desperately want to know who’s next. In this article, I have listed and evaluated some of the guys looking to take Louisiana by storm this season and seasons to come. Below are players who are barely wet behind the ears in terms of the high school game, but are ready to place their stamp on it.
Josh Washington 2023 6’5” F Jesuit
Washington is a tough inside-out presence who can also put the ball on the floor and shoot the trey. Can be a tough cover once he develops a mean streak. Also, a two-sport athlete(baseball). Sat out last year due to injury. Will put Jesuit in the district conversation.
Tyler Ringold 2023 6’7” F Southern Lab
The versatile forward was a big part of Lab’s season last year as a frosh. This year he’s looking to take it up a notch challenging Crescent City the champ. Ringold showed toughness rebounding and even hit a 3-pt. shot in the win against the champ. He also went to the free-throw line shooting 71%. He only begun to scratch the surface.
Devion Lavergne 6’3” 2023 North Central
Sometimes you can look at a kid and say that’s a ballplayer. He not only passes the eye test. But he was the second-highest scorer on his team against McMain in Festgivings. If North Central is to stay on the top of the mountain they will need him to grow up and do more in terms of defense and rebounding. Things that say I’m tough.
Hubert Caliste Jr. 6’6” 2024 St. Augustine
Caliste AKA “Biggie” may be the difference between Aug having a decent and a good season. The playmaker who was a rec and AAU terror is now trying to figure out a growth spurt, new position, new system, and new coach. With all that being said he’s a bucket getter. With Opelousas exposing Aug’s inability to score in the half-court, the Purple Knights are in desperate need of a consistent outside scorer. Yes, like most young AAU stars Caliste needs maturity and some spark plugs in his motor, but when everything comes together the Purple Knights will be in good hands.
Zion McCoy 6’1” 2023 Northside
Luckily for Northside McCoy did not miss the bus going to Festgiving. He was the steadiest of the Viking finishing with 16 points and 5 rebounds against Landry, connecting on 3 triples. Nonetheless, a little too friendly with the opposition having 7 turnovers. Having a nice frame McCoy is able to attack strong against contact. Looking forward to McCoy being a leader with this group.
Dereck Burditt Jr. 6’2” 2023 Crescent City
Mr. Happy Feet, Burditt is constantly moving looking to make something happen on offense. More of a jump shooter right now, as he fills out and tighten his handle, he will cause defenses problems. It’s a long season but as the youngster learns more the game will slow down and he will be a solid double-digit scorer.