Scouting Report: More Guards and Wings from North Louisiana
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As we close out week five of the Louisiana high school season, there have been, the action in north Louisiana has been hot and heavy. The number of guards and wings in the north make it hard to keep up…
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Continue ReadingAs we close out week five of the Louisiana high school season, there have been, the action in north Louisiana has been hot and heavy. The number of guards and wings in the north make it hard to keep up at times. However, here are another set that have impressed in this early portion of the season.
Evangel Eagles:
Jathen Ross Jathen Ross 6'3" | SG Evangel | 2021 State LA (6’3″ / 2021)
The last time I saw Ross was late in the travel season and he looked like a player who had not played competitively in over a calendar year. In the Eagles loss to Neville (at Carroll), he looked more like the player who had potential from Benton. He displayed three level scoring prowess during the game on the road to 16 points. He is quick on the drive and made a couple of athletic finishes to get the ball on the glass. For the Eagles to have any success in class 4A, Ross will have to be on his “A” game at all times.
Rayville Hornets:
Tony Percy (5’10″ / 2022)
Rayville is always known for their guard play in their fast-paced style. They have added another piece to the arsenal in Tony Percy. He is a lightning quick guard with a very good handle. Percy can blow by his defender with a quick first step or lull them to sleep with the dribble and then go by. He can get from the top of the key to the rim in a blur. What is most impressive is his man-to-man defense. In their win against Calvary and their loss versus Wossman, Percy sized up the best guards and took the ball from them. He is a handful on both ends and someone to watch going forward.
LaBrandon Butler LaBrandon Butler 6'0" | PG Rayville | 2022 LA (6’0″ / 2022)
Butler is the Rayville guard that seems to steady everything. He never gets in a rush and is always making the right play. Playing against Wossman and Calvary, his biggest asset was in transition. Butler read passing lanes in both games and made teams pay for not taking care of the ball. On makes or misses by the opposition, he knows how to push the ball and not stop until the defense stops him. He scored double digits in both games doing those two things. Butler is important to the Hornets success and will be a key to them returning to Marsh Madness.
Airline Vikings:
Devin Bilbo Devin Bilbo 6'4" | SG Airline | 2021 State LA (6’3″ / 2021)
Airline has had a tough go of it against two Monroe teams (Carroll and West Monroe). The one constant has been Devin Bilbo Devin Bilbo 6'4" | SG Airline | 2021 State LA . Bilbo was the Vikings top rebounder and scorer in both of these losses. Even in the defeats, Bilbo displays his array of talent. He is very good in the mid-range and shoots it well from both elbows. Bilbo is good at tipping rebounds to himself to secure them as well. Add his willingness to face up and take guys off the dribble and Bilbo is a threat whenever he touches the ball.
Ouachita Lions:
James Ross James Ross 5'10" | PG Ouachita Parish | 2021 State LA (5’11″ / 2021)
Ross was big in the Lions 4th quarter surge in their loss to Richwood during the Belton/Williams Classic. Ross had six four quarter points (16 total) putting pressure on the Rams defense. He pushed the ball up the floor creating open court contact and getting to the foul line. Ross is excellent in the open court and it stems from his man-to-man defense creating a lot of his offense. While his outside shot was off this night, he is a guard who can stretch the floor as well. Look for Ross to be the Lions leader as the season goes on.
Richwood Rams:
Courtney McCarthy Courtney McCarthy 6'5" | SG Richwood | 2023 State LA (6’4″ / 2023)
McCarthy is an all-around player and showed it within the ten points he scored during the Richwood win over Ouachita. This player can handle in the open court like a small guard, rebound in the paint like he is a forward, and shoot from the perimeter. Late in the game, he had a possession where he wrapped it around his back, pushed it up the sideline, and finished with a layup on the other end. McCarthy is highly skilled and can place pressure on a defense in several ways. His skill set is one that will make the Rams hard to beat when they return to action after quarantine.
Neville Tigers:
McKennald Armstead (6’4″ / 2022)
Armstead plays the post postion for Neville only because of his height. When he is on the floor, he is more agile than a typical post may be. Armstead scored 21 points in the Tigers win over Evangel by scoring in the open court running the break, pounding the glass for put backs, and making his free throws when he was sent to the line. His athleticism and work on the boards helped create extra possessions for the Tigers against the Eagles. If he continues to do that during the rest of the season, Neville will surprise a few teams in 4A.
Patrick McCraney Patrick McCraney 6'2" | CG Neville | 2022 State LA (6’1″ / 2022)
McCraney possesses a flamethrower on his right arm. However, in the win against Evangel at Neville, McCraney did a good job scoring from the mid-range. He has expanded his game from his freshman year and he has learned how to get to his scoring spots. In this contest, he went a long stretch without scoring. However, he rebounded and played defense. Then, when his team needed him to help close the deal in the 4th, he did. His seven fourth quarter points were from him getting to the charity stripe and him scoring from 15 feet in. McCraney has turned himself into a threat from anywhere on the floor and that only helps Neville’s chances in class 4A.
Loyola College Prep:
Henry Googe (6’1″ / 2021)
Googe probably has the best foot work of any high school player I have seen this season. When he handles the ball, Googe is always on balance. He never lets the defense throw him off. He uses the triple threat position to his advantage and gets the defender off balance with a series of fakes. When he preps for his jumper, he is just as good. Googe sprints to spots and does his footwork early. His balance and form come straight out of a JJ Redick textbook. Googe scored seven in the loss but it is how he plays that makes him a threat at all times.
Nick Pavlick (6’2″ / 2021)
Pavlick is an energy guy who has to do some of everything for the Flyers on the interior. He has to defend the post and is outsized on most nights. In the contest against Calvary, he worked hard to rebound and defend against Labree Williams Labree Williams 6'6" | SF Calvary Baptist | 2023 #186 Nation FL . Pavlick creates extra possessions because he just out works guys for the rebound. His nine points against Calvary were a combination of all of the above. Pavlick is a player who creates extra opportunities for his team and gives them all he has on the floor.
Look for more action from across north Louisiana as week six begins on Monday.