The Tuesday Ten to Watch (at Airline and Bossier)
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Bossier City is hosting a full day of hoops action on the campuses of Airline and Bossier. Schools from East Texas (Longview) to Central Louisiana (ASH) will hit the hardwood in an effort to get better as they compete head-to-head…
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Continue ReadingBossier City is hosting a full day of hoops action on the campuses of Airline and Bossier. Schools from East Texas (Longview) to Central Louisiana (ASH) will hit the hardwood in an effort to get better as they compete head-to-head with one another. During this day of team camp and summer league play in Bossier City, here are ten players to watch as the day evolves.
Bryson Broom Bryson Broom 6'0" | CG Airline | 2024 State LA / PG / 5’10″ / 2024 / Airline
The host school will face two schools with very contrasting styles in Mansfield and Lakeview. They will depend on Broom to set the tone offensively and defensively in each game. Broom is a tough defender who does not mind picking the ball up early. On offense, he scores best from the corner three areas and drives to the bucket. One school will test his fitness while the other will test his patience. If he can navigate both, it will show a definite sign of his growth as his sophomore season approaches. (Airline TC: Lakeview @ 2 & Mansfield @ 5)
Ashton Bobb / PG / 5’9″ / 2024 / ASH
Johnson has basically been getting baptized by fire with the schedule Coach Brasher has developed for May and June. Tuesday should be no different as the Trojans play top 3A and 4A schools Bossier and Woodlawn. He will get pressured by smaller guards and how he handles the pressure may determine how the Trojans day goes. If Bobb plays off the ball more, he is very capable of burying shots from behind the arc. Whatever happens at Bossier, he will be battle tested by the end of the day. (Bossier SL: Bossier @ 2 & Woodlawn @ 3:20)
Tahj Roots Tahj Roots 5'11" | PG Bossier | 2023 State LA / PG / 5’10″ / 2023 / Bossier
If your name is Roots and you play for Bossier, playing defense is a necessity. Young Taj is defender who hounds guards all over the floor. His hands are quick and he is very good at stripping the ball from whomever he is guarding. Roots has not been shy about shooting the ball this summer either. We know he is going to bring his A-game defensively. If he on offensively as well, that just adds to the Bossier arsenal. (Bossier SL: ASH @ 2; Benton @ 2:40; Huntington @ 6)
Marquarius Johnson Marquarius Johnson 6'1" | CG Southwood | 2022 State LA / CG / 6’1″ / 2022 / Woodlawn
One of the best scorers in the NWLA has switched jerseys going into his senior year. No longer does Johnson wear the orange and blue of Southwood. He now dons the red and blue of Woodlawn. Johnson can be a ball dominated guard and loves to pound the ball on the deck. He can get wherever he likes on the floor but is prone to turn it over. Johnson is also very streaky from outside and if he is on, it is usually a long day for the enemy. The ASH defense will test his abilities to make plays for others. If that happens, Woodlawn should have a good day. (Bossier SL: ASH @ 3:20 & Parkway @ 4:40)
Devin Myers Devin Myers 5'10" | SG Levenworth | 2022 KS / CG / 6’4″ / 2023 / Huntington
Myers is one of the most atheltically gifted players in the area. He is great at defending the perimeter and has perfected the chase down block in transition. On the offensive end, Devin has displayed that he can make plays with the ball in his hands even at crunchtime. Now, with Rayshun McCullar Rayshun McCullar 6'1" | PG Huntington | 2022 State LA absent right now, Myers is adding point guard duties to his resume. He spent time at the point during the Southwood team camp with mixed results. Facing a tough Longview team and an always stout Bossier squad should help the maturation process however. (Bossier SL: Longview @ 5:20 & Bossier @ 6)
Kyron Reed Kyron Reed 6'1" | CG Captain Shreve | 2022 State LA / CG / 6’1″ / 2022 / Captain Shreve
Reed has the ability to be a knockdown shooter when he is playing off the ball on one of the wings. He is also a tough defender and gives guards fits at times. During team camp play, he has been the primary ballhandler as well for the Gators. With new responsibilities, he does not get a chance to shoot as much. He will face stern tests that will challenge his decision-making and his ability to get his team into their offense. If he manages that task, Shreve might have a point guard in the making. (Airline TC: Mansfield @ 3; BTW-S’port @ 4; Lakeview @ 6)
Javonte Howard Javonte Howard 5'8" | PG Lakeview | 2022 State LA / PG / 5’8″ / 2022 / Lakeview
The fastest guard from end-to-end in the northwest area of the state. Howard puts pressure on defenses in transition with his ability to push. He will either attack the rack or pass to trailing shooters. Howard is also a threat from three so defenses have to account for him on the floor. Last season he had to score, pass, shoot, and rebound at a high clip which helped Lakeview make Marsh Madness. With a year of maturity by his teamamtes, I expect Howard to be more of a facilitator. We will get a glimpse at Airline. (Airline TC: BTW @ 1; Airline @ 2; Captain Shreve @ 6)
Nick Bailey Nick Bailey 6'5" | SF Mansfield | 2023 State LA / CG / 6’3″ / 2022 / Mansfield
Bailey is one of the more athletic players that will play at the Airline team camp. He can vary his attack by posting defenders or taking players off the dribble. Bailey is also a good person to run pick and roll with because he sets solid screens and can roll to the rim quickly. Bailey will also be the primary scorer which will be a new role for him. He will get plenty of practice against solid defensive teams like Captain Shreve and Booker T. Washington (S’port). If he can get his way offensively against these solid clubs, he may be a 3A star in the making. (Airline TC: BTW @ 1; Captain Shreve @ 3; Airline @ 5)
Calvin Collins Calvin Collins 6'4" | SF BTW (Shreveport) | 2022 State LA / SF / 6’4″ / 2022 / BTW-Shreveport
Collins was the primary inside force last season for the Lions and has been in games this month as well. While he still mans the middle, this summer he has been expanding his shooting beyond the arc. He has a great face up game already and is almost automatic from the baseline with his jumper. Collins expansion into a three level scorer will be seriously tested playing four games between Airline and Bossier. The better he plays, the better the Lions chances of being successful in all four. (Airline TC: Mansfield @ noon; Lakeview @ 1; Captain Shreve @ 4; Longview @ 6:40 – Bossier SL)
Greg Manning Greg Manning 5'6" | PG Benton | 2024 State LA / PG / 5’8″ / 2024 / Benton
The Benton sophomore was one of the defensive stoppers for the Tigers last season as they made the playoffs. Now, Manning steps into the forefront as the primary distributor, ballhandler, and scorer for a new look Tiger team. He is a wizard with the handle and can get into crevices most guards cannot get through. He also has a knack for putting the ball on the glass and getting to the charity stripe. Manning has broad shoulders and he will be tested all summer by the better guards in the area. He should be okay though. (Bossier SL: Bossier @ 2:40 & Parkway @ 4)
Taking on additional basketball court duties will only make players better in the future. The players above are some of the better ones in NW Louisiana. Longview stud wide receiver/small forward Jalen Hale may lace them up as well which would make Tuesday chalk full of super talented players. Look for these players to showcase their skills later in the week as the Bossier summer league continues and at the ETBU team camp Saturday and Sunday.