These Preps are Going to be Pretty Good!! (Class of ’24 & ’25 Standouts)
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Looking at the class of 2024 and 2025, there were certain players that stood out amongst the 150 participants at the Mal Mundy Frosh/Soph Academy. While we already know underclassmen like Trey’Dez Green Trey’Dez Green 6'8" | PF Zachary |…
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Continue ReadingLooking at the class of 2024 and 2025, there were certain players that stood out amongst the 150 participants at the Mal Mundy Frosh/Soph Academy. While we already know underclassmen like Trey’Dez Green Trey’Dez Green 6'8" | PF Zachary | 2024 State #54 Nation LA , Jordan Moore Jordan Moore 6'4" | CG Hahnville | 2024 State LA , and Jeremiah Evans Jeremiah Evans 6'10" | C Southwood | 2024 State #249 Nation LA , there is another group of players that I feel will join them in elite status. Instead of calling them standouts as usual, I am going to basically say it like a fan would. In this article, I will touch on a few preps who are going to be pretty good during this coming season.
Taj Jackson (6’1″ / Liberty / ’24)
Jackson was one of the more atheltic guards in attendance at the Frosh/Soph Academy. He had a couple of steals that led into breakaway situations where he showed hops that will have him finishing above the rim routinely. Jackson can get to the rim easily on straight line drives. He can also pull up for short jumpers right outside of the paint. He has the potential to be a “3 and D” type player who can take over games with either his defense or offense. Jackson has a high level of potential.
Noah Brookter Noah Brookter 6'2" | CG Soutide | 2024 State LA (6’2″ / Southside / ’24)
Brookter showed a ton of explosiveness when attacking the rim during the day in Baton Rouge. Displaying and ultra quick first step, his attacks to the rim were met with little resistance from defenders. On the defensive end, Brookter tag teamed with other guards to create turnovers via trapping in the halfcourt. This type of defense truly put his athletic ability on display. Brookter put players on notice that he was going to be one of the better players in the class of 2024.
Javon Johnson Javon Johnson 6'1" | CG Bossier | 2024 State LA (6’0″ / Bossier / ’24)
Johnson is next great Bossier guard and has been showing it since January of last season. At the Academy event, he paired with Noah Brookter Noah Brookter 6'2" | CG Soutide | 2024 State LA and other guards to trap opposing guards and garner extra possessions. His reactions were quick and allowed him to deflect or steal several passes. I got a chance to see his increased athleticism by way of his dunk attempts during breaktime. Johnson can spot up, drive, and defend. He has a high IQ as well. He is definitely one of the guards who are going to be really good this season.
Xavier Ferguson (6’0″ / Zachary / ’25)
Ferguson played like a varsity veteran during his time at the Team Sportsplex. He has a smooth and controlled handle that allows him to get to his spots on the floor. Ferguson prefers to drive right but can use his left to get where he is going as well. During the day, he finished with both hands and got to the rim almost at will. The way uses the dribble to gets to his spots is high IQ stuff. Zachary may be loaded but I can see this freshman getting some varsity run.
Tommy Hilliard (5’7″ / Fredrick Douglass / ’25)
For his size, Hilliard has plenty of athleticism. He has some springs mixed with a touch of hangtime and put it on display every time he went to the rim. Hilliard had a beautiful up and under reverse layup where he avoided the contact raising up on one side of the lane and finishing on the other. He also had an And-1 layup where he elevated, took the contact, and made the layup. Hilliard also has a burst of speed with the ball in his hands that gives him an edge in the open floor. He plays very well and will be one to watch this season.
Keith Jones Keith Jones 6'4" | SG Edna Karr | 2024 State LA (6’3″ / Edna Karr / ’24)
Jones is a sophomore that played like a man possessed at times at the Frosh/Soph Academy. He was very active on the boards and seemed to constantly come up with a putback time and time again. Jones ran the floor well also and was high enough at the rim to finish above it. He should be a helpful and active part of the Edna Karr lineup. For me, the attributes he has shown tells me he is going to be a very good player this season.
Wayne Randall-Bashay Wayne Randall-Bashay 6'4" | SF New Iberia | 2024 State LA (6’4″ / New Iberia / ’24)
During June and July, Randal-Bashay was a workhorse for New Iberia and LivOn. His work on the boards, playing defense, and facilitating offense was the same work he put in at the academy event. Randal-Bashay had several sequences where he grabbed the rebound, pushed the ball up the floor, and made the proper pass. He is a point forward on the high school level and is only getting better. Randal-Bashay may be one of the best players in class 5A this season.
Krystian Lewis Krystian Lewis 6'3" | CG Wossman | 2024 State LA (6’0″ / Wossman / ’24)
Wossman is usually lean heavily on their veterans in the program. This season, they have a group that attended the Frosh/Soph academy that could help them in during the season. Krystian Lewis Krystian Lewis 6'3" | CG Wossman | 2024 State LA is a good rebounding guard who can rebound on both ends of the floor. He can also defend man-to-man all over the floor. He has quick and hands and can change ends of the floor with high speed. Guards who can rebound and defend are coveted on this level and Lewis looks like he will be one of those type players.
Others who should be really good this season….
Amir Chaney (5’11″ / Springfield / ’24) – Chaney can shoot it from deep and make the right plays in the halfcourt as a point guard. He has bigtime talent
Stephen McCullen (5’9″ / Hattiesburg / ’24) – A point guard that can make himself small to get through tough spaces or drive past you with his quickness. Not the tallest guard but plays big.
Rondae Hill Rondae Hill 6'0" | PG Calvary Baptist | 2024 State LA (5’10″ / Calvary Baptist / ’24) – The point guard is a tough position to play. Hill seems to “have it on lock” so to speak.
These players, along with the likes of Jordan Comanche Jordan Comanche 6'6" | CG Wossman | 2024 State LA , are players who will be placed in the right circumstances to play well. Some of these players have a very bright future ahead of them. They have the potential to be very good this coming season.