Louisiana 5A Preseason POY Candidates
Javonte Smart 6’4 G 2018 Scotlandville
Surprise, surprise, for the third year straight, Javonte Smart is the odds on favorite to win not only the 5A player of the year, but the overall player of the year. He is coming off a junior season of 25 ppg, 8.6 rpg, and 6.4 apg, all on the way to leading Scotlandville to a state title. Those accomplishments are going to be tough to overcome, but if anyone can do it, my money is on Javonte. I wouldn’t be surprised if his points per game went down a bit, and his assists rise, as Reese Beekman grows his role and becomes more of a scorer this season.
TJ Collins 6’3 G 2018 Bonnabel
Collins and his Bonnabel Bruins finished a game shy of their ultimate goal last season, going down to Landry-Walker in the state finale last season. However, with the departure of one of the best bigs of 2017 in Joe Thompson to the University of South Alabama, TJ is going to have to continue to step up this season. He is going to be getting help with the transfer of Rodney Munson from De La Salle, as well as shooter Roderick Hackett, and dark horse top 2021 big 6’6 Will Allen, but the bulk of the team success is going to fall squarely on Collin’s shoulders. If he is able to lead his team back to the big dance, he has a shot at dethroning Smart.
Tyrece Radford 6’2 G 2018 McKinley
Radford is another guard that was nearly able to drag his team to a state title, but fell in the semi-finals to Smart and Scotlandville. Radford spent a lot of last season on the shelf with an ankle injury, and in the final game it showed as he looked gassed down the stretch, but for the first 3 quarters, he was the best player on the court going up against Javonte Smart. If he can continue that trend all year, he will be walking away with
Devaughn Thomas 6’7 F 2018 Comeaux
Thomas was instrumental in Comeaux’s success last season, despite being held out a portion of last season with a leg injury. He is going to have some talented help on a senior laden team, but will still be relied on night after night as an extremely versatile threat. There isn’t much that he isn’t able to do on the court, especially with his unique combination of size, length, and skill.
Parker Edwards 6’3 G 2018 St. Paul’s
For yet another season, St. Paul’s is going to be right in the thick of things when it comes to contending for a state title, and again they are going to be lead by Parker Edwards. Edwards is a combo guard that can play both on and off the ball. On ball, he is a great decision maker, and an underrated ball handler when getting into the paint. Off the ball, he is as deadly from deep as they come. He is going to be helped by fellow seniors Chandler Owenby and Devonte Allen, and St. Paul’s is going to have size that few can match.
Brian White 5’10 G 2018 Natchitoches Central
Whiteis going to be interesting prospect to keep an eye on this season, as this is going to be the first time he goes out without the help of Brandon Rachal, who is now playing at LSU. White is a strong lead guard, and does a great job of scoring and distributing. He is a bulldog out on the court, and has all the natural capabilities to be an absolute hound on the defensive end. If he is able to keep up the expectations that NCHS has had over the past four years, he is definitely going to be in the discussion for player of the year.