Louisiana Top 250: Top Forwards in Skill Sessions
The first Top 250 Expo of the summer for Prep Hoops recently came to a close and it was a great one. As you’ve already seen in videos being posted, there was plenty of big time plays being made and even more talent in the gym.
This will be the final part of a series detailing the top performing guards, wings, and forwards when it came to drills and a bit about their skill set. It didn’t take long for competitive juices to flow and the energy level in those drills were incredible.
2017
Brooks Murrell (6’5, Archbishop Hannan) Murrell looked best during the shooting and attacking off the dribble drills, prior to game time. When the games started, he grabbed more rebounds than I was expecting, averaging 8-9 per game. The most surprising part of his game was his ability and comfort with guarding smaller and quicker players.
Trenton Guidry (6’6, Hathaway) Guidry impressed a lot of the scouts and college coaches in the building. His stock is continuing to rise after an impressive summer, showing that he is capable of more than just working in the post. His natural position is a 3/4 tweener, that is capable of making smaller players pay in the post and taking slower bigs off the dribble.
Darius McCord (6’6, FTCA) This was my first time seeing the Faith Training F/C, and he really impressed me. McCord is really a jack of all trades. If you need him to lock down the paint, he is capable of doing that. If you need him to post up a smaller player, he can do that. If you need him to hit an open 3, he can do that. If you need him to rebound, and push the ball up the court and hit the open man for an assist, he can do that. Look for him to shoot up the 2017 rankings.
2018
Azahren Ernest (6’6, Southern Lab) Ernest is a long, big bodied defender that is capable of locking down the paint. While he is still rough around the edges on offense, when he is on defense, there is little an offensive player can do. His long arms affect every shot taken around the goal, and he rebounds at an incredibly high rate. Look for him to shoot up our 2018 rankings if his offense catches up.
TaMarcus Fair (6’6, White Castle) Fair was a highlight machine during games, providing rim-rocking dunks and massive blocks all day long. While he still has room to work on the offensive end, he showed the ability to take slower players off the dribble and still finish through contact.
Bailey Luckett (6’5, Catholic BR) Luckett is a big bodied defender, capable of posting up smaller players. He looked the most comfortable out on the paint, and showed deep range, extending well beyond the college 3-point line.
2019
Frank Robinson (6’5, Ellender) Robinson is definitely one of the most impressive big men in his class in Louisiana. Although, he doesn’t look like he is going into his sophomore year, with a frame that looks like he has been lifting for a while. Offensively, he is very comfortable around the rim, and showed an array of smooth posts moves during the individual workouts. When the games came around, he looked comfortable shooting a 10-15 footer, which is pretty unique for such a young player.
Charlie Russell (6’5, Sophie B. Wright) Russel definitely has the potential to be something special. He looked outstanding during the skill sessions, showing off the charts athleticism and polish, and looked even better once the games started. He was great in transition, showing off his dunking ability. You better box him out, or he will use his long arms do get offensive rebounds and make you pay. Had one of the most impressive plays of the day, hitting an ultra smooth step back three. Look for him in the top 20 of the 2019 class, with a ceiling of top 5 when things are all said and done.