Scouting Report: Rayville Hornets
I treated myself to watching Rayville basketball on back-to-back nights, both games on the road – 73-35 over Bastrop and 77-65 over Wossman – and came away mighty impressed with the 2016-17 Hornets. In a way, it’s business as usual…
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Continue ReadingI treated myself to watching Rayville basketball on back-to-back nights, both games on the road – 73-35 over Bastrop and 77-65 over Wossman – and came away mighty impressed with the 2016-17 Hornets.
In a way, it’s business as usual for Rayville under coach Damon West: its freeflowing, seemingly positionless offense still operates at a preposterously fast pace and the fullcourt man defense is here to stay, too. The only thing that’s changed is a few of the players replacing last season’s seniors.
So, with those things in mind – everyone on this roster can run well, make all kinds of passes and operate beautifully in transition – here’s what I saw in those two games.
- Point guard Malik Wilson has to be one of the best Class of 2019 prospects in the state. He has mastery level of a bevy of skills next-level programs value in point guards: ballhandling under pressure, creativity in passing, willingness to defend, comfort in fast-paced systems and a nice outside shot. On top of all that, he has in not afraid to use his length in the lane on both sides of the floor, altering shots defensively while crashing the offensive boards at times. Finally, this boy can jump through the roof: I watched him dunk twice against Wossman with the ease that I could dunk on a 7-foot rim.
- I’m convinced Jamarkus Wilson can do everything on a basketball floor. He’s often thrown into some varied situations in Rayville’s positionless approach and he flourishes in all of them: he does just as well as a rim protector as does in a coast-to-coast dribble drive. (I’m citing examples I saw firsthand in the Wossman game there.)
- Alongside all of these versatile threats is a straight-up shooter: Nashaun Ellis. Especially in the catch-and-shoot 3-point game, Ellis can bury teams single handedly if he ever gets hot. Guys like him on the perimeter keep opponents from stuffing the lane at all costs, leaving enough space for everyone to work and for Rayville to put scores up in the 80s and 90s regularly.
- Rayville may lack a big 6’6” or taller traditional post threat, but they do have muscle in Sadeq Wilson and Hennessey Thomas: neither of them are taller than 6’3”, but both have bulky frames that can stand up to any back-to-the-basket scorers. Both of them can run and defend fullcourt, so the Hornets lose none of that fluidity while adding some muscle in the paint.
Final takeaway: I’m still skeptical that anyone in 2A can challenge Madison Prep for the state championship, but after seeing this Rayville team, I think this is one of the best shots 2A has to offer. If the Hornets get in a game like that, cut down on turnovers and start draining 3’s, they have the ceiling potential for a state championship.
That being said, turnovers and a dry offensive spell let Wossman right back into the game in the third quarter last night, so the floor for this team could be bounced in the quarterfinals again. Let’s take a heat check on this team in February (assuming it stays healthy, knock on wood) and reevaluate its title hopes then.