<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Medal of Freedom- Greenest light on offense</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>Jalen Cook 6’0 G 2020 Walker & Louisiana Elite</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We should start these awards off with what this July 4th is all about, and that is freedom. And I think that Jalen Cook plays with the most freedom in the state, all of which is well deserved and well earned. You earn freedom on the offensive end by putting in countless hours in practice, and I’m not sure anyone has put in more hours than Jalen Cook has. As a result, he has the green light to shoot from pretty much anywhere on the court, and makes them a lot more than he misses. </span></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Firework Award- Most Explosive</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>Jamond Vincent 6’2 G 2021 Landry/Walker & New Orleans Elite</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The “Firework Award” goes to the most explosive player in the state, and in Louisiana, that is always going to be a competitive and highly debatable topic. However, I think that Vincent has earned this award with his fearlessness when it comes to attacking the rim. It doesn’t matter if the defender is 4’10 or 6’10, he is trying to throw one down on the defenders head. </span></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Thunderous Dunker</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>Thomas Howell 6’7 F 2020 St. Mary’s & Louisiana Elite</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Now you might think that most explosive and thunderous dunker would be the same award, but in my mind they’re not. The way I think about it is this: When Vince Carter dunked in his prime, it was explosive. But when Shaq threw one down, it was thunderous. And I think that’s the way that Howell throws them down. He can hammer one down in the post and off of offensive rebounds, and there isn’t anyone in the state that is capable of stopping him. </span></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Spash in the pool- wettest jumpshot</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>Emareyon McDonald 6’1 G 2021 Red River & LivOn/Fleur De Lis</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Now how this award works should be pretty obvious, and in my mind it goes to McDonald, although you could make the case for Cook winning this award, as well as a few others. However, what separates McDonald in my mind is his ability to get his shot off quick and from deep. There aren’t many in the state that have the courage to take shots from as deep as he does, and anytime he takes a shot, I am always shocked when it doesn’t go down. </span></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Bar-B-Quein’ the competition- best one on one scorer</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>Byron Joshua 5’9 G 2020 Crescent City & New Orleans Elite</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Now there are a ton of different people that could have been considered for this award, but when Joshua is really cookin’, there is little the defense can do to stop him. He is as quick a player with the ball in his hands as you will find, and zooms up and down the court past defenders. He has worked hard to develop the ability to score the ball on all 3 levels, and can now do so at an efficient level. Despite his size, he is ferocious when attacking the rim, and finishes extremely well around there. And when he sees a couple go in, it is going to be a really long night for the defense, as he heats up quick. </span></p>
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