2020 Rankings New Faces & High Risers

The latest edition of the 2020 rankings came out on Monday. There was plenty of movement up and down the rankings as a whole. Most of the movement was generated by players who were fresh to the rankings or who have seen their game improve during the season. As we delve into the newest 2020 rankings, we will take a look at the new faces and high risers in the Louisiana class of 2020. New Faces #33 <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/devonte-snow/">[player_tooltip player_id="927978" first="Devonte" last="Snow"]</a> (6'1"/Natchitoches Central) - Snow is a new face and a high riser rolled into one. He has been the best player in 1-5A thus far this season and has led the Chiefs to the #1 ranking in 5A. Snow is a combo guard who can score at all three levels and defend mutiple perimeter positions. The energy he plays with a both ends is infectious as well. For this Natchitoches team, Snow is the person they want taking the last shot or defending the other team's best player. He is as good as it gets on the floor at crunch time. #74 <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/darrell-washington/">[player_tooltip player_id="928001" first="Darrell" last="Washington"]</a> (6'8"/Lagrange) - Washington is a new face with an old school game. He is more of a traditional back to the basket player who can be a dominate inside force. Washington knows how to seal and post on either block which is a lost art. He is nimble enough to maneuver in the paint and score or get fouled. While most post are trying to float to the three point line, he knows where he works best. Look for Washington to be a handful for opposing teams as we get closer to playoff time. #81 <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/deandre-hypolite/">[player_tooltip player_id="927999" first="DeAndre" last="Hypolite"]</a> (6'4"/Breaux Bridge) - Hypolite was a key figure in the Breaux Bridge 4A title win last March. Ironically enough, he presented a match-up problem for the Bearkats during the game. The championship game was his coming out party but did not find his way into the rankings until now. Hypolite can handle the ball like a guard and can score anywhere from 17 feet in. Because he has an above average handle, Hypolite is able to make plays against players even if they have a size or speed advantage. His skill set makes him a hard guard for any team. #85 <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/herman-key/">[player_tooltip player_id="927982" first="Herman" last="Key"]</a> (5'10"/BTW-Shreveport) - The best point guard that no one knows about is <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/herman-key/">[player_tooltip player_id="927982" first="Herman" last="Key"]</a>. All he has done since becoming the Booker T. point guard his sophomore year is lead the Lions to the playoffs. He has been the team's leading scorer and assist leader 2 of those three years. This year, even with some scoring help added to the lineup, he is still the Lions best scoring option. If he played for one of the other more storied programs in the state, Key would not be a new face in the rankings. Key might have the last laugh, however, if he guides the Lions to a 4A state title. He is that good. High Risers #27 <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/charquez-owens/">[player_tooltip player_id="848217" first="Charquez" last="Owens"]</a> (6'3"/Ouachita) - One of the most athletic guards in Louisiana, Owens rise from the 40s to late 20s is no fluke. Whether it is his explosion to the rim or his lift on his jumper, Owens impresses when he is on the floor. He can score at all three levels and does it with great efficiency. He takes advantage of lanes given to him especially on straight line drives. Owens can overpower guards and is seemingly immune to contact when in the lane. He also never changes facial expressions whether down 10 or up 10. He just does not get rattled. #68 <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/decari-markray/">[player_tooltip player_id="848262" first="Decari" last="Markray"]</a> (6'4"/Doyline) - Markray has put himself into the discussion for class B outstanding player with his play this year. He has become a double-double machine night in and night out helping Doyline to the number one ranking in class B at one point. Markray was always a force on the boards. He has improved his ball handling and been more consistent with his outside shooting (especially from deep). As the season has worn on, Markray has remained consistent. His rise in the rankings has been a testament to the work he has put into his final season as a Doyline Panther. #29 <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jakemin-abney/">[player_tooltip player_id="530963" first="Jakemin" last="Abney"]</a> (6'3"/Simsboro) & #31 <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kalep-crane/">[player_tooltip player_id="848237" first="Kalep" last="Crane"]</a> (6'1"/Simsboro) - These two have been unstoppable all season and are the reason why other teams may not have a shot at the class B title. Abney, who rose from the mid-40s to #29, is the Swiss Army knife of the team. He rebounds, blocks shots, defends the post better than anyone I have seen at 6'3". Crane (from the 70s to 31) is the 6'1" scoring dynamo who lays it all on the line night in and night out on both ends. A Simsboro three-peat is within reach and it is because of these two. There subsequent rise in the ranks is a reflection of their work. Look for more analysis on the 2020 class and with the 2021 and 2022 rankings when they come out in the following weeks.