City/Parish Rankings: Bossier City/Bossier Parish Top 10 Right Now

Bossier City and Bossier Parish have had an abundance of talent pass through the hallways of their various schools. The parish has had an especially rich history of turning out guards and wings during this time period. From Division I players like Terrence Simmons (Haughton/Minnesota) and Josh Hagins (Airline/Arkansas-Little Rock) to 2020 All-City MVP [player_tooltip player_id="687699" first="Cody" last="Deen"], perimeter players have ruled the roost in Bossier. That being said, we will review the ten best players from 2021 and beyond that Bossier City/Bossier Parish has right now in this city rankings edition. #1 G [player_tooltip player_id="765920" first="Darrien" last="Perry"] (2021/6’0") Plain Dealing The best guard in Bossier Parish actually does not reside in Bossier City. Perry is a point guard who plays as a combo guard every game. He controls most games with his scoring but he can drop dimes with the best guards in the state. If he was playing at Airline or Bossier, he would be routinely be mentioned as one of the top guards. Look for him to have a stellar senior campaign. #2 W [player_tooltip player_id="932846" first="Joseph" last="Manning"] (2022/6’3") Bossier (pictured) <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2019/08/Joseph-Manning-31.jpg"></a> Manning may not handle the ball as much as anyone else on this list, but no one is more importantat to their team. He is one of those players who handles pretty much everything on the court. Manning can defend four positions and rebound like a taller forward. Offensively, he uses his jumper at every level and is very good at slashing to the basket. His versatility is unmatched in the parish and will help him be a top performer next season. #3 G [player_tooltip player_id="970107" first="Lakavin" last="Thomas"] (2023/6’0") Bossier Some freshmen have a hard time finding playing time on a top high school team. [player_tooltip player_id="970107" first="Lakavin" last="Thomas"] was not one of those freshman. Thomas started out getting spot minutes early in the season and proved capable of handling his own when playing big minutes was necessary later. Thomas is an athletic slasher who has an improving jumper. If he handles Bearkat point guard duties well, he may be one of the best players in the state by season’s end. #4 G [player_tooltip player_id="931055" first="Bryce" last="Roberts"] (2021/6’0") Parkway Roberts is a guard who just gets things done. He plays as hard as he can on the defensive end and is improving there. On offense, he gives his team whatever they need. Whether it is draining three pointers or shooting his familiar floater in the lane, Roberts makes the Panthers a viable threat when he scores in huge numbers. Watch out for him having a big scoring season as Parkway tries to build on the success they had last season. #5 G [player_tooltip player_id="931047" first="Devin" last="Bilbo"] (2021/6’2") Airline Bilbo is probably the best two way player Bossier Parish has. He is a fierce competitor on the defensive end and always takes the challenge of guarding the lead scorer. Bilbo has been known to use his length to block shots and force steals as well. With a new coach coming in, Bilbo will probably be the focal point in a new offense as well. If he shows he can consistently score to go with his defensive prowess, Bilbo may make big strides next season. #6 F [player_tooltip player_id="765917" first="Shammah" last="Bryant"] (2021/6’5") Bossier Bryant is a freakish athlete. When I saw him last summer, I thought to myself that there was no way that he was gonna be on the bench for Bossier when the season started. While he did not start, he was key in helping Bossier win the 3A title. Bryant will play a lot of post on defense but is more suited for the wing game. He will continue to be a nightmare in transition. If he consistently makes a 15 footer to go with his athleticism, the sky is the limit. #7 G [player_tooltip player_id="931051" first="Brodie" last="Romero"] (2021/6’0") Benton Romero was one of the most improved players in 1-5A and a member of the Bossier all-parish team. While he has always been a pass first type of point guard in high school, his offensive game really took off last year. Romero really became a consistent three point shooter and improved his ability to drive to the cup. He has a fearless and competitive spirit which shows on both ends of the floor. Look for him to be the leader for the Tigers next season. #8 G [player_tooltip player_id="931059" first="Gabe" last="Larry"] (2021/6’1") Parkway Quarterbacks are usually some of the best athletes on a campus. For the Parkway Panther basketball team, [player_tooltip player_id="931059" first="Gabe" last="Larry"] proved that to be true. Larry helped the Panthers to the playoffs with his athleticism and timely outside shooting. He was also a good perimeter defender in the halfcourt. It seemed like he shot best in big games for the Panthers. Larry will be part of a 1-2 punch with [player_tooltip player_id="931055" first="Bryce" last="Roberts"] as Parkway looks to repeat last year’s success. #9 G [player_tooltip player_id="931052" first="Dylan" last="Slaid"] (2021/5’7") Benton This little lefty might be slight in stature but he is a gifted offensive player. Slaid has the ability to attack off the bounce, bury outside jumpers, and will penetrate and kick. He and Romero play well off one another and actually are keys to one another’s success. Slaid had some games where he had turnover issues. Make no mistake, he can score it will the best of them. If his defense improves, watch out for he and Romero in the backcourt. #10 W [player_tooltip player_id="931053" first="Ryan" last="Ward"] (2021/6’4") Benton Ward is a Benton Tiger wing who can shoot and rebound very well. Whatever Coach Martinez asks of him, he gives. Last season he found himself at the three point arc often making jumpers. He has the ability to track rebounds well also. For he and his teammates to take the step of making it to the playoffs, Ward will have to make a big difference on the boards as well as in scoring. If he does, Benton can have a special year. Bossier, being that it is a smaller parish, does not have the volume of schools say a Shreveport or Baton Rouge has. What they have are quality programs that make noise year in and year out within the basketball ranks. Look at Bossier Parish schools to once again be players in who wins district titles and championships within the state. These players highlighted will be definitely be in the mix.

Bossier City and Bossier Parish have had an abundance of talent pass through the hallways of their various schools. The parish has had an especially rich history of turning out guards and wings during this time period. From Division I players like Terrence Simmons (Haughton/Minnesota) and Josh Hagins (Airline/Arkansas-Little Rock) to 2020 All-City MVP Cody Deen Cody Deen 5'9" | PG Bossier | 2020 State LA , perimeter players have ruled the roost in Bossier. That being said, we will review the ten best players from 2021 and beyond that Bossier City/Bossier Parish has right now in this city rankings edition.

#1 G Darrien Perry Darrien Perry 6'1" | PG Plain Dealing | 2021 State LA (2021/6’0") Plain Dealing

The best guard in Bossier Parish actually does not reside in Bossier City. Perry is a point guard who plays as a combo guard every game. He controls most games with his scoring but he can drop dimes with the best guards in the state. If he was playing at Airline or Bossier, he would be routinely be mentioned as one of the top guards. Look for him to have a stellar senior campaign.

#2 W Joseph Manning Joseph Manning 6'3" | CG Bossier | 2022 State LA (2022/6’3") Bossier (pictured)

Manning may not handle the ball as much as anyone else on this list, but no one is more importantat to their team. He is one of those players who handles pretty much everything on the court. Manning can defend four positions and rebound like a taller forward. Offensively, he uses his jumper at every level and is very good at slashing to the basket. His versatility is unmatched in the parish and will help him be a top performer next season.

#3 G Lakavin Thomas Lakavin Thomas 6'0" | CG Bossier | 2023 State LA (2023/6’0") Bossier

Some freshmen have a hard time finding playing time on a top high school team. Lakavin Thomas Lakavin Thomas 6'0" | CG Bossier | 2023 State LA was not one of those freshman. Thomas started out getting spot minutes early in the season and proved capable of handling his own when playing big minutes was necessary later. Thomas is an athletic slasher who has an improving jumper. If he handles Bearkat point guard duties well, he may be one of the best players in the state by season’s end.

#4 G Bryce Roberts Bryce Roberts 6'1" | CG Parkway | 2021 State LA (2021/6’0") Parkway

Roberts is a guard who just gets things done. He plays as hard as he can on the defensive end and is improving there. On offense, he gives his team whatever they need. Whether it is draining three pointers or shooting his familiar floater in the lane, Roberts makes the Panthers a viable threat when he scores in huge numbers. Watch out for him having a big scoring season as Parkway tries to build on the success they had last season.

#5 G Devin Bilbo Devin Bilbo 6'4" | SG Airline | 2021 State LA (2021/6’2") Airline

Bilbo is probably the best two way player Bossier Parish has. He is a fierce competitor on the defensive end and always takes the challenge of guarding the lead scorer. Bilbo has been known to use his length to block shots and force steals as well. With a new coach coming in, Bilbo will probably be the focal point in a new offense as well. If he shows he can consistently score to go with his defensive prowess, Bilbo may make big strides next season.

#6 F Shammah Bryant Shammah Bryant 6'5" | SF Bossier | 2021 State LA (2021/6’5") Bossier

Bryant is a freakish athlete. When I saw him last summer, I thought to myself that there was no way that he was gonna be on the bench for Bossier when the season started. While he did not start, he was key in helping Bossier win the 3A title. Bryant will play a lot of post on defense but is more suited for the wing game. He will continue to be a nightmare in transition. If he consistently makes a 15 footer to go with his athleticism, the sky is the limit.

#7 G Brodie Romero Brodie Romero 6'0" | PG Benton | 2021 State LA (2021/6’0") Benton

Romero was one of the most improved players in 1-5A and a member of the Bossier all-parish team. While he has always been a pass first type of point guard in high school, his offensive game really took off last year. Romero really became a consistent three point shooter and improved his ability to drive to the cup. He has a fearless and competitive spirit which shows on both ends of the floor. Look for him to be the leader for the Tigers next season.

#8 G Gabe Larry Gabe Larry 6'1" | CG Parkway | 2021 State TX (2021/6’1") Parkway

Quarterbacks are usually some of the best athletes on a campus. For the Parkway Panther basketball team, Gabe Larry Gabe Larry 6'1" | CG Parkway | 2021 State TX proved that to be true. Larry helped the Panthers to the playoffs with his athleticism and timely outside shooting. He was also a good perimeter defender in the halfcourt. It seemed like he shot best in big games for the Panthers. Larry will be part of a 1-2 punch with Bryce Roberts Bryce Roberts 6'1" | CG Parkway | 2021 State LA as Parkway looks to repeat last year’s success.

#9 G Dylan Slaid Dylan Slaid 5'8" | CG Benton | 2021 State LA (2021/5’7") Benton

This little lefty might be slight in stature but he is a gifted offensive player. Slaid has the ability to attack off the bounce, bury outside jumpers, and will penetrate and kick. He and Romero play well off one another and actually are keys to one another’s success. Slaid had some games where he had turnover issues. Make no mistake, he can score it will the best of them. If his defense improves, watch out for he and Romero in the backcourt.

#10 W Ryan Ward Ryan Ward 6'3" | SF Benton | 2021 State LA (2021/6’4") Benton

Ward is a Benton Tiger wing who can shoot and rebound very well. Whatever Coach Martinez asks of him, he gives. Last season he found himself at the three point arc often making jumpers. He has the ability to track rebounds well also. For he and his teammates to take the step of making it to the playoffs, Ward will have to make a big difference on the boards as well as in scoring. If he does, Benton can have a special year.

Bossier, being that it is a smaller parish, does not have the volume of schools say a Shreveport or Baton Rouge has. What they have are quality programs that make noise year in and year out within the basketball ranks. Look at Bossier Parish schools to once again be players in who wins district titles and championships within the state. These players highlighted will be definitely be in the mix.