Potential Breakout Guards & Forwards in Louisiana

With the 2020 class moving on to the next level, a new group of prep players will be looking to make a name for themselves. There are several players that will be stepping into new roles with their teams. We will take a look at seven players that have breakout potential in their new roles with their teams. Emar’yeon McDonald / 6’1" / Scotlandville / 2021 McDonald is a no-brainer to me for this list. He is a player coming into a new system that has not played in a year due to sanctions from his high school association. The flip side of him not playing for that year is that he has had a chance to adjust to Coach Sample and his coaching style. With that knowledge, and his ability to stretch the floor from distance, McDonald should have a senior season to remember. Embracing the Hornets defensive mentality will be key. If that is done, McDonald may have a potential all-state season. [player_tooltip player_id="566565" first="Zaheem" last="Jackson"] / 6’3" / Scotlandville / 2021 As the point guard, McDonald will need someone to pass the ball to. There will probably be no player looking more forward to receiving those passes than Jackson. Even with five senior studs in front of him, Jackson found the floor quite a bit last season. Now, he will have a chance to show his mettle as one of the core players for Coach Sample. Jackson can shoot the ball well from deep, make good decisions from penetration, and push after defensive boards. With his on-court skills, I look for him to have a very good season with the Hornets. [player_tooltip player_id="765917" first="Shammah" last="Bryant"] / 6’5" / Bossier / 2021 Bryant and his freakish athleticism have been caught on film in reference to dunks and blocks many times. Entering his senior season, he will now be asked to anchor the middle for a team defending a state championship. He performed admirably defending the middle on the Bearkats road to the title; however, this coming season will be different. Bryant will need to score the rock more and any expansion to his game will help. A consistent mid-range jumper and an abundance of trips to the free should blend well with his ability to finish at the rim. Those factors alone should help him have a breakout season. [player_tooltip player_id="765933" first="John" last="Mitchell"] / 6’4" / Captain Shreve / 2021 Mitchell has a game that mixes that old man at the park no one can stop with the agility of a linebacker. He can play fast or slow. Mitchell can back a defender down or blow by them. He has a soft touch around the basket and can shoot from the perimeter. His game is so versatile that he is one of the more difficult players to guard in north Louisiana. When he hits the hardwood next season, Mitchell will be the Gators best scoring option in the post for sure. Because he can do damage in various spots, he may average a double-double easily. If he has that type of season, the Gators will have a great one as well. [player_tooltip player_id="781856" first="Reginald" last="Stoner"] / 6’1" / North Central / 2022 Stoner has been a key figure in the Hurricanes back-to-back title runs. Even as the 3rd guy in their three headed monster, he has posted double-doubles in games during Marsh Madness. Now, with [player_tooltip player_id="687724" first="Nikembe" last="Johnson"] gone, Stoner will have to step up even more. He is already a superb defender owning some of the quickest hands I have seen. So, Stoner will get his share of transition buckets from his defense. How he handles being the go-to-guy when (Derrick) Tezeno is covered will be the story. If he shoots better from the perimeter and scores off of his defense, Stoner may be an all-state player in the making. [player_tooltip player_id="932860" first="Nick" last="Maryland"] / 6’1" / Simsboro / 2022 For the past two season, Maryland has played alongside two of the best guards in the state. [player_tooltip player_id="530963" first="Jakemin" last="Abney"] and [player_tooltip player_id="848237" first="Kalep" last="Crane"] helped personify Coach Brown’s up-tempo style to the tune of 2 state championships and 1 runner-up. Now that they are gone, it will be Maryland’s turn at continuing the trend. His game is a mixture of both Abney and Crane. He is a lefty who can driver to the cup or hit the mid-range (like Crane) and lock someone up defensively (like Abney). His shooting from deep will be the reason he goes from good to great. If he can do that, all-state first team will be attainable. He can be that good. De’mon White / 6’6" / Oak Grove / 2021 There are a lot of 6’6" guys that can play basketball. De’mon White at Oak Grove High is one of those players. With senior [player_tooltip player_id="848201" first="Taevon" last="Anderson"] moving on to college, it is time for White to step into the forefront. White is another freakish athlete who can dunk and block shots with the best of them. For him to become a potential breakout player, he will need to do those aforementioned things in dominate fashion. If White can develop a short jumper as well, that will only add to his effectiveness. One thing is for sure, if he dominates the paint on offense and defense, he will be recruited heavily. Other players that can have potential breakout seasons: [player_tooltip player_id="932848" first="Marquarius" last="Johnson"] (Southwood); [player_tooltip player_id="781845" first="Jalen" last="Knox"] (Port Allen); Warren Young, Jr. (Walker); [player_tooltip player_id="931045" first="Jamaar" last="Moore"] (Washington-Marion); [player_tooltip player_id="931047" first="Devin" last="Bilbo"] (Airline); [player_tooltip player_id="970114" first="Demarcus" last="Singleton"] (H.L. Bourgeois); Jon’Quarius McGhee (Opelousas); [player_tooltip player_id="977266" first="Amauri" last="Coleman"] (Peabody); [player_tooltip player_id="931057" first="Keshaun" last="Lazard"] (Northwest); [player_tooltip player_id="932852" first="LaBrandon" last="Butler"] (Rayville)

With the 2020 class moving on to the next level, a new group of prep players will be looking to make a name for themselves. There are several players that will be stepping into new roles with their teams. We will take a look at seven players that have breakout potential in their new roles with their teams.

Emar’yeon McDonald / 6’1" / Scotlandville / 2021

McDonald is a no-brainer to me for this list. He is a player coming into a new system that has not played in a year due to sanctions from his high school association. The flip side of him not playing for that year is that he has had a chance to adjust to Coach Sample and his coaching style. With that knowledge, and his ability to stretch the floor from distance, McDonald should have a senior season to remember. Embracing the Hornets defensive mentality will be key. If that is done, McDonald may have a potential all-state season.

Zaheem Jackson Zaheem Jackson 6'3" | CG Scotlandville | 2021 State LA / 6’3" / Scotlandville / 2021

As the point guard, McDonald will need someone to pass the ball to. There will probably be no player looking more forward to receiving those passes than Jackson. Even with five senior studs in front of him, Jackson found the floor quite a bit last season. Now, he will have a chance to show his mettle as one of the core players for Coach Sample. Jackson can shoot the ball well from deep, make good decisions from penetration, and push after defensive boards. With his on-court skills, I look for him to have a very good season with the Hornets.

Shammah Bryant Shammah Bryant 6'5" | SF Bossier | 2021 State LA / 6’5" / Bossier / 2021

Bryant and his freakish athleticism have been caught on film in reference to dunks and blocks many times. Entering his senior season, he will now be asked to anchor the middle for a team defending a state championship. He performed admirably defending the middle on the Bearkats road to the title; however, this coming season will be different. Bryant will need to score the rock more and any expansion to his game will help. A consistent mid-range jumper and an abundance of trips to the free should blend well with his ability to finish at the rim. Those factors alone should help him have a breakout season.

John Mitchell John Mitchell 6'3" | CG Captain Shreve | 2021 State LA / 6’4" / Captain Shreve / 2021

Mitchell has a game that mixes that old man at the park no one can stop with the agility of a linebacker. He can play fast or slow. Mitchell can back a defender down or blow by them. He has a soft touch around the basket and can shoot from the perimeter. His game is so versatile that he is one of the more difficult players to guard in north Louisiana. When he hits the hardwood next season, Mitchell will be the Gators best scoring option in the post for sure. Because he can do damage in various spots, he may average a double-double easily. If he has that type of season, the Gators will have a great one as well.

Reginald Stoner Reginald Stoner 6'1" | CG North Central | 2022 State LA / 6’1" / North Central / 2022

Stoner has been a key figure in the Hurricanes back-to-back title runs. Even as the 3rd guy in their three headed monster, he has posted double-doubles in games during Marsh Madness. Now, with Nikembe Johnson Nikembe Johnson 6'4" | PF North Central | 2020 State LA gone, Stoner will have to step up even more. He is already a superb defender owning some of the quickest hands I have seen. So, Stoner will get his share of transition buckets from his defense. How he handles being the go-to-guy when (Derrick) Tezeno is covered will be the story. If he shoots better from the perimeter and scores off of his defense, Stoner may be an all-state player in the making.

Nick Maryland Nick Maryland 6'2" | CG Simsboro | 2022 State LA / 6’1" / Simsboro / 2022

For the past two season, Maryland has played alongside two of the best guards in the state. Jakemin Abney Jakemin Abney 6'3" | CG Simsboro | 2020 State LA and Kalep Crane Kalep Crane 6'0" | CG Simsboro | 2020 State LA helped personify Coach Brown’s up-tempo style to the tune of 2 state championships and 1 runner-up. Now that they are gone, it will be Maryland’s turn at continuing the trend. His game is a mixture of both Abney and Crane. He is a lefty who can driver to the cup or hit the mid-range (like Crane) and lock someone up defensively (like Abney). His shooting from deep will be the reason he goes from good to great. If he can do that, all-state first team will be attainable. He can be that good.

De’mon White / 6’6" / Oak Grove / 2021

There are a lot of 6’6" guys that can play basketball. De’mon White at Oak Grove High is one of those players. With senior Taevon Anderson Taevon Anderson 6'4" | SG Oak Grove | 2020 State LA moving on to college, it is time for White to step into the forefront. White is another freakish athlete who can dunk and block shots with the best of them. For him to become a potential breakout player, he will need to do those aforementioned things in dominate fashion. If White can develop a short jumper as well, that will only add to his effectiveness. One thing is for sure, if he dominates the paint on offense and defense, he will be recruited heavily.