Rankings Newcomers & Hidden Gems (Class of 2021)

The class of 2021 will be an interesting class to recruit due to the many dead period extensions by the NCAA. While some of the top players have been seen numerous times already, other players have not been afforded the same opportunity. Players in the lower half of the Louisiana rankings are some of those players. In this article, we will take a look at some of the newcomers and hidden gems in the 2021 class who need to be seen. Eli Fountatin | 6’4" | Grand Lake (PHLA RK #55) I first saw [player_tooltip player_id="931041" first="Eli" last="Fountain"] last summer playing with Barbe and was really impressed with his play from the free throw line in. He could attack from either elbow and could post up as well. Fast forward to seeing him play against Lincoln Prep and his game has truly expanded. Fountain can rebound and push, pass from the high post or the block, and finish at the rim. He is really an all-around offensive threat who will play post defense as well. Grand Lake will probably funnel their offensive attack through Fountain next season and I can totally understand why. He is that talented. [player_tooltip player_id="931043" first="Darius" last="Young"] | 6’5" | Natchitoches Central (PHLA RK #56) Young has been the primary offensive threat in the post for the Chiefs of Natchitoches Central the last two years. While they are a primarily a perimeter-oriented team, being able to trust Young when the ball goes into the paint is a big deal. Young is good on the offensive boards and will finish many times through contact. He also has solid footwork and can score from the block. He does not get a lot of press clippings because he is not a big scorer. However, Young is a hidden gem because he is talented and skilled. He should have a big senior season for the Chiefs. Ben Ponder | 6’3" | Calvary Baptist (PHLA RK #72) Ben Ponder is the epitome of a hidden gem in my opinion. He does not say a word and goes out and works his tail off for his team. It helps that Ponder is very skilled as well. While he is an undersized wing, he knows his way around the basket. Ponder can score with either hand and is very effective on offensive rebound put backs. He is great at defending in the paint and an avid rebounder on the defensive boards. His game will jump to another notch once he consistently drains the outside shot. Adding that to his game may make him more than a hidden gem by season’s end. [player_tooltip player_id="977269" first="Braxton" last="Taylor"] | 6’0" | Simsboro (PHLA RK #87) Taylor is new to the 2021 rankings but he is one of the more accomplished players in the rankings. He has played an integral part of the last two Simsboro teams being a wing starter and has two state titles and a runner-up to show for it. Taylor is that wing shooter that would knockdown three pointers from guard penetration. Then, on the defensive end, he would play great help defense and take charges. Taylor will move into a new role as a leader for his senior campaign. If he continues to shoot the ball as he has, he may find a home after this year a well. [player_tooltip player_id="977445" first="Jathen" last="Ross"] | 6’3" | Evangel (PHLA RK #88) Ross is another new entry to the rankings but not new to playing basketball in district 1-4A. The Eagle wing last played at Benton and was an attacking wing for the Tigers. Now under Coach Shepherd, Ross looks like he will have to ball in his hands a high percentage of the time. He is an athletic finisher around the rim and who knows how to attack from the wings. Ross will attack the offensive glass as well. The kind of player he is has not been seen at Evangel since the graduation of Malik Cooper. His skill set has all district written all over it next season. [player_tooltip player_id="980483" first="David" last="Weber"] | 6’0" | Lee Magnet (PHLA RK #99) Weber is one of the more pure shooters that I have seen in the Boot the last two years. His form and follow through are the same every time I have seen him shoot live or on film. Weber is another in the mode of [player_tooltip player_id="977269" first="Braxton" last="Taylor"] in that he will hit timely shots for his team and do the little things needed as well. Going into next season, he will be apart of a very dangerous Lee Magnet team who should be one of the top programs in 4A. Weber will be a key part of that success because no one stretches the floor like him. He should be very successful next year. Hidden gems and newly ranked players will be a heavy to many teams and their success next season. As the country begins to open up more, players will have the ability to work on their game more in preparation for what is to come. I know I look forward to seeing some of these guys as they move into their senior season.

The class of 2021 will be an interesting class to recruit due to the many dead period extensions by the NCAA. While some of the top players have been seen numerous times already, other players have not been afforded the same opportunity. Players in the lower half of the Louisiana rankings are some of those players. In this article, we will take a look at some of the newcomers and hidden gems in the 2021 class who need to be seen.

Eli Fountatin | 6’4" | Grand Lake (PHLA RK #55)

I first saw Eli Fountain Eli Fountain 6'4" | SF Grand Lake | 2021 State LA last summer playing with Barbe and was really impressed with his play from the free throw line in. He could attack from either elbow and could post up as well. Fast forward to seeing him play against Lincoln Prep and his game has truly expanded. Fountain can rebound and push, pass from the high post or the block, and finish at the rim. He is really an all-around offensive threat who will play post defense as well. Grand Lake will probably funnel their offensive attack through Fountain next season and I can totally understand why. He is that talented.

Darius Young Darius Young 6'5" | PF Natchitoches Central | 2021 State LA | 6’5" | Natchitoches Central (PHLA RK #56)

Young has been the primary offensive threat in the post for the Chiefs of Natchitoches Central the last two years. While they are a primarily a perimeter-oriented team, being able to trust Young when the ball goes into the paint is a big deal. Young is good on the offensive boards and will finish many times through contact. He also has solid footwork and can score from the block. He does not get a lot of press clippings because he is not a big scorer. However, Young is a hidden gem because he is talented and skilled. He should have a big senior season for the Chiefs.

Ben Ponder | 6’3" | Calvary Baptist (PHLA RK #72)

Ben Ponder is the epitome of a hidden gem in my opinion. He does not say a word and goes out and works his tail off for his team. It helps that Ponder is very skilled as well. While he is an undersized wing, he knows his way around the basket. Ponder can score with either hand and is very effective on offensive rebound put backs. He is great at defending in the paint and an avid rebounder on the defensive boards. His game will jump to another notch once he consistently drains the outside shot. Adding that to his game may make him more than a hidden gem by season’s end.

Braxton Taylor Braxton Taylor 6'0" | SG Simsboro | 2021 State LA | 6’0" | Simsboro (PHLA RK #87)

Taylor is new to the 2021 rankings but he is one of the more accomplished players in the rankings. He has played an integral part of the last two Simsboro teams being a wing starter and has two state titles and a runner-up to show for it. Taylor is that wing shooter that would knockdown three pointers from guard penetration. Then, on the defensive end, he would play great help defense and take charges. Taylor will move into a new role as a leader for his senior campaign. If he continues to shoot the ball as he has, he may find a home after this year a well.

Jathen Ross Jathen Ross 6'3" | SG Evangel | 2021 State LA | 6’3" | Evangel (PHLA RK #88)

Ross is another new entry to the rankings but not new to playing basketball in district 1-4A. The Eagle wing last played at Benton and was an attacking wing for the Tigers. Now under Coach Shepherd, Ross looks like he will have to ball in his hands a high percentage of the time. He is an athletic finisher around the rim and who knows how to attack from the wings. Ross will attack the offensive glass as well. The kind of player he is has not been seen at Evangel since the graduation of Malik Cooper. His skill set has all district written all over it next season.

David Weber David Weber 6'0" | SG Lee | 2021 State LA | 6’0" | Lee Magnet (PHLA RK #99)

Weber is one of the more pure shooters that I have seen in the Boot the last two years. His form and follow through are the same every time I have seen him shoot live or on film. Weber is another in the mode of Braxton Taylor Braxton Taylor 6'0" | SG Simsboro | 2021 State LA in that he will hit timely shots for his team and do the little things needed as well. Going into next season, he will be apart of a very dangerous Lee Magnet team who should be one of the top programs in 4A. Weber will be a key part of that success because no one stretches the floor like him. He should be very successful next year.

Hidden gems and newly ranked players will be a heavy to many teams and their success next season. As the country begins to open up more, players will have the ability to work on their game more in preparation for what is to come. I know I look forward to seeing some of these guys as they move into their senior season.