The Best Prep Player from Each Parish - Volume III

Volume III brings me to the central portion of the state. There are some true players around the Boot and central Louisiana is no exception. West Feliciana Parish Dorian Booker (F) | 6’6" | West Feliciana - For a small parish, they might have a potential big time player on their hands when it is said and done. Booker is a shot blocking, rising sophomore who is raw on the offensive end. While his offense is limited, he still effects the game by rebounding and rejecting shots in the lane. With the seniors graduating, Booker will be the person who has to take on the scoring responsibilities. If he improves enough offensively to go with his defense, there might be a surprise all district performer in district 7-3A. Rapides Parish Jourdan Dishmond (F/P) | 6’7" | Holy Savior Menard - Menard was a last second shot away from making it to the Division III semifinals last season. If they are to make it back, Jourdan Dishmond will have to be the focal point that carries them there. Dishmond is a bully in the paint who can punish defenders when backing them down. This lefty can score in the post, take players off the dribble players his size off the dribble, and face up. His skill set is what makes him so attractive. If he plays to his potential, this senior may lead Menard to a title. Pointee Coupee Parish [player_tooltip player_id="781859" first="Treylin" last="Whaley"] (F/W) | 6’4" | Livonia - The Livonia forward had a good season on a not-so-good team. As a matter of fact, it was almost the complete opposite of the season before. Whaley is an athlete who makes things happen on both ends of the floor. He can score around the basket and runs the floor like the receiver he is. His athleticism helped him earn all-district honorable mention honors while being on a single digit winning team. Look for him to have a repeat performance in the district as the Wildcats attempt to bounce back from last season. Beauregard Parish Kenneth Gooden (F/W) | 6’4" | DeRidder - Gooden is an athletic and physical force for the Dragons. He plays tough man-to-man defense on the perimeter as well as in the paint. He can disrupt ball handlers with his movement and quick hands. His use of both leads to many open floor opportunities. On offense, Gooden can finish above the rim with authority or step out beyond the arc. While he made the all-district 2nd team this past season, he has the potential to be the district MVP with his skill set. Watch for Gooden to be one key to the Dragons success. Avoyelles Parish Ty’drick Harrell (CG) | 6’4" | Marksville - Harrell is a point guard in a similar vain to Texas A&M signee [player_tooltip player_id="530901" first="LaDamien" last="Bradford"]. He is a big point guard who can score almost at will but is just as effective at passing. Harrell can take advantage of smaller guards with his size or drive around taller, slower players. His play this past season for Marksville resulted in an all-district first team selection and an all-state honorable mention nod. The rising senior will be the front runner for district MVP next season as he tries to lead the Tigers to a state title. Grant Parish DeShawn Fisher (PG) | 5’11" | Grant - Fisher shares the district with the player directly above him. While Harrell may become the district MVP, my bet is Fisher will be nibbling at his heels the whole time. Fisher is a point guard who affects the game on offense and defense. He collapses the defense with his penetration and finds shooters or post players easily. Fisher also has a unique release to his jumper that he makes more often than not. He was second team all-district this past season and should easily make the 1st team next season. Vernon Parish [player_tooltip player_id="931060" first="Deshawn" last="Jackson"] (SG/W) | 6’3" | Pickering - Jackson is one of the more exciting players regardless of classification. He is an electrifying dunk waiting to happen and is what some would call a "walking bucket." Jackson put up big numbers against some of the best teams in his classifcation and practically willed his team to win its first round playoff contest. He was district MVP and also named second team all-state for the second consecutive year. I expect big things from Jackson and see another district MVP and a first team all-state selection. Allen Parish Marion White (PG) | 6’0" | Oakdale - White was a fellow first team all-district member with [player_tooltip player_id="931060" first="Deshawn" last="Jackson"] in district 5-2A. White is probably one of the better point guards in the lower classifications with the ability to score and pass. He is very good at going to his left and finishing with that hand. White can pull up going the same direction or spin and finish in traffic. The Oakdale guard will push for all-state next season and he definitely has the game to do so. As a rising junior, White will have a legit chance to being on of the state’s best lead guards. Winn Parish Johnny Nash (CG) | 6’1" | Atlanta - Nash is another rising junior at a small school who may become a big time guard when his prep career is done. He was named first team all-district in district 4-C and was a class C all-state honorable mention. He has been a starter since his freshman season and has previous experience playing in Marsh Madness. Because he plays in class C, he gets to play on and off the ball a lot. Nash is as good as it comes and is only getting better. Watch for him to make a big impression on class C during his junior season. In volume four, we will continue to look at the best players in each parish as we move further into the Acadiana area. This area is rich with talent from state championship teams such as St. Thomas More and North Central. There are definitely some top tier talent in this area of parishes.

Volume III brings me to the central portion of the state. There are some true players around the Boot and central Louisiana is no exception.

West Feliciana Parish

Dorian Booker (F) | 6’6" | West Feliciana - For a small parish, they might have a potential big time player on their hands when it is said and done. Booker is a shot blocking, rising sophomore who is raw on the offensive end. While his offense is limited, he still effects the game by rebounding and rejecting shots in the lane. With the seniors graduating, Booker will be the person who has to take on the scoring responsibilities. If he improves enough offensively to go with his defense, there might be a surprise all district performer in district 7-3A.

Rapides Parish

Jourdan Dishmond (F/P) | 6’7" | Holy Savior Menard - Menard was a last second shot away from making it to the Division III semifinals last season. If they are to make it back, Jourdan Dishmond will have to be the focal point that carries them there. Dishmond is a bully in the paint who can punish defenders when backing them down. This lefty can score in the post, take players off the dribble players his size off the dribble, and face up. His skill set is what makes him so attractive. If he plays to his potential, this senior may lead Menard to a title.

Pointee Coupee Parish

Treylin Whaley Treylin Whaley 6'4" | PF Livonia | 2022 State LA (F/W) | 6’4" | Livonia - The Livonia forward had a good season on a not-so-good team. As a matter of fact, it was almost the complete opposite of the season before. Whaley is an athlete who makes things happen on both ends of the floor. He can score around the basket and runs the floor like the receiver he is. His athleticism helped him earn all-district honorable mention honors while being on a single digit winning team. Look for him to have a repeat performance in the district as the Wildcats attempt to bounce back from last season.

Beauregard Parish

Kenneth Gooden (F/W) | 6’4" | DeRidder - Gooden is an athletic and physical force for the Dragons. He plays tough man-to-man defense on the perimeter as well as in the paint. He can disrupt ball handlers with his movement and quick hands. His use of both leads to many open floor opportunities. On offense, Gooden can finish above the rim with authority or step out beyond the arc. While he made the all-district 2nd team this past season, he has the potential to be the district MVP with his skill set. Watch for Gooden to be one key to the Dragons success.

Avoyelles Parish

Ty’drick Harrell (CG) | 6’4" | Marksville - Harrell is a point guard in a similar vain to Texas A&M signee LaDamien Bradford LaDamien Bradford 6'4" | SG Jonesboro-Hodge | 2020 State #235 Nation LA . He is a big point guard who can score almost at will but is just as effective at passing. Harrell can take advantage of smaller guards with his size or drive around taller, slower players. His play this past season for Marksville resulted in an all-district first team selection and an all-state honorable mention nod. The rising senior will be the front runner for district MVP next season as he tries to lead the Tigers to a state title.

Grant Parish

DeShawn Fisher (PG) | 5’11" | Grant - Fisher shares the district with the player directly above him. While Harrell may become the district MVP, my bet is Fisher will be nibbling at his heels the whole time. Fisher is a point guard who affects the game on offense and defense. He collapses the defense with his penetration and finds shooters or post players easily. Fisher also has a unique release to his jumper that he makes more often than not. He was second team all-district this past season and should easily make the 1st team next season.

Vernon Parish

Deshawn Jackson Deshawn Jackson 6'3" | CG Pickering | 2021 State LA (SG/W) | 6’3" | Pickering - Jackson is one of the more exciting players regardless of classification. He is an electrifying dunk waiting to happen and is what some would call a "walking bucket." Jackson put up big numbers against some of the best teams in his classifcation and practically willed his team to win its first round playoff contest. He was district MVP and also named second team all-state for the second consecutive year. I expect big things from Jackson and see another district MVP and a first team all-state selection.

Allen Parish

Marion White (PG) | 6’0" | Oakdale - White was a fellow first team all-district member with Deshawn Jackson Deshawn Jackson 6'3" | CG Pickering | 2021 State LA in district 5-2A. White is probably one of the better point guards in the lower classifications with the ability to score and pass. He is very good at going to his left and finishing with that hand. White can pull up going the same direction or spin and finish in traffic. The Oakdale guard will push for all-state next season and he definitely has the game to do so. As a rising junior, White will have a legit chance to being on of the state’s best lead guards.

Winn Parish

Johnny Nash (CG) | 6’1" | Atlanta - Nash is another rising junior at a small school who may become a big time guard when his prep career is done. He was named first team all-district in district 4-C and was a class C all-state honorable mention. He has been a starter since his freshman season and has previous experience playing in Marsh Madness. Because he plays in class C, he gets to play on and off the ball a lot. Nash is as good as it comes and is only getting better. Watch for him to make a big impression on class C during his junior season.

In volume four, we will continue to look at the best players in each parish as we move further into the Acadiana area. This area is rich with talent from state championship teams such as St. Thomas More and North Central. There are definitely some top tier talent in this area of parishes.