The Best Prep Player from Each Parish - Volume IV

As we continue to highlight top players from the various parishes in Louisiana, we now move into the Acadiana area. The twenty-two parishes in the region has plenty of basketball talent. Along with a couple of northern parishes, we will dive into what some of Acadiana has to offer. Lafayette Parish [player_tooltip player_id="530975" first="Joe" last="Charles"] (F/W) | 6’7" | Carencro - The UL-Lafayette commit will look to bounce back from a season that was cut short due to injury. His skill set is one that is so diverse, it has player of the year written all over it. Charles can rebound and push, shoot the ball from deep, and score in the paint. Most of the crew who made the 2nd round playoff run for Carencro will be back to go along with Joe’s return. It will be interesting to see how Charles returns from injury. If he is 100 percent, the sky is the limit to what he and his teammates can accomplish. Acadia Parish Lance Smith (PG) | 5’10" | Rayne - Rayne had a big season last year. While their graduating seniors did a lot of the heavy lifting for the team, their point guard played a big part as well. Smith was the defensive irritant that created many open floor opportunities for Leon Smith and Antonio Cormier. His quick hands and his willingness to dig on double teams created extra opportunities for the Rayne offense. He also displayed enough quickness to get to the rim and finish on his own. Smith was all-district (4-4A) second team and will be higher this season. Morehouse Parish Kyron Williams (CG) | 5’9" | Bastrop - Bastrop was a few seconds away from pulling off a first round playoff upset of Helen Cox in New Orleans. They got a plenty of production from their backcourt in that game. Even though Dentavion Hawkins will be leaving, 4A will have to still deal with Kyron Williams. The 5’9" guard is known for his shooting and hitting timely threes in the midst of games. Williams was a first team all-district (2-4A) performer and will look to lead the Rams to another playoff in his senior season. The way he shoots, it is possible. Evangeline Parish [player_tooltip player_id="765940" first="Ernest" last="Roberts"] (SG/W) | 6’3" | Ville Platte - There are some two sport athletes that make the game look effortless. While football may be [player_tooltip player_id="765940" first="Ernest" last="Roberts"] first sport, he plays the game of basketball with a comfort level that seems easy. Roberts scores at all three levels from anywhere on the floor. He has a strong body and can take contact while he is handling the ball and when he drives to the basket. Roberts can also execute no-look and fundamental passes on the dime. He was 1st team all-district for a reason and may be all-state this year. St. Landry Parish [player_tooltip player_id="566569" first="Derrick" last="Tezeno"] (F/W) | 6’4" | North Central - Tezeno is the top player in the class of 2021 (PH Louisiana) and co-MVP of district 5-1A (with [player_tooltip player_id="765904" first="Keon" last="Coleman"]). Probably what stands out the most about him is that he is the best player on a state championship team. Tezeno is a tenacious rebounder who has evolved into a complete offensive player. The first team all-stater has improved at shooting from distance, he can get to the rack almost at will, and he finishes strong around the rim. Tezeno is as good as they come on both ends of the floor in the Boot. Cameron Parish [player_tooltip player_id="931041" first="Eli" last="Fountain"] (F/W) | 6’4" | Grand Lake - Fountain is one of the more versatile players that we have in Louisiana. He is a player who can score from the perimeter and score in the paint. His ability to post players up is something not seen these days but he is adept at that as well. Fountain was an integral part of the fantastic season Grand Lake had last year. Now, as he moves into his senior season, Fountain will look to lead Grand Lake back to that level. Eli is a basketball player and should spark interest in next level schools with his play this coming season. Jefferson Davis Parish Noah Guidry (G/W) | 6’2" | Hathaway - Some class B players fly under the radar only because they play in such a small class. However, one player that should wake some people up next year is Noah Guidry. Guidry was a district 7-B, second team all-district performer. Along with that designation, he was also named to the district’s all-defensive team. That tells people that he can get it done on both ends of the floor. He is more athletic than perceived and can block a shot just as well as he can stroke a three. I can see him as an all-state player this year. Concordia Parish Jamarius Johnson (F) | 6’3" | Ferriday - Concordia is one of the parishes along the Mississippi border that we tend to forget about. However, they won the 2A football title this season and they may have one of the breakout players in the state in Jamarius Johnson. Johnson helped lead Ferriday to the 2nd round of the playoffs with combination of outside shooting and inside play. His play also helped him to be named to the all-Metro team in the area they share with Natchez, MS and district MVP. With his size and all-around play, he is definitely one to watch. Calcasieu Parish [player_tooltip player_id="931045" first="Jamaar" last="Moore"] (CG) | 6’1" | Washington-Marion - Moore is one of the best two-way players in Louisiana. Whether at events like the Prep Hoops Top 250 or tournaments like the Showdown in the Lake, Moore has displayed that giving a top effort on both ends really pays off. He can play defense from baseline-to-baseline and is a major disruptor. Moore can then drive to the basket on the offensive end with reckless abandon. He was a first team all-district (4-4A) and all-state honorable mention selection. He should be named again in 2020-21. (pictured above) This volume has household names as well as players who should burst onto the prep scene. Watch for these players to be top performers next season. Look for more players from the Acadiana area in the next volume of players from each parish.

As we continue to highlight top players from the various parishes in Louisiana, we now move into the Acadiana area. The twenty-two parishes in the region has plenty of basketball talent. Along with a couple of northern parishes, we will dive into what some of Acadiana has to offer.

Lafayette Parish

Joe Charles (F/W) | 6’7" | Carencro - The UL-Lafayette commit will look to bounce back from a season that was cut short due to injury. His skill set is one that is so diverse, it has player of the year written all over it. Charles can rebound and push, shoot the ball from deep, and score in the paint. Most of the crew who made the 2nd round playoff run for Carencro will be back to go along with Joe’s return. It will be interesting to see how Charles returns from injury. If he is 100 percent, the sky is the limit to what he and his teammates can accomplish.

Acadia Parish

Lance Smith (PG) | 5’10" | Rayne - Rayne had a big season last year. While their graduating seniors did a lot of the heavy lifting for the team, their point guard played a big part as well. Smith was the defensive irritant that created many open floor opportunities for Leon Smith and Antonio Cormier. His quick hands and his willingness to dig on double teams created extra opportunities for the Rayne offense. He also displayed enough quickness to get to the rim and finish on his own. Smith was all-district (4-4A) second team and will be higher this season.

Morehouse Parish

Kyron Williams (CG) | 5’9" | Bastrop - Bastrop was a few seconds away from pulling off a first round playoff upset of Helen Cox in New Orleans. They got a plenty of production from their backcourt in that game. Even though Dentavion Hawkins will be leaving, 4A will have to still deal with Kyron Williams. The 5’9" guard is known for his shooting and hitting timely threes in the midst of games. Williams was a first team all-district (2-4A) performer and will look to lead the Rams to another playoff in his senior season. The way he shoots, it is possible.

Evangeline Parish

Ernest Roberts Ernest Roberts 6'2" | SG Ville Platte | 2021 State LA (SG/W) | 6’3" | Ville Platte - There are some two sport athletes that make the game look effortless. While football may be Ernest Roberts Ernest Roberts 6'2" | SG Ville Platte | 2021 State LA first sport, he plays the game of basketball with a comfort level that seems easy. Roberts scores at all three levels from anywhere on the floor. He has a strong body and can take contact while he is handling the ball and when he drives to the basket. Roberts can also execute no-look and fundamental passes on the dime. He was 1st team all-district for a reason and may be all-state this year.

St. Landry Parish

Derrick Tezeno Derrick Tezeno 6'5" | SF North Central | 2021 State LA (F/W) | 6’4" | North Central - Tezeno is the top player in the class of 2021 (PH Louisiana) and co-MVP of district 5-1A (with Keon Coleman Keon Coleman 6'4" | SG Opelousas Catholic | 2021 State LA ). Probably what stands out the most about him is that he is the best player on a state championship team. Tezeno is a tenacious rebounder who has evolved into a complete offensive player. The first team all-stater has improved at shooting from distance, he can get to the rack almost at will, and he finishes strong around the rim. Tezeno is as good as they come on both ends of the floor in the Boot.

Cameron Parish

Eli Fountain Eli Fountain 6'4" | SF Grand Lake | 2021 State LA (F/W) | 6’4" | Grand Lake - Fountain is one of the more versatile players that we have in Louisiana. He is a player who can score from the perimeter and score in the paint. His ability to post players up is something not seen these days but he is adept at that as well. Fountain was an integral part of the fantastic season Grand Lake had last year. Now, as he moves into his senior season, Fountain will look to lead Grand Lake back to that level. Eli is a basketball player and should spark interest in next level schools with his play this coming season.

Jefferson Davis Parish

Noah Guidry (G/W) | 6’2" | Hathaway - Some class B players fly under the radar only because they play in such a small class. However, one player that should wake some people up next year is Noah Guidry. Guidry was a district 7-B, second team all-district performer. Along with that designation, he was also named to the district’s all-defensive team. That tells people that he can get it done on both ends of the floor. He is more athletic than perceived and can block a shot just as well as he can stroke a three. I can see him as an all-state player this year.

Concordia Parish

Jamarius Johnson (F) | 6’3" | Ferriday - Concordia is one of the parishes along the Mississippi border that we tend to forget about. However, they won the 2A football title this season and they may have one of the breakout players in the state in Jamarius Johnson. Johnson helped lead Ferriday to the 2nd round of the playoffs with combination of outside shooting and inside play. His play also helped him to be named to the all-Metro team in the area they share with Natchez, MS and district MVP. With his size and all-around play, he is definitely one to watch.

Calcasieu Parish

Jamaar Moore Jamaar Moore 6'1" | CG Washington-Marion | 2021 State LA (CG) | 6’1" | Washington-Marion - Moore is one of the best two-way players in Louisiana. Whether at events like the Prep Hoops Top 250 or tournaments like the Showdown in the Lake, Moore has displayed that giving a top effort on both ends really pays off. He can play defense from baseline-to-baseline and is a major disruptor. Moore can then drive to the basket on the offensive end with reckless abandon. He was a first team all-district (4-4A) and all-state honorable mention selection. He should be named again in 2020-21. (pictured above)

This volume has household names as well as players who should burst onto the prep scene. Watch for these players to be top performers next season. Look for more players from the Acadiana area in the next volume of players from each parish.