The Best Prep Player from Each Parish - Volume I

There have been articles that have looked at the best players and teams from each state around the country. Well, I thought I should take a look at the best player each parish has to offer. That is right, beginning with this edition, we will take a look at who I think is the best returning players from all 64 parishes. Caddo Parish <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2019/08/Daniel-Ortiz-41.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-811409" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2019/08/Daniel-Ortiz-41-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="765923" first="Daniel" last="Ortiz"] / 6’0" / Southwood - The two-time all-state honorable mention in class 5A is the highest ranked (#4) 2021 player in north Louisiana. He is a marksmen from deep and has a knack for finishing at the rim. His move (which is pending) to state runner-up Calvary Baptist in 1A will form a top tier back court with [player_tooltip player_id="781850" first="Martin" last="McDowell"]. Ortiz is one of the top scorers in the state and may just add a state title to his long resume before college. Bossier Parish [player_tooltip player_id="765920" first="Darrien" last="Perry"] / 6’0" / Plain Dealing - Perry is one of those guards that flies under the radar because he is not on a circuit team or play on a big high school team. Make no mistake, he was all-district (1A) and all-Parish first team for a reason. Perry is a point guard who can score or distribute. He has shown the ability to play on or off the ball and be equally effective. While he will get pushed by a host of other guards, Perry will be top dog at season’s start. Desoto Parish [player_tooltip player_id="765922" first="Trenton" last="Colbert"] / 6’8" / Mansfield - Colbert has been a solid performer for the Wolverines for the last two years. The 6’8" forward has led the team in scoring and blocks which has made him an all-district performer as it did this past season. Now, as a senior, Colbert may have a legitimate chance to lead a very talented Mansfield team. Chris Bush, his new head coach, will make many demands of Colbert. That might be what he needs to be at his best. Bienville Parish Khyrese Taylor / 5’10" / Arcadia - When a guard is 5’10", he has to do a lot of things well to be noticed sometimes. Khyrese Taylor is one of those type guards. Taylor can score at multiple levels on the offensive end. He is best on straight line drives and gets to the hop in a blur. Taylor can also play aggressive on ball defense which leads to turnovers. He was a 2nd team all-district performer and will push hard for other accolades this year. Claiborne Parish Eddie Kennedy / 6’3" / Summerfield - There will be more athletic players to come through this parish this season, but none of them are as accomplished as Kennedy. The Summerfield forward was named 1st team all-district and has played in Marsh Madness the last three years. He has one state title and a runner-up in class C. Kennedy is a space eater who is hard to move out of the paint and passes very well for a big man. Look for the same this year. Red River Parish Zintrayvius Smith / 6’0" / Red River - The Red River quarterback is not a half bad shooting guard either. He is best known for his spot up three point shot and his defensive ability. If you play for Coach Keith Johnson, you are going to play an up-tempo style. Smith is an athlete that can adapt to that style and thrive in it. Look for Smith to lead by example as the Bulldogs attempt to win one for Coach Johnson in his last season on the sidelines. Natchitoches Parish [player_tooltip player_id="931043" first="Darius" last="Young"] / 6’5" / Natchitoches Central - With the wealth of experience that graduated from the Chiefs back court, they will need someone they can trust on the floor to settle things down. Senior [player_tooltip player_id="931043" first="Darius" last="Young"] should be that person. Young is a willing passer, he can score around the basket, and he will rebound offensively and defensively. He should be the anchor the Chiefs need as the young guards mature during the season. Sabine Parish [player_tooltip player_id="932845" first="Jawarren" last="Cade"] / 6’1" / Many - While Zwolle usually has the best team in the parish, Many has the best player. Cade is a rising junior who is evolving into a two way player who can get his own against good players, He has the ability to get into the lane, absorb contact, and finish or draw fouls. He did that so well he earned second team honors in district 3-2A. Look for Cade to be the key in Many giving Lakeview a run this season in their district. Webster Parish <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2019/08/Jamaria-Clark-14.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-811370" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2019/08/Jamaria-Clark-14-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="970111" first="Jamaria" last="Clark"] / 6’1" / Doyline - This freshman set last season on fire. He became a state champion (class B), an all-state second teamer, and an all-parish first teamer all in his freshman year. What will he do for an encore? Hopefully Covid-19 will let us see. He can handle the point guard duties and is dangerous with the ball in his hands. Once he really learns how to move without the ball, he will abuse defenses and be practically unguardable. Jackson Parish Jamarion Atkins / 5’11" / Jonesboro-Hodge - Atkins had a good year for Jonesboro-Hodge making open shots from [player_tooltip player_id="530901" first="LaDamien" last="Bradford"] passes. Now, going into his senior season, Atkins will be one of the main catalyst in the Tiger offense. This means he will be handling the ball more. If the lefty shots it like he did in 2019-20, he will be okay. With a 1-2A district title and post season experience, Atkins should be a player to watch in class 2A. With only ten parishes down, we have plenty more players to go. We will have a slew of all-district, all-parish, and all-state performers that will via for the best player in their respective parishes. This will be interesting as we look at another set in our next edition.

There have been articles that have looked at the best players and teams from each state around the country. Well, I thought I should take a look at the best player each parish has to offer. That is right, beginning with this edition, we will take a look at who I think is the best returning players from all 64 parishes.

Caddo Parish

Daniel Ortiz Daniel Ortiz 6'1" | CG Calvary Baptist | 2021 State LA / 6’0" / Southwood - The two-time all-state honorable mention in class 5A is the highest ranked (#4) 2021 player in north Louisiana. He is a marksmen from deep and has a knack for finishing at the rim. His move (which is pending) to state runner-up Calvary Baptist in 1A will form a top tier back court with Martin Mcdowell Martin Mcdowell 5'10" | PG Calvary Baptist | 2022 State LA . Ortiz is one of the top scorers in the state and may just add a state title to his long resume before college.

Bossier Parish

Darrien Perry Darrien Perry 6'1" | PG Plain Dealing | 2021 State LA / 6’0" / Plain Dealing - Perry is one of those guards that flies under the radar because he is not on a circuit team or play on a big high school team. Make no mistake, he was all-district (1A) and all-Parish first team for a reason. Perry is a point guard who can score or distribute. He has shown the ability to play on or off the ball and be equally effective. While he will get pushed by a host of other guards, Perry will be top dog at season’s start.

Desoto Parish

Trenton Colbert Trenton Colbert 6'8" | PF Mansfield | 2021 State LA / 6’8" / Mansfield - Colbert has been a solid performer for the Wolverines for the last two years. The 6’8" forward has led the team in scoring and blocks which has made him an all-district performer as it did this past season. Now, as a senior, Colbert may have a legitimate chance to lead a very talented Mansfield team. Chris Bush, his new head coach, will make many demands of Colbert. That might be what he needs to be at his best.

Bienville Parish

Khyrese Taylor / 5’10" / Arcadia - When a guard is 5’10", he has to do a lot of things well to be noticed sometimes. Khyrese Taylor is one of those type guards. Taylor can score at multiple levels on the offensive end. He is best on straight line drives and gets to the hop in a blur. Taylor can also play aggressive on ball defense which leads to turnovers. He was a 2nd team all-district performer and will push hard for other accolades this year.

Claiborne Parish

Eddie Kennedy / 6’3" / Summerfield - There will be more athletic players to come through this parish this season, but none of them are as accomplished as Kennedy. The Summerfield forward was named 1st team all-district and has played in Marsh Madness the last three years. He has one state title and a runner-up in class C. Kennedy is a space eater who is hard to move out of the paint and passes very well for a big man. Look for the same this year.

Red River Parish

Zintrayvius Smith / 6’0" / Red River - The Red River quarterback is not a half bad shooting guard either. He is best known for his spot up three point shot and his defensive ability. If you play for Coach Keith Johnson, you are going to play an up-tempo style. Smith is an athlete that can adapt to that style and thrive in it. Look for Smith to lead by example as the Bulldogs attempt to win one for Coach Johnson in his last season on the sidelines.

Natchitoches Parish

Darius Young Darius Young 6'5" | PF Natchitoches Central | 2021 State LA / 6’5" / Natchitoches Central - With the wealth of experience that graduated from the Chiefs back court, they will need someone they can trust on the floor to settle things down. Senior Darius Young Darius Young 6'5" | PF Natchitoches Central | 2021 State LA should be that person. Young is a willing passer, he can score around the basket, and he will rebound offensively and defensively. He should be the anchor the Chiefs need as the young guards mature during the season.

Sabine Parish

Jawarren Cade Jawarren Cade 6'2" | CG Many | 2022 State LA / 6’1" / Many - While Zwolle usually has the best team in the parish, Many has the best player. Cade is a rising junior who is evolving into a two way player who can get his own against good players, He has the ability to get into the lane, absorb contact, and finish or draw fouls. He did that so well he earned second team honors in district 3-2A. Look for Cade to be the key in Many giving Lakeview a run this season in their district.

Webster Parish

Jamaria Clark Jamaria Clark 6'2" | CG Doyline | 2023 State LA / 6’1" / Doyline - This freshman set last season on fire. He became a state champion (class B), an all-state second teamer, and an all-parish first teamer all in his freshman year. What will he do for an encore? Hopefully Covid-19 will let us see. He can handle the point guard duties and is dangerous with the ball in his hands. Once he really learns how to move without the ball, he will abuse defenses and be practically unguardable.

Jackson Parish

Jamarion Atkins / 5’11" / Jonesboro-Hodge - Atkins had a good year for Jonesboro-Hodge making open shots from LaDamien Bradford LaDamien Bradford 6'4" | SG Jonesboro-Hodge | 2020 State #235 Nation LA passes. Now, going into his senior season, Atkins will be one of the main catalyst in the Tiger offense. This means he will be handling the ball more. If the lefty shots it like he did in 2019-20, he will be okay. With a 1-2A district title and post season experience, Atkins should be a player to watch in class 2A.

With only ten parishes down, we have plenty more players to go. We will have a slew of all-district, all-parish, and all-state performers that will via for the best player in their respective parishes. This will be interesting as we look at another set in our next edition.