North Louisiana Players "hurt" by the Pandemic

Usually the summer is filled with wall-to-wall basketball activity. Because of the pandemic, those schedules were pretty much cut in half or cut out totally. Some north Louisiana players who are usually playing lost grassroots opportunities as well as the various team camps colleges offer. With that said, we will look at some north Louisiana players who did not get the needed game play or exposure they normally would have gotten due to the pandemic. [player_tooltip player_id="765920" first="Darrien" last="Perry"] / 6’0" / Plain Dealing (2021) Perry, the best guard in Bossier Parish, is also at one of the smallest schools in not only Bossier Parish, but in north Louisiana. Because of this, exposure is necessary. Perry is a point guard who can score the rock from all three levels. He has led his grassroots team, sponsored by Paul Millsap, in scoring the last two summers with [player_tooltip player_id="765923" first="Daniel" last="Ortiz"] sharing the backcourt. In a normal spring and summer, LA Select would have participated in at least six tournaments in addition to the team camps various colleges host every June for high schools. While he may not get a Division I offer, Perry is a prep who would have had plenty of chances to impress scouts. Now, he will have to depend on his high school season to do that for him. [player_tooltip player_id="765925" first="Devonte" last="Austin"] / 6’1" / Wossman (2021) The Wossman off guard probably had his best season as a Wildcat during his junior campaign. Austin was the second leading scorer on a team that was one possession away from winning a state championship (in 3A). Now, in his senior season, he is primed to be the number one option on offense. Wossman usually spend June playing in the Neville team camp, the NELA summer league, and several college team camps. Because of Covid, all of that was erased. Austin was not seen at any of the tournaments other Louisiana players frequent, so his development is a mystery. He is one of the more explosive players in the Boot when attacking the rim, a tough defender, and his three point shot was improved. When the season begins, hopefully he will pick up where he left off last season. [player_tooltip player_id="931055" first="Bryce" last="Roberts"] / 6’0" / Parkway (2021) Roberts had a coming out party during the Northwestern State exposure camp last year and kept that momentum going throughout the high school season. His three point shooting was one of the reasons the Panthers made a push to the playoffs last year. Roberts is more than just a three point shooter, however. He is very adept at getting into the lane and shooting floaters to score. Roberts knows how to put pressure on a defense. This summer would have been a chance to enhance his ballhandling and round out his overall game. Summer play definitely would have helped that. We will see what Roberts has in his bag as we move towards the 20-21 season. [player_tooltip player_id="977264" first="Tydrick" last="Harrell"] / 6’4" / Marksville (2021) Harrell might not be from north Louisiana but he is an intriguing prospect to say the least. At 6’4", he is the size that most colleges are looking for at the the higher levels of the NCAA. Harrell knows how to make plays in transition and covers ground in the open very quickly. What has hurt him largely is the location of his school. Marksville is south of Alexandria and not particularly close to Baton Rouge or any other city with a strong grassroots presence. That, coupled with Louisiana stuck in Phase 2, has Harrell in a virtual no man’s land in reference to opportunities to get better during quality game action. However, he will be one of the better players in his district and possibly be a 1st or 2nd team all-state selection. The Marksville schedule will play alot in how much Harrell is seen by coaches. [player_tooltip player_id="765922" first="Trenton" last="Colbert"] / 6’7" / Mansfield (2021) Another player who has not had the most opportunities to be seen is [player_tooltip player_id="765922" first="Trenton" last="Colbert"]. While Mansfield is in the district with Bossier and Green Oaks, their games have not been must see. However, it is hard to miss a kid 6’7" with a decent mid-range shot and is a good shotblocker. Colbert needed to practice with Louisiana Elite just to see where his game is. He also needed some team camps to participate in, as well, because he has a new coach (Chris Bush) with new expectations. Putting those two factors together and coming off the Wolverines last season, Colbert needed a full summer of play to make his mark on next season. [player_tooltip player_id="781858" first="Desmond" last="Washington"] / 6’5" / Huntington (2022) Last summer there was no hybrid big more hot than [player_tooltip player_id="781858" first="Desmond" last="Washington"]. The Raider forward was playing well and gaining more confidence on the wing and the block. Then, during the season, his minutes became less and less. So, to pick his confidence up again, playing with his grassroots team would have done a world of good. Couple that with him getting starter type minutes in the Bossier summer league and team camp participation and Washington might have been primed to breakout this season. However, with no summer play, we do not know what to expect. Just getting to play will help the situation. Playing with point guard [player_tooltip player_id="781849" first="Rayshun" last="McCullar"] will help also. [player_tooltip player_id="932848" first="Marquarius" last="Johnson"] / 6’1" / Southwood (2022) By the time the 5A playoffs came around, Johnson had started to form his own identity playing in the backcourt with [player_tooltip player_id="765923" first="Daniel" last="Ortiz"]. He had stepped up his scoring by driving the ball more to the basket and getting to the foul line. While he had begun to turn the corner offensively becoming more efficient, COVID hit. Fast forward a few months and now Johnson is about to play under a new coach and might be the number one option in the new Cowboy offense. With a new coach, new plays and new concepts come. Team camps would have helped bridge that gap for Johnson to become more comfortable in his role. With the season upon us, we will how he adjusts on the fly. These players are among a large group who did not get a chance to work heavily on their skills during the the quarantine. Even with schools opening, the training they get there is nothing like the training they would like to have had for the summer. We will see how a coaches and players prepare themselves as we move to beginning hoops in 2020-21.

Usually the summer is filled with wall-to-wall basketball activity. Because of the pandemic, those schedules were pretty much cut in half or cut out totally. Some north Louisiana players who are usually playing lost grassroots opportunities as well as the various team camps colleges offer. With that said, we will look at some north Louisiana players who did not get the needed game play or exposure they normally would have gotten due to the pandemic.

Darrien Perry Darrien Perry 6'1" | PG Plain Dealing | 2021 State LA / 6’0" / Plain Dealing (2021)

Perry, the best guard in Bossier Parish, is also at one of the smallest schools in not only Bossier Parish, but in north Louisiana. Because of this, exposure is necessary. Perry is a point guard who can score the rock from all three levels. He has led his grassroots team, sponsored by Paul Millsap, in scoring the last two summers with Daniel Ortiz Daniel Ortiz 6'1" | CG Calvary Baptist | 2021 State LA sharing the backcourt. In a normal spring and summer, LA Select would have participated in at least six tournaments in addition to the team camps various colleges host every June for high schools. While he may not get a Division I offer, Perry is a prep who would have had plenty of chances to impress scouts. Now, he will have to depend on his high school season to do that for him.

Devonte Austin Devonte Austin 6'0" | CG Wossman | 2021 State LA / 6’1" / Wossman (2021)

The Wossman off guard probably had his best season as a Wildcat during his junior campaign. Austin was the second leading scorer on a team that was one possession away from winning a state championship (in 3A). Now, in his senior season, he is primed to be the number one option on offense. Wossman usually spend June playing in the Neville team camp, the NELA summer league, and several college team camps. Because of Covid, all of that was erased. Austin was not seen at any of the tournaments other Louisiana players frequent, so his development is a mystery. He is one of the more explosive players in the Boot when attacking the rim, a tough defender, and his three point shot was improved. When the season begins, hopefully he will pick up where he left off last season.

Bryce Roberts Bryce Roberts 6'1" | CG Parkway | 2021 State LA / 6’0" / Parkway (2021)

Roberts had a coming out party during the Northwestern State exposure camp last year and kept that momentum going throughout the high school season. His three point shooting was one of the reasons the Panthers made a push to the playoffs last year. Roberts is more than just a three point shooter, however. He is very adept at getting into the lane and shooting floaters to score. Roberts knows how to put pressure on a defense. This summer would have been a chance to enhance his ballhandling and round out his overall game. Summer play definitely would have helped that. We will see what Roberts has in his bag as we move towards the 20-21 season.

Tydrick Harrell Tydrick Harrell 6'4" | PG Marksville | 2021 State LA / 6’4" / Marksville (2021)

Harrell might not be from north Louisiana but he is an intriguing prospect to say the least. At 6’4", he is the size that most colleges are looking for at the the higher levels of the NCAA. Harrell knows how to make plays in transition and covers ground in the open very quickly. What has hurt him largely is the location of his school. Marksville is south of Alexandria and not particularly close to Baton Rouge or any other city with a strong grassroots presence. That, coupled with Louisiana stuck in Phase 2, has Harrell in a virtual no man’s land in reference to opportunities to get better during quality game action. However, he will be one of the better players in his district and possibly be a 1st or 2nd team all-state selection. The Marksville schedule will play alot in how much Harrell is seen by coaches.

Trenton Colbert Trenton Colbert 6'8" | PF Mansfield | 2021 State LA / 6’7" / Mansfield (2021)

Another player who has not had the most opportunities to be seen is Trenton Colbert Trenton Colbert 6'8" | PF Mansfield | 2021 State LA . While Mansfield is in the district with Bossier and Green Oaks, their games have not been must see. However, it is hard to miss a kid 6’7" with a decent mid-range shot and is a good shotblocker. Colbert needed to practice with Louisiana Elite just to see where his game is. He also needed some team camps to participate in, as well, because he has a new coach (Chris Bush) with new expectations. Putting those two factors together and coming off the Wolverines last season, Colbert needed a full summer of play to make his mark on next season.

Desmond Washington Desmond Washington 6'4" | SF Huntington | 2022 State LA / 6’5" / Huntington (2022)

Last summer there was no hybrid big more hot than Desmond Washington Desmond Washington 6'4" | SF Huntington | 2022 State LA . The Raider forward was playing well and gaining more confidence on the wing and the block. Then, during the season, his minutes became less and less. So, to pick his confidence up again, playing with his grassroots team would have done a world of good. Couple that with him getting starter type minutes in the Bossier summer league and team camp participation and Washington might have been primed to breakout this season. However, with no summer play, we do not know what to expect. Just getting to play will help the situation. Playing with point guard Rayshun McCullar Rayshun McCullar 6'1" | PG Huntington | 2022 State LA will help also.

Marquarius Johnson Marquarius Johnson 6'1" | CG Southwood | 2022 State LA / 6’1" / Southwood (2022)

By the time the 5A playoffs came around, Johnson had started to form his own identity playing in the backcourt with Daniel Ortiz Daniel Ortiz 6'1" | CG Calvary Baptist | 2021 State LA . He had stepped up his scoring by driving the ball more to the basket and getting to the foul line. While he had begun to turn the corner offensively becoming more efficient, COVID hit. Fast forward a few months and now Johnson is about to play under a new coach and might be the number one option in the new Cowboy offense. With a new coach, new plays and new concepts come. Team camps would have helped bridge that gap for Johnson to become more comfortable in his role. With the season upon us, we will how he adjusts on the fly.

These players are among a large group who did not get a chance to work heavily on their skills during the the quarantine. Even with schools opening, the training they get there is nothing like the training they would like to have had for the summer. We will see how a coaches and players prepare themselves as we move to beginning hoops in 2020-21.