Way Too Early Mr. Basketball/Gatorade POY List
With Louisiana moving to Phase 3, the state is eager for football to begin. Right on the heels of football will be basketball season. With the grassroots season done and preseason basketball leagues beginning in neighboring states, it is never…
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Continue ReadingWith Louisiana moving to Phase 3, the state is eager for football to begin. Right on the heels of football will be basketball season. With the grassroots season done and preseason basketball leagues beginning in neighboring states, it is never too early to talk basketball. In this piece, we will take a look at a very early list of who I feel should be contenders for the Gatorade player of the year and the title of Mr. Basketball in the state of Louisiana.
In Alphabetical Order:
- Joe Charles
- Keon Coleman Keon Coleman 6'4" | SG Opelousas Catholic | 2021 State LA
- Carter Domingue Carter Domingue 6'3" | PG St. Thomas More | 2021 State LA
- Chris Lockett Chris Lockett 6'5" | CG Isidore Newman | 2023 State #180 Nation LA
- Rayshun McCullar Rayshun McCullar 6'1" | PG Huntington | 2022 State LA
- Emaryeon McDonald
- Daniel Ortiz Daniel Ortiz 6'1" | CG Calvary Baptist | 2021 State LA
- Carlos Stewart
- Derrick Tezeno Derrick Tezeno 6'5" | SF North Central | 2021 State LA
- Jamond Vincent Jamond Vincent 6'2" | SG Landry-Walker | 2021 State LA
1. Joe Charles (6’7″ | Carencro | 2021) – Charles will be coming off a knee injury and has not played highly competitive basketball for a full ten months. However, knowing Coach Kovatch, Carencro will play a very ambitious schedule. This will give Charles every opportunity to show that he is fully recovered and that he can elevate a team with his play. He may not win, but it will be interesting to see.
2. Keon Coleman Keon Coleman 6'4" | SG Opelousas Catholic | 2021 State LA (6’4″ | Opelousas Catholic | 2021) – Coleman is flat out the most exciting player in the Boot. His summer highlight reel has been nothing short of amazing and he has performed at a high level against some of the best players in the south. He will put up great numbers when he makes it to the hardwood. When he makes it to the court will be the issue. However, he might be busy winning Gatorade POY on the gridiron.
3. Carter Domingue Carter Domingue 6'3" | PG St. Thomas More | 2021 State LA (6’3″ | St. Thomas More | 2021) – Domingue is a three time state champion and may win a 4th with STM. His play with LivOn Fleur-de-lis may be the thing that takes him from all-state to best player in the state. He has really learned how to fill a stat sheet and will be one of the most complete players going into next season. STM having a stout schedule may help Carter have a season to remember.
4. Chris Lockett Chris Lockett 6'5" | CG Isidore Newman | 2023 State #180 Nation LA (6’3″ | Isidore Newman | 2023) – He may have lost his running mate but Chris Lockett Chris Lockett 6'5" | CG Isidore Newman | 2023 State #180 Nation LA has more than enough skill to carry a team. He will be the focal point of the offense that Randy Livingston runs and he should benefit from his knowledge to help him be successful on the floor. Being a sophomore may make the task a slight bit daunting but Lockett should be up for the challenge.
5. Rayshun McCullar Rayshun McCullar 6'1" | PG Huntington | 2022 State LA (6’1″ | Huntington | 2022) – McCullar came on to the high school scene as a scorer and has learned how to pass more in his two seasons as a starter. This coming season he will have to have a marriage of both worlds to help the Raiders be as successful as they can be. His all-state snub may be used as motivation to put up big numbers. If Huntington reaches Lake Charles, McCullar will be a definite candidate for both titles.
6. Emaryeon McDonald (6’1″ | Scotlandville | 2021) – Scotlandville has produced two of the last three winners of the Gatorade POY/Mr. Basketball titles. To produce a third, Emaryeon McDonald will have to have a season like no other. He has gotten a chance to knock off some of the rust this summer but he has not played a full, high school season since being a sophomore. McDonald has the talent to be the top guy. It is a tough ask though after missing so much time.
7. Daniel Ortiz Daniel Ortiz 6'1" | CG Calvary Baptist | 2021 State LA (6’1″ | Calvary Baptist | 2021) – Ortiz set winning these illustrious titles as a goal when last season ended. A new coach, a new school, and a new offense later, it is too early to tell if his goals have changed. Going from 5A to 1A will be an additional change. With that said, Ortiz knows how to put the ball in the hole and is a willing passer as well. He has shown that he can put up big numbers. Can he do that and win a title will be the question. If he does both, he will be in the running.
8. Carlos Stewart (6’1″ | Dunham | 2021) – The reigning 2A Most outstanding player will go into his senior season as a very accomplished basketball player. He is a two-time state champion along with winning 2A’s highest honor. For his high school swan song, Stewart definitely has all the tools to win the state’s top honors. He can score at all three levels and is an elite defender in the state. Going into the season, he will probably be the front runner for the awards. If he repeats last season’s efforts, he may just win.
9. Derrick Tezeno Derrick Tezeno 6'5" | SF North Central | 2021 State LA (6’5″ | North Central | 2021) – Tezeno touts a similar resume to the one of Carlos Stewart. He is a two-time state champion as well and shared district MVP honors with Keon Coleman Keon Coleman 6'4" | SG Opelousas Catholic | 2021 State LA . Tezeno has a really good chance to make it number three in class 1A. It would really help his chances of winning at least one of these awards if he is named the best player in his class. Being that and the title game MOP would it a near lock.
10. Jamond Vincent Jamond Vincent 6'2" | SG Landry-Walker | 2021 State LA (6’2″ | Landry-Walker | 2021) – Four years flew by for Jamond Vincent Jamond Vincent 6'2" | SG Landry-Walker | 2021 State LA . It seems like yesterday that I was watching him play in the state championship game versus Walker. Now, Vincent is a senior and has committed to UNO. Jamond is a skywalker who can shoot it from deep just as well as he can attack the rim and put pressure on a defenses. Vincent is also on a team that should be loaded in 4A. If he leads them to a championship while putting up respectable numbers, I can see him walking away with those trophies.
Other players to consider:
John-Paul Ricks John-Paul Ricks 6'0" | PG Jehovah-Jireh | 2022 State #206 Nation LA (Jehovah-Jireh)
Claudell Harris Claudell Harris 6'3" | CG Hahnville | 2021 State LA (Hahnville)
Solomon Washington Solomon Washington 6'7" | SF Carver | 2022 State #127 Nation LA (Carver)
Percy Daniels Percy Daniels 6'8" | PF Madison Prep | 2022 State LA (Madison Prep)
As the season gets closer, this list will be revisited and examined again. Look for other players to be mentioned when November rolls around.