The Class of 2023 2nd Ten

The class of 2023 rankings in Louisiana debuted last month with Isidore Newman’s [player_tooltip player_id="970120" first="Chris" last="Lockett"] sitting at the top. Consequently, we reviewed the top ten in that class and they are a very accomplished group already. The next ten is not too bad either. We will take a look at 11-20 and some of the good things we will see from them this season. [player_tooltip player_id="970138" first="Warren" last="Young Jr."] / 6’0" / Walker The rising sophomore got plenty of run last season next to [player_tooltip player_id="778619" first="Jalen" last="Cook"] playing the off guard. This season he will probably play more with the ball in his hands but still see time at the off guard. He has talented wings that will help him fill up his assist total and he can knock down the three. His perimeter defense should be what helps the team the most because he is a disruptor on that end. Young should help Walker be one of the feared teams in class 5A. [player_tooltip player_id="1055169" first="Kam" last="Johnson"] / 5’9" / Archbishop Shaw Johnson is another budding sophomore guard with a lot of offensive swag. Even at his stature, Johnson can breakdown defenders and create havoc in the lane. He has the ability to finish at the rim with unique up-and-under finishes or he can float one over the top. His outside shot is nothing to sneeze at either. Johnson can be a pitbull on defense as well. He can take over games with his driving ability and will make Shaw a team to watch this season. [player_tooltip player_id="970139" first="Chris" last="Carpenter"] / 5’9" / Woodlawn-Shreveport On thing about this rising sophomore from Shreveport is that he is not shy to put it up. Whether it is a junior varsity game or a playoff game, if Carpenter is open, he is going to shoot. That is not the only thing that he does well. He can is very fast in changing ends with the ball in transition. Carpenter is hard to stay in front of and can get to the rack effectively. Being a freshman, sometimes decision-making was an issue. However, he should be primed to help the Knights return to Marsh Madness in this sophomore season. [player_tooltip player_id="970114" first="Demarcus" last="Singleton"] / 5’10" / H.L. Bourgeois It is hard to make an all-state team as a junior or season, let alone as a freshman. However, that is what Singleton did during his freshman campaign making all-state honorable mention. Now, moving into his sophomore year, he will be looking to repeat that performance. Singleton will handle the ball more in the similar vain of [player_tooltip player_id="848220" first="Deondre" last="Buggage"] and will still be asked to score. Not many sophomores are leaders on their teams. However, Singleton is one that will be asked to be one. We will see if he rises to the occasion. [player_tooltip player_id="1055173" first="Robert" last="Youngblood"] / 6’2" / Dutchtown There are not many freshman who have the uncanny ability to read passing lanes and make timely plays. [player_tooltip player_id="1055173" first="Robert" last="Youngblood"] is one of those players. Defensively, it he makes great reads on passes and passing angles. He is going to get the steal or create a deflection. While his defense is good, he can shoot the ball even better. He was a long range bomber for LivOn this summer and for Dutchtown last season. Look for him to continue his consistent shooting while playing solid D this season for the Griffins. [player_tooltip player_id="970126" first="Omarion" last="Layssard"] / 6’3" / Northwood-Lena For Twitter follwers, they saw the exploits of [player_tooltip player_id="970126" first="Omarion" last="Layssard"] pretty much all season. The Gator wing was a highlight film of dunk after dunk in the open floor. He is exceptional at taking a steal or a pass and finishing above the rim. Layssard is also the Gators best rebounder and gets alot of his points in the paint off the rim. Going into this coming season, if Layssard shows the ability to play as well outside as he does in the open floor and in the paint, he will be on of the sophomores to watch this year. [player_tooltip player_id="970130" first="Courtney" last="McCarthy"] / 6’3" / Richwood The Rams have a way of keeping talent in south Monroe. The latest in this long line of talented players is [player_tooltip player_id="970130" first="Courtney" last="McCarthy"]. He was a starter in the Richwood backcourt that made it to the 3A quarterfinals (losing to eventual champion Bossier). McCarthy is smooth and lets the game come to him. He is adept at shooting the long ball and will put it on the floor to get a better shot at certain spots. With his ability, it is only a matter of time that we will be touting him as one of the best in the Monroe area. [player_tooltip player_id="1055171" first="Derrick" last="Burditt"] / 6’2" / Crescent City Coach Shaun Dumas will have another good team this season and has found a good guard in Burditt. This rising sophomore has passion and fight similar to that of his coach with a nice game to go with it. He is not swift off the dribble but he knows how to get to his spots. He can be the primary point or play off the ball which is a great asset these days. Burditt has plenty of potential. Working with Coach Dumas, we will probably see the fruits of that labor in the near future. [player_tooltip player_id="970136" first="Harvey" last="Broussard"] / 6’4" / St. Martinville St. Martinville was already going to have a highwire act going with [player_tooltip player_id="1045510" first="Da’tayvious" last="Gabriel"] on the floor. Adding Broussard to the mix may provide even more reason for defenders to watch their back in rebounding situations. The rising sophomore is a gifted wide receiver who also has a quick first step on the hardwood. He is long, lanky and can has the potential to embarass defenders at the rim. Adding his athleticism to an an already athletic team will make St. Martinville one to really watch in 3A. [player_tooltip player_id="970110" first="Eric" last="Washington Jr."] / 6’1" / Delhi The Bears always seem to have a guard or wing that can do pretty much everything on the floor. The latest player to step into that role is Eric Washington. The 6’1" rising sophomore will do the dirty work on the boards, lead the break after gathering a rebound, or spot up on the wing. Washington can do almost anything Coach Lusk requires of him. The Bears have always had success with players like Washington who do several things well. We will see if this rising sophomore can carry on the tradition. The top 20 players in the class of 2023 are going to be some of the players to watch this upcoming season no matter the classification. Look for them to make their mark on the prep scene in north and south Louisiana.

The class of 2023 rankings in Louisiana debuted last month with Isidore Newman’s Chris Lockett Chris Lockett 6'5" | CG Isidore Newman | 2023 State #180 Nation LA sitting at the top. Consequently, we reviewed the top ten in that class and they are a very accomplished group already. The next ten is not too bad either. We will take a look at 11-20 and some of the good things we will see from them this season.

Warren Young Warren Young 6'1" | CG Walker | 2023 State LA / 6’0" / Walker

The rising sophomore got plenty of run last season next to Jalen Cook Jalen Cook 6'0" | PG Walker | 2020 State #98 Nation LA playing the off guard. This season he will probably play more with the ball in his hands but still see time at the off guard. He has talented wings that will help him fill up his assist total and he can knock down the three. His perimeter defense should be what helps the team the most because he is a disruptor on that end. Young should help Walker be one of the feared teams in class 5A.

Kam Johnson Kam Johnson 5'9" | PG Archbishop Shaw | 2023 State LA / 5’9" / Archbishop Shaw

Johnson is another budding sophomore guard with a lot of offensive swag. Even at his stature, Johnson can breakdown defenders and create havoc in the lane. He has the ability to finish at the rim with unique up-and-under finishes or he can float one over the top. His outside shot is nothing to sneeze at either. Johnson can be a pitbull on defense as well. He can take over games with his driving ability and will make Shaw a team to watch this season.

Chris Carpenter Chris Carpenter 5'9" | PG Huntington | 2023 State LA / 5’9" / Woodlawn-Shreveport

On thing about this rising sophomore from Shreveport is that he is not shy to put it up. Whether it is a junior varsity game or a playoff game, if Carpenter is open, he is going to shoot. That is not the only thing that he does well. He can is very fast in changing ends with the ball in transition. Carpenter is hard to stay in front of and can get to the rack effectively. Being a freshman, sometimes decision-making was an issue. However, he should be primed to help the Knights return to Marsh Madness in this sophomore season.

Demarcus Singleton Demarcus Singleton 5'10" | CG Thibodaux | 2023 State LA / 5’10" / H.L. Bourgeois

It is hard to make an all-state team as a junior or season, let alone as a freshman. However, that is what Singleton did during his freshman campaign making all-state honorable mention. Now, moving into his sophomore year, he will be looking to repeat that performance. Singleton will handle the ball more in the similar vain of Deondre Buggage Deondre Buggage 5'8" | CG H.L. Bourgeious | 2020 State LA and will still be asked to score. Not many sophomores are leaders on their teams. However, Singleton is one that will be asked to be one. We will see if he rises to the occasion.

Robert Youngblood Robert Youngblood 6'3" | SG Dutchtown | 2023 State LA / 6’2" / Dutchtown

There are not many freshman who have the uncanny ability to read passing lanes and make timely plays. Robert Youngblood Robert Youngblood 6'3" | SG Dutchtown | 2023 State LA is one of those players. Defensively, it he makes great reads on passes and passing angles. He is going to get the steal or create a deflection. While his defense is good, he can shoot the ball even better. He was a long range bomber for LivOn this summer and for Dutchtown last season. Look for him to continue his consistent shooting while playing solid D this season for the Griffins.

Omarion Layssard Omarion Layssard 6'2" | SG Northwood | 2023 State LA / 6’3" / Northwood-Lena

For Twitter follwers, they saw the exploits of Omarion Layssard Omarion Layssard 6'2" | SG Northwood | 2023 State LA pretty much all season. The Gator wing was a highlight film of dunk after dunk in the open floor. He is exceptional at taking a steal or a pass and finishing above the rim. Layssard is also the Gators best rebounder and gets alot of his points in the paint off the rim. Going into this coming season, if Layssard shows the ability to play as well outside as he does in the open floor and in the paint, he will be on of the sophomores to watch this year.

Courtney McCarthy Courtney McCarthy 6'5" | SG Richwood | 2023 State LA / 6’3" / Richwood

The Rams have a way of keeping talent in south Monroe. The latest in this long line of talented players is Courtney McCarthy Courtney McCarthy 6'5" | SG Richwood | 2023 State LA . He was a starter in the Richwood backcourt that made it to the 3A quarterfinals (losing to eventual champion Bossier). McCarthy is smooth and lets the game come to him. He is adept at shooting the long ball and will put it on the floor to get a better shot at certain spots. With his ability, it is only a matter of time that we will be touting him as one of the best in the Monroe area.

Derek Burditt Jr Derek Burditt Jr 6'2" | CG Shaun Dumas Academy | 2023 State LA / 6’2" / Crescent City

Coach Shaun Dumas will have another good team this season and has found a good guard in Burditt. This rising sophomore has passion and fight similar to that of his coach with a nice game to go with it. He is not swift off the dribble but he knows how to get to his spots. He can be the primary point or play off the ball which is a great asset these days. Burditt has plenty of potential. Working with Coach Dumas, we will probably see the fruits of that labor in the near future.

Harvey Broussard Harvey Broussard 6'3" | SF St. Martinville | 2023 State LA / 6’4" / St. Martinville

St. Martinville was already going to have a highwire act going with Da’tayvious Gabriel Da’tayvious Gabriel 6'5" | SF St. Martinville | 2021 State LA on the floor. Adding Broussard to the mix may provide even more reason for defenders to watch their back in rebounding situations. The rising sophomore is a gifted wide receiver who also has a quick first step on the hardwood. He is long, lanky and can has the potential to embarass defenders at the rim. Adding his athleticism to an an already athletic team will make St. Martinville one to really watch in 3A.

Eric Washington Eric Washington 6'2" | CG Delhi | 2023 State LA / 6’1" / Delhi

The Bears always seem to have a guard or wing that can do pretty much everything on the floor. The latest player to step into that role is Eric Washington. The 6’1" rising sophomore will do the dirty work on the boards, lead the break after gathering a rebound, or spot up on the wing. Washington can do almost anything Coach Lusk requires of him. The Bears have always had success with players like Washington who do several things well. We will see if this rising sophomore can carry on the tradition.

The top 20 players in the class of 2023 are going to be some of the players to watch this upcoming season no matter the classification. Look for them to make their mark on the prep scene in north and south Louisiana.