Festgiving Classic: All-Classic Team (Part II)
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Instead of typing a first and second team with a slew of honorable mention players, I am highlighting the players who were top performers over the two day period at the Festgiving Classic. Part I saw a heavy senior presence.…
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Continue ReadingInstead of typing a first and second team with a slew of honorable mention players, I am highlighting the players who were top performers over the two day period at the Festgiving Classic. Part I saw a heavy senior presence. In Part 2, we will see what class has an abundance of representation.
Lorenzo Caldwell Lorenzo Caldwell 6'5" | SF Slidell | 2021 State LA (Slidell / 6’4″ / 2021) – Caldwell put together some highlight plays that kept them in shouting distance with Hahnville. He had a big chase down block after a turnover and hit a big three to bring Slidell within single digits late. While he only scored 16, his energy and effort were big towards the Slidell comeback.
Brandon Harton Brandon Harton 6'4" | SF Jehovah-Jireh | 2021 State LA (Jehovah-Jireh / 6’4″ / 2021) – During the first half of their game against Helen Cox, it seemed that Harton was well on his way to a 30 point double-double. He was ultra aggressive on the offensive boards and kept converting putbacks. Even when Cox collapsed in the paint in the 2nd half, he still made several assists from the high post. Harton is a high IQ player who makes defenses pay consistently.
Alexzaye Johnson Alexzaye Johnson 6'4" | PG St Benedicts Prep | 2023 State NJ (Helen Cox / 6’2″ / 2022) – Johnson was frustrated early against Jehovah-Jireh and had a couple of uncharacteristic turnovers. Once he settled down, he was not rattled at all. In the second half, he turned it on from behind the arc and defensively. Then, with the game on the line, he hit the closing free throws. Johnson is maturing before our eyes into one of the better point guards in the state.
John Kelly John Kelly 6'7" | SF John Ehret | 2023 State #237 Nation LA (Crescent City / 6’8″ / 2023) – The Crescent City big man showed exactly what he was capable of during their two games at the Classic. Kelly was a target on short in-bound lobs and scored everywhere from the perimeter to the paint. He bounced back from his single digit effort with a 20 point game against Beau Chene. Kelly is an impressive sophomore and will only get better.
Kurt Labeaud Kurt Labeaud 5'11" | PG Crescent City | 2021 State LA (Crescent City / 6’0″ / 2021) – LaBeaud had a solid outing in the Pioneers two games during the weekend. He scored in double digits in both contest and played as good a point guard as anyone during the weekend. LaBeaud defended on the ball well, caused turnovers, and scored the rock. Crescent City has a great chance to repeat as champions if LaBeaud plays like he did at Festgiving.
Patrick Lavie (Jesuit / 6’1″ / 2021) – Lavie was a large contributor to the Blue Jays win in game one of the Festgiving Classic. He scored all his points in the second half and hit two big three point shots in a stretch where East Ascension had cut the lead to four. Lavie is definitely a knockdown shooter and should be a big contributor to any success Jesuit has going forward.
Avontez Ledet Avontez Ledet 6'3" | CG Cecilia | 2021 State LA (Cecilia / 6’3″ / 2021) – The Lamar signee had a marvelous floor game during the Cecilia win over East St. John. I have not seen a right handed player drive left and be successful getting to his spots like Ledet did on day 2. From attacking on dribble handoffs to elevating over defenders from three, Ledet set the tone and his team followed it to victory,
Porter Lichtl (Jesuit / 6’3″ / 2021) – Lichtl was a good two-way player for the Blue Jays. He was all over the court either chasing down rebounds or running the floor finishing on the break. Lichtl put a hurting on the rim a couple of times finishing plays on the break. His activity was a key to Jesuit walking away with the opening win during the Classic.
Zion McCoy (Northside / 6’1″ / 2023) – Northside might have taken it on the chin against LB Landry but they might have found a player to tag team with Everette Prejean Everette Prejean 6'2" | CG Northside | 2022 State LA . McCoy’s fourteen point effort was a mixture of corner threes and baseline drives to the rim. He displayed an ability to take players off the dribble and was not afraid to be agressive. McCoy and his confidence may be what Northside needs to mature as a team.
JonQuarius McGhee JonQuarius McGhee 6'3" | CG Opelousas | 2021 State LA (Opelousas / 6’3″ / 2021) – McGhee may be playing better than any player in this early part of the season and he gave St. Augustine a first hand example. He attacked off the dribble from the first possession of the game and kept applying pressure. McGhee benefitted from he and his teammates aggressive defense by a couple of breakaway scores. His 21 points led the way to a Tiger victory over the Purple Knights.
Kaden Pierre Kaden Pierre 6'3" | SF Hahnville | 2021 State LA (Hahnville / 6’4″ / 2021) – Pierre had one of the best performances of the Festgiving Classic. His 28 point effort was a combination of his full repertoire. Offensive rebounds and putbacks, short jumpers from the mid-range, and beating defenders off the dribble. If Pierre continues to have games like he did during the Classic, Hahnville will be hard to beat in any gym this season.
Some of the performances during the Festgiving Classic were confirmation of that player’s talent while other performances introduced players to the Louisiana landscape. Look for more from the players who comprise this All-Classic team as the season continues.