Louisiana Standouts at the Space City Collision

Players from the Boot have been performing well on the Prep Hoops Circuit. Preps like [player_tooltip player_id="1213569" first="Jakobe" last="Dykes"] (Showtime Elite ’23) and [player_tooltip player_id="781836" first="Donald" last="Butler"] (Showtime Elite ’22) have made an impression on scouts and other fans with their above the rim play. The common theme is how well Louisiana players have played on the Prep Hoops Circuit. This tournament saw six teams teams from Louisiana perform at a high level. The Louisiana standouts from the Space City Collision were the best of the best from the weekend of hoops. [player_tooltip player_id="1051638" first="Troy" last="Cole"] (6’5″ | Showtime Elite ’22 | 2022) The Prep Hoops Circuit has given Cole a lot of floor time to display his skill set and none of that was more evident than in Houston. Cole showed that he is a two way player who is really blossoming on the offensive end. During the Collision, Cole stepped out and hit long range jumpers consistently. He rebounded the ball a couple of times and went coast-to-coast for layups. Cole was very hard to stop from going left and got to the rim repeatedly. He was Julius Randle-esque in that way. Defense is where Cole separates himself from others. His ability to guard the perimeter and taller wings makes him a valuable commodity on the floor. The improving jumper he showed in Houston may be his ticket to becoming more highly recruited. [player_tooltip player_id="1211097" first="Amare" last="Anderson"] (6’9″ | Showtime Elite ’22 | 2023) This 6’9" specimen is still learning his way around the paint. However, the flashes he displayed in Houston were enough to be encouraged about his future. Anderson showed the ability to catch the ball in tight spaces and finish at the rim. He also has a large catch radius and showed that on the high screen and roll. His ability to catch the ball in the paint is refreshing to see. Anderson can rebound too for his slight frame. The positives he displayed in Houston are tantalizing. If he keeps improving from game-to-game, watch out for him. [player_tooltip player_id="1202673" first="Jakobe" last="Singleton"] (6’4″ | Louisiana Fire ’22 | 2021) Singleton is one of the players in the 2021 class who has flown under the radar. However, he has performed well on the Prep Hoops Circuit. At the Space City Collision, Singleton continued that great play. Singleton has guard skills but has to play mostly in the paint due to his height. Offensively, he proved to be a mismatch for guys trying to defend them in Houston. He drove around a few defenders and out ran others in transition to score many of his buckets. He has very long arms and that helped him extend to the basket for dunks as well. Singleton is a wing who can defend other wings and get to the rim. His attributes worked well for him in Houston and will hopefully get him a late look during the rest of the recruiting period. D’Shawn Hunt (6’5″ | Louisiana Fire ’22 | 2022) Hunt had one of the more impressive defensive plays of the weekend in Houston. He was able to block the shot of a three point shooter, gather it, and flush it on the other end for a breakaway two. That one played summed up what Hunt has to offer on the basketball floor. He can defend the paint as a shot blocker, he can run the floor well, and he can finish around the rim. Hunt is gifted around the rim and finished with either hand in Houston. He coupled that with a short jumper as well that made him even more lethal in the half court. The Louisiana Fire forward made a name for himself in Houston with his play. If that same effort translates the rest of the summer, Hunt will be a load to handle. [player_tooltip player_id="981605" first="Preston" last="Bourda"] (6’1″ | Louisiana Broncos ’22 | 2022) Bourda has carried over his play during the LHSAA playoffs to the Prep Hoops Circuit. What we have now is a guard playing this grassroots season brimming with confidence like he exhibited in Houston. Bourda can drive either direction and kept defenders off balance that way. He finished with layups at the rim with both hands, floaters in the paint, and short jumpers. Bourda nailed a couple of threes as well to further frustrate defenders. The Space City Collision was not necessarily a coming out party for Bourda. However, he is a player who used Houston to garner more interest. Bourda is already a hard-nosed defender. With the offensive skill he showed in Houston, Bourda should open some eyes in recruiting circles. [player_tooltip player_id="932845" first="Jawarren" last="Cade"] (6’2″ | Central Louisiana ’22 | 2022) The lefty guard from Central Louisiana had a very good tournament despite his team going .500 on the weekend. Cade is one of those rare guards/wings who enjoying driving right even though he is left-handed. The drive right works for his game perfectly however. Defenders in Houston had a hard time getting into his air space because Cade was very effective using his step back jumper. He was very effective from the right elbow with this move combination. That combination also setup his quick crossover to drive left. Cade made defends pay repeatedly operating on the right side of the floor. Houston was a good place to showcase what he can do as a scorer. Cade will definitely be ready when the Cenla team heads back out on the road. [player_tooltip player_id="1051642" first="Desmond" last="Duncan"] (6’2″ | Central Louisiana ’22 | 2022) Duncan was another impressive player during the weekend. As a matter of fact, he made my all-tournament team because he could do several things on the floor. On defense, he was very good at defending the rim at only 6’2". He deflected or blocked shots on several occasions. Duncan rebounded the ball well and had the ability to push when he got it. He finished a few layups by never being stopped from the time he got the rebound until the instant he laid it up. Duncan shot the ball well from 18 feet in. While he did not shoot from distance much, he displayed the ability to stretch the floor. Duncan is a multi-talented player and seems to be scratching the surface of his talent. He may be a true sleeper in recruiting circles. The Prep Hoops Circuit has been good for some of those fringe players within the state who needed extra time on the floor to develop their game. The competition level on the PH Circuit has been superb and has allowed growth. Watch as these players move into June and then the evaluation period in July. Some of them will be receiving offers headed into next school year.

Players from the Boot have been performing well on the Prep Hoops Circuit. Preps like Jakobe Dykes Jakobe Dykes 6'5" | SF Shaun Dumas Academy | 2023 State LA (Showtime Elite ’23) and Donald Butler Donald Butler 6'5" | SF Walker | 2022 State LA (Showtime Elite ’22) have made an impression on scouts and other fans with their above the rim play. The common theme is how well Louisiana players have played on the Prep Hoops Circuit. This tournament saw six teams teams from Louisiana perform at a high level. The Louisiana standouts from the Space City Collision were the best of the best from the weekend of hoops.

Troy Cole Troy Cole 6'5" | SG Donaldsonville | 2022 State LA (6’5″ | Showtime Elite ’22 | 2022)

The Prep Hoops Circuit has given Cole a lot of floor time to display his skill set and none of that was more evident than in Houston. Cole showed that he is a two way player who is really blossoming on the offensive end. During the Collision, Cole stepped out and hit long range jumpers consistently. He rebounded the ball a couple of times and went coast-to-coast for layups. Cole was very hard to stop from going left and got to the rim repeatedly. He was Julius Randle-esque in that way. Defense is where Cole separates himself from others. His ability to guard the perimeter and taller wings makes him a valuable commodity on the floor. The improving jumper he showed in Houston may be his ticket to becoming more highly recruited.

Amare Anderson Amare Anderson 6'9" | PF Moravian Prep | 2022 State LA (6’9″ | Showtime Elite ’22 | 2023)

This 6’9" specimen is still learning his way around the paint. However, the flashes he displayed in Houston were enough to be encouraged about his future. Anderson showed the ability to catch the ball in tight spaces and finish at the rim. He also has a large catch radius and showed that on the high screen and roll. His ability to catch the ball in the paint is refreshing to see. Anderson can rebound too for his slight frame. The positives he displayed in Houston are tantalizing. If he keeps improving from game-to-game, watch out for him.

Jakobe Singleton Jakobe Singleton 6'3" | SG St. Amant | 2021 State LA (6’4″ | Louisiana Fire ’22 | 2021)

Singleton is one of the players in the 2021 class who has flown under the radar. However, he has performed well on the Prep Hoops Circuit. At the Space City Collision, Singleton continued that great play. Singleton has guard skills but has to play mostly in the paint due to his height. Offensively, he proved to be a mismatch for guys trying to defend them in Houston. He drove around a few defenders and out ran others in transition to score many of his buckets. He has very long arms and that helped him extend to the basket for dunks as well. Singleton is a wing who can defend other wings and get to the rim. His attributes worked well for him in Houston and will hopefully get him a late look during the rest of the recruiting period.

D’Shawn Hunt (6’5″ | Louisiana Fire ’22 | 2022)

Hunt had one of the more impressive defensive plays of the weekend in Houston. He was able to block the shot of a three point shooter, gather it, and flush it on the other end for a breakaway two. That one played summed up what Hunt has to offer on the basketball floor. He can defend the paint as a shot blocker, he can run the floor well, and he can finish around the rim. Hunt is gifted around the rim and finished with either hand in Houston. He coupled that with a short jumper as well that made him even more lethal in the half court. The Louisiana Fire forward made a name for himself in Houston with his play. If that same effort translates the rest of the summer, Hunt will be a load to handle.

Preston Bourda Preston Bourda 6'0" | CG Ellender | 2022 State LA (6’1″ | Louisiana Broncos ’22 | 2022)

Bourda has carried over his play during the LHSAA playoffs to the Prep Hoops Circuit. What we have now is a guard playing this grassroots season brimming with confidence like he exhibited in Houston. Bourda can drive either direction and kept defenders off balance that way. He finished with layups at the rim with both hands, floaters in the paint, and short jumpers. Bourda nailed a couple of threes as well to further frustrate defenders. The Space City Collision was not necessarily a coming out party for Bourda. However, he is a player who used Houston to garner more interest. Bourda is already a hard-nosed defender. With the offensive skill he showed in Houston, Bourda should open some eyes in recruiting circles.

Jawarren Cade Jawarren Cade 6'2" | CG Many | 2022 State LA (6’2″ | Central Louisiana ’22 | 2022)

The lefty guard from Central Louisiana had a very good tournament despite his team going .500 on the weekend. Cade is one of those rare guards/wings who enjoying driving right even though he is left-handed. The drive right works for his game perfectly however. Defenders in Houston had a hard time getting into his air space because Cade was very effective using his step back jumper. He was very effective from the right elbow with this move combination. That combination also setup his quick crossover to drive left. Cade made defends pay repeatedly operating on the right side of the floor. Houston was a good place to showcase what he can do as a scorer. Cade will definitely be ready when the Cenla team heads back out on the road.

Desmond Duncan Desmond Duncan 6'4" | CG Winnfield | 2022 State LA (6’2″ | Central Louisiana ’22 | 2022)

Duncan was another impressive player during the weekend. As a matter of fact, he made my all-tournament team because he could do several things on the floor. On defense, he was very good at defending the rim at only 6’2". He deflected or blocked shots on several occasions. Duncan rebounded the ball well and had the ability to push when he got it. He finished a few layups by never being stopped from the time he got the rebound until the instant he laid it up. Duncan shot the ball well from 18 feet in. While he did not shoot from distance much, he displayed the ability to stretch the floor. Duncan is a multi-talented player and seems to be scratching the surface of his talent. He may be a true sleeper in recruiting circles.

The Prep Hoops Circuit has been good for some of those fringe players within the state who needed extra time on the floor to develop their game. The competition level on the PH Circuit has been superb and has allowed growth. Watch as these players move into June and then the evaluation period in July. Some of them will be receiving offers headed into next school year.