Class of 2023 Rankings Review: Newcomers

The class of 2023 saw and addition of 20-plus players in their latest ranking update. Most of these players were standouts during the team camps in June, the live period in July, and the elite camps in August. [player_tooltip player_id="1275327" first="Elliot" last="McQuillan"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1275335" first="Christian" last="Walker"] are two of the players who help headline this group. These newcomers are players that should enrich the talent pool of an already deep class. [player_tooltip player_id="1127251" first="Decedric" last="Webb"] (6’4" / Huntington / #36) To be honest, there are times when Webb looks like the most dominate player on the floor. He does not overwhelm teams with his overall offensive skill but with his basketball savvy and athleticism. Webb can defend at all five positions, he can post on either block, and he can rebound in traffic. He runs the floor like a classic wing and finishes above or through contact. Coming into this season, if he becomes a consistent perimeter threat at all, he will be very hard to defend. [player_tooltip player_id="1273398" first="Cardez" last="Norman"] (6’5" / Sterlington / #37) Norman was a player who burst onto the scene with his size and play at the Northwestern State Elite camp. He is a player who looks taller than 6’5" due to his long arms and upper body. Norman can explode from the floor and dunk on players in a instant. He is also good around the glass. What I like most is when he post, he makes himself big and gives the post passer a good target. Norman has a ton of potential and playing in 2-3A will give him a lot of on the job training. He plays well in that district and his star will definitely rise. [player_tooltip player_id="1273399" first="Stafford" last="Bailey"] (6’3" / Minden / #49) When I think of my definition of the classic combo guard, Bailey is a guard that comes to my mind. He is equally adept at scoring the rock as he is at making plays for others. During the Demons team camp in June, Bailey took turns doing both as he had the ball in his hands frequently. He has enough wiggle with his handle to create space for his jumper. Bailey can also turn the corner and get by guards as well. He has a high basketball IQ as well which will make him a tough assignment for guards who play the Minden Tide this season. [player_tooltip player_id="1273400" first="Braylan" last="McNeil"] (6’5" / Ruston / #50) McNeal is a long and thin wing who can rebound, run, and block shots. He is always around the ball and routinely makes plays on defense with his extensive reach. McNeil showed his ability to guard multiple positions at the NSU Elite camp as well as during the season with Ruston. His long arms allow him to stay active in passing lanes and block jumpers defenders usually cannot get to. His offensive game does need a little polishing but McNeil has some traits that you just cannot teach. [player_tooltip player_id="1273401" first="Jabarri" last="Berry"] (6’0" / Barbe / #53) Berry played pretty well during the team camp at LSU-Alexandria and the elite camp at Northwestern State. One thing he is very good at getting into the paint. On several occasions versus competition at both camps, Berry either split to top of the zone or got past the initial defender into the paint. He has a short jumper and a floater he can score with. Berry also has a strong upper body and takes contact well. As the floor general for a this year’s Barbe team, he will definitely be a player to watch. [player_tooltip player_id="1275324" first="Jai" last="Johnson"] (5’10" / Hahnville / #88) -pictured above The Hahnville point guard spent the live period making the summer miserable for guards trying to defend him and guards he was defending. Johnson is super quick and has a lightening quick first step. When he gets by the initial defender, he is usually at the rack so quick that the help is too late. On the defensive side, Johnson reads crossovers well. He will rip a defender and be sprinting the other way before the other player has time to recover. Johnson is a player who will give other teams fits because of how he plays on both ends of the floor. [player_tooltip player_id="1275341" first="Tomario" last="Thomas"] (6’2" / Evangel / #89) During one sequence at the Prep Hoops Louisiana Top 250 expo, Thomas caught the ball after a turnover and attempted to dunk on the player in front of him. While the dunk attempt was deflected, that one play categorized his nature on the floor. Thomas is aggressive on defense and looks to get to the rim offensively. He is a player who has the ability to switch everything on the perimeter and do a good job defensively. If Evangel gets this young man on the wing in transition, there may be some fireworks coming from the gym on Broad Acres. [player_tooltip player_id="1263093" first="Damien" last="Walters"] (5’10" / Union Parish / #109) <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/08/Walters-Jr.-Damien-3.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1269779" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/08/Walters-Jr.-Damien-3-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a> Walters attended the Prep Hoops Top 250 event in Baton Rouge and gave everyone a glimpse of what he can do. Just like his film, Walters finds ways to score in the paint despite his size. He can also set the nets on fire from deep. Walters has a smooth release and shoots the ball in rhythm. During the expo, Walters showed that he is not a bad finisher in transition either. The way he shoots the rock coupled with his finishing ability, he has the tools to move up the rankings. [player_tooltip player_id="1213600" first="Jamil" last="Brooks"] (6’2" / Woodlawn-Shreveport / #110) The Brooks name has been synonymous with Knight basketball in recent years. Devante and Jalen have moved on to star at Southern Arkansas. Now, [player_tooltip player_id="1213600" first="Jamil" last="Brooks"] will get his chance to play significant varsity minutes at Woodlawn. He is a guard/wing how is very good in the open floor and can defend wings on the perimeter. His play at the Madison Prep team camp and during the Bossier summer league showed that he will be important piece in what Woodlawn does defensively this season. [player_tooltip player_id="1275345" first="Zavien" last="Trent"] (5’7" / Sulphur / #111) <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/08/Trent-Zavien-2.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1269768" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/08/Trent-Zavien-2-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a> Trent is an elusive point guard with a very good handle. During the Prep Hoops Top 250 expo, he spent the day dribbling into spaces guards bigger than him could not. He is very good handling the ball with either hand and can go left or right. His height helps him defensively. He frustrated several guards at the expo with his ability to get lower than them and basically take the rock. Trent has a floater that he will release from various angles as well. He is a point guard who can score when he gets the opportunity. All newcomers are listed in the latest PH Louisiana rankings. The 2023 class is a very talented one and these players personify that. Look for these players and others to be prominent factors in the success of their teams this season.

The class of 2023 saw and addition of 20-plus players in their latest ranking update. Most of these players were standouts during the team camps in June, the live period in July, and the elite camps in August. Elliot McQuillan and Christian Walker are two of the players who help headline this group. These newcomers are players that should enrich the talent pool of an already deep class.

Decedric Webb Decedric Webb 6'5" | SF Huntington | 2023 State LA (6’4" / Huntington / #36)

To be honest, there are times when Webb looks like the most dominate player on the floor. He does not overwhelm teams with his overall offensive skill but with his basketball savvy and athleticism. Webb can defend at all five positions, he can post on either block, and he can rebound in traffic. He runs the floor like a classic wing and finishes above or through contact. Coming into this season, if he becomes a consistent perimeter threat at all, he will be very hard to defend.

Cardez Norman Cardez Norman 6'6" | PF Sterlington | 2024 LA (6’5" / Sterlington / #37)

Norman was a player who burst onto the scene with his size and play at the Northwestern State Elite camp. He is a player who looks taller than 6’5" due to his long arms and upper body. Norman can explode from the floor and dunk on players in a instant. He is also good around the glass. What I like most is when he post, he makes himself big and gives the post passer a good target. Norman has a ton of potential and playing in 2-3A will give him a lot of on the job training. He plays well in that district and his star will definitely rise.

Stafford Bailey Stafford Bailey 6'3" | CG Minden | 2023 State LA (6’3" / Minden / #49)

When I think of my definition of the classic combo guard, Bailey is a guard that comes to my mind. He is equally adept at scoring the rock as he is at making plays for others. During the Demons team camp in June, Bailey took turns doing both as he had the ball in his hands frequently. He has enough wiggle with his handle to create space for his jumper. Bailey can also turn the corner and get by guards as well. He has a high basketball IQ as well which will make him a tough assignment for guards who play the Minden Tide this season.

Braylan McNeal Braylan McNeal 6'6" | SF Ruston | 2023 State LA (6’5" / Ruston / #50)

McNeal is a long and thin wing who can rebound, run, and block shots. He is always around the ball and routinely makes plays on defense with his extensive reach. McNeil showed his ability to guard multiple positions at the NSU Elite camp as well as during the season with Ruston. His long arms allow him to stay active in passing lanes and block jumpers defenders usually cannot get to. His offensive game does need a little polishing but McNeil has some traits that you just cannot teach.

Jabbari Barry Jabbari Barry 6'1" | PG Barbe | 2023 State LA (6’0" / Barbe / #53)

Berry played pretty well during the team camp at LSU-Alexandria and the elite camp at Northwestern State. One thing he is very good at getting into the paint. On several occasions versus competition at both camps, Berry either split to top of the zone or got past the initial defender into the paint. He has a short jumper and a floater he can score with. Berry also has a strong upper body and takes contact well. As the floor general for a this year’s Barbe team, he will definitely be a player to watch.

Jai Johnson (5’10" / Hahnville / #88) -pictured above

The Hahnville point guard spent the live period making the summer miserable for guards trying to defend him and guards he was defending. Johnson is super quick and has a lightening quick first step. When he gets by the initial defender, he is usually at the rack so quick that the help is too late. On the defensive side, Johnson reads crossovers well. He will rip a defender and be sprinting the other way before the other player has time to recover. Johnson is a player who will give other teams fits because of how he plays on both ends of the floor.

Tomario Thomas (6’2" / Evangel / #89)

During one sequence at the Prep Hoops Louisiana Top 250 expo, Thomas caught the ball after a turnover and attempted to dunk on the player in front of him. While the dunk attempt was deflected, that one play categorized his nature on the floor. Thomas is aggressive on defense and looks to get to the rim offensively. He is a player who has the ability to switch everything on the perimeter and do a good job defensively. If Evangel gets this young man on the wing in transition, there may be some fireworks coming from the gym on Broad Acres.

Damien Walters Damien Walters 5'10" | PG Union Parish | 2023 State LA (5’10" / Union Parish / #109)

Walters attended the Prep Hoops Top 250 event in Baton Rouge and gave everyone a glimpse of what he can do. Just like his film, Walters finds ways to score in the paint despite his size. He can also set the nets on fire from deep. Walters has a smooth release and shoots the ball in rhythm. During the expo, Walters showed that he is not a bad finisher in transition either. The way he shoots the rock coupled with his finishing ability, he has the tools to move up the rankings.

Jamil Brooks Jamil Brooks 6'2" | SG Woodlawn-Shreveport | 2023 State LA (6’2" / Woodlawn-Shreveport / #110)

The Brooks name has been synonymous with Knight basketball in recent years. Devante and Jalen have moved on to star at Southern Arkansas. Now, Jamil Brooks Jamil Brooks 6'2" | SG Woodlawn-Shreveport | 2023 State LA will get his chance to play significant varsity minutes at Woodlawn. He is a guard/wing how is very good in the open floor and can defend wings on the perimeter. His play at the Madison Prep team camp and during the Bossier summer league showed that he will be important piece in what Woodlawn does defensively this season.

Zavien Trent (5’7" / Sulphur / #111)

Trent is an elusive point guard with a very good handle. During the Prep Hoops Top 250 expo, he spent the day dribbling into spaces guards bigger than him could not. He is very good handling the ball with either hand and can go left or right. His height helps him defensively. He frustrated several guards at the expo with his ability to get lower than them and basically take the rock. Trent has a floater that he will release from various angles as well. He is a point guard who can score when he gets the opportunity.

All newcomers are listed in the latest PH Louisiana rankings. The 2023 class is a very talented one and these players personify that. Look for these players and others to be prominent factors in the success of their teams this season.