Positional Rankings: Class of 2023 Top 20 Combo Guards

In this second article looking at positional rankings, we will look at the class of 2023. This class has some of the best combo guards and it is headed by one of the best in the country Let’s take a look at the top 20 combo guards the class of 2023 in Louisiana has to offer. The Top Ten [player_tooltip player_id="970120" first="Chris" last="Lockett"] (6’5" / Isidore Newman) Lockett is ranked in the top 50 on all major recruiting sites (including this one) because he fills the stat sheet on an elite level. He can score at every level on the floor and has one of the most consistent one dribble pull-ups I have seen in recent years. Lockett may be a man on a mission after last year’s championship game loss. If so, we might see the best version of [player_tooltip player_id="970120" first="Chris" last="Lockett"] yet. [player_tooltip player_id="970111" first="Jamaria" last="Clark"] (6’2 / Doyline) Clark has evolved from a spot-up shooter in 8th grade into one of the best scorers in Louisiana. If not for Covid cancelling most of their games, Clark may have scored 900 points last season. He has experience at the point and is deadly at the two. Clark is turning himself into a D1 player before our eyes. [player_tooltip player_id="970138" first="Warren" last="Young"] (6’1" / Walker) One of the best up-and-coming wide receivers in the state is one of the best combo guards in his class. Young has a quick release from deep has range to the college three. He is also a very good rebounder as a guard. Young is a very good at both positions and his junior season may be his best yet. [player_tooltip player_id="1130919" first="Deion" last="Ware"] (6’4" / Hamilton Christian) Ware played exceptionally all summer with or without the ball in his hands. Whether it is was the Benton team camp, Mal Mundy’s Statement Session, or the NSU Elite camp, Ware has shown that he knows how to put the ball in the hole and make plays for others. Ware is very good now and is only getting better as a combo guard. [player_tooltip player_id="970125" first="Devion" last="Lavergne"] (6’4" / North Central) The LSUA team camp last weekend was proof that Lavergne can play both guard positions at a high level. He can score in the paint and from deep when he plays off the ball. With the ball in his hands, he is a good passer in transition or after he penetrates the lane. His ability to play both guard positions will only make him more valuable as North Central plays this season. [player_tooltip player_id="1055171" first="Derek" last="Burditt Jr"] (6’2" / Shaun Dumas Academy) Burditt is one of the best defenders the state has at the guard position. He can also handle his business offensively playing on or off the ball. Burditt is very good at finishing in transition and pushing tempo. He is also good at spotting up off the ball. His offensive game meshes well with other guards and makes him a combo guard worth recruiting on the next level. [player_tooltip player_id="1055168" first="Jaheim" last="Johnson"] (6’1" / Loranger) Johnson gets to the rim better than any guard in this class. He has the quickest first step and blows by most defenders in a hiccup. His outside shooting is still streaky at best. With the ball in his hands, Johnson makes things happens whether in the halfcourt or transition. His is a threat at all times with the ball. [player_tooltip player_id="1275262" first="Reece" last="Seicshnaydre"] (6’3" / St. Paul’s) Seicshnaydre is deadly with the ball in his hands and playing both guard positions only helps exemplify that. He put in work at the Prep Hoops LA Top 250 with the nifty passes in transition and straight line drives to the cup where he finished with layups or dunks. His ability to score and pass makes Seicshnaydre a very tough player to defend. [player_tooltip player_id="1130732" first="Omarion" last="Miller"] (6’2" / North Caddo) Miller is a 4 star receiver in the fall and the primary ballhandler for the Titans in the winter. This summer at the Benton team camp, he showed that he is just as good at basketball as he is catching the pigskin. Miller can score at all three levels and will dunk on defenders at any given time. He is by and far one of the best combo guards in the state. [player_tooltip player_id="970107" first="Lakavin" last="Thomas"] (6’0" / Bossier) Thomas has been one of the best players on the Bearkats team since his freshman season. His ability to facilitate the offense on one possession and explode to the rim on the next is one of the reasons he is a threat from anywhere on the floor. Once he becomes more consistent from three, Thomas will be almost impossible to stop. 11-20 are still pretty good.... [player_tooltip player_id="1213623" first="Derwin" last="Ancar"] (6’2" / Phoenix) - Combo guard who plays both ends. He will compete for Class C most outstanding player for the Spartans. [player_tooltip player_id="1213753" first="Shad" last="Levy"] (6’2" / Dunham) - Levy will have the ball in his hands alot. He may have some help but he will be the primary threat for Dunham. [player_tooltip player_id="1213568" first="Jalan" last="Washington"] (6’1" / White Castle) - Saw a lot of success on the PH Circuit playing both guard positions. He is as good as they get. [player_tooltip player_id="970118" first="Kameron" last="Evans"] (6’2" / Huntington) The Raider QB is also good from range. Improved as a playmaker playing the 1 at times this summer. [player_tooltip player_id="1273399" first="Stafford" last="Bailey"] (6’3" / Minden) - Lefty guard who can penetrate and shoot. His play will determine how much success the Tide will have. [player_tooltip player_id="1215774" first="Titus" last="Malone"] (6’1" / Saline) - He will be one of the best players on the floor at all times. Malone will put up big numbers in class B. [player_tooltip player_id="970140" first="Kevin" last="Jones"] (6’5" / Peabody) - Started the summer on fire before a small injury. Potential top 5 combo because he can defend and score. [player_tooltip player_id="970128" first="Bryson" last="Colbert"] (6’2" / Southside) - Guard who attacks the rack hard. Has great vision and makes highlight type passes with his skills. [player_tooltip player_id="1130730" first="Kerrick" last="Morris"] (6’1" / Southwood) - Can heat it up from deep but can handle the ball also. He will have a chance to be an impact player. [player_tooltip player_id="1130729" first="Darius" last="Anderson"] (6’2" / Southwood) - More of a defensive specialist but is progressing offensively. A player who makes winning plays. Combo guards are big time offensive threats on the hardwood. I think many of the players listed above will be in the hunt for many of the postseason awards that the state offers at season’s end.

In this second article looking at positional rankings, we will look at the class of 2023. This class has some of the best combo guards and it is headed by one of the best in the country Let’s take a look at the top 20 combo guards the class of 2023 in Louisiana has to offer.

The Top Ten

Chris Lockett Chris Lockett 6'5" | CG Isidore Newman | 2023 State #180 Nation LA (6’5" / Isidore Newman)

Lockett is ranked in the top 50 on all major recruiting sites (including this one) because he fills the stat sheet on an elite level. He can score at every level on the floor and has one of the most consistent one dribble pull-ups I have seen in recent years. Lockett may be a man on a mission after last year’s championship game loss. If so, we might see the best version of Chris Lockett Chris Lockett 6'5" | CG Isidore Newman | 2023 State #180 Nation LA yet.

Jamaria Clark Jamaria Clark 6'2" | CG Doyline | 2023 State LA (6’2 / Doyline)

Clark has evolved from a spot-up shooter in 8th grade into one of the best scorers in Louisiana. If not for Covid cancelling most of their games, Clark may have scored 900 points last season. He has experience at the point and is deadly at the two. Clark is turning himself into a D1 player before our eyes.

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

One of the best up-and-coming wide receivers in the state is one of the best combo guards in his class. Young has a quick release from deep has range to the college three. He is also a very good rebounder as a guard. Young is a very good at both positions and his junior season may be his best yet.

Deion Ware Deion Ware 6'4" | CG Hamilton Christian | 2023 TX (6’4" / Hamilton Christian)

Ware played exceptionally all summer with or without the ball in his hands. Whether it is was the Benton team camp, Mal Mundy’s Statement Session, or the NSU Elite camp, Ware has shown that he knows how to put the ball in the hole and make plays for others. Ware is very good now and is only getting better as a combo guard.

De’Vion Lavergne De’Vion Lavergne 6'3" | CG North Central | 2023 State LA (6’4" / North Central)

The LSUA team camp last weekend was proof that Lavergne can play both guard positions at a high level. He can score in the paint and from deep when he plays off the ball. With the ball in his hands, he is a good passer in transition or after he penetrates the lane. His ability to play both guard positions will only make him more valuable as North Central plays this season.

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

Burditt is one of the best defenders the state has at the guard position. He can also handle his business offensively playing on or off the ball. Burditt is very good at finishing in transition and pushing tempo. He is also good at spotting up off the ball. His offensive game meshes well with other guards and makes him a combo guard worth recruiting on the next level.

Jahiem Johnson Jahiem Johnson 6'1" | CG Hammond | 2023 State LA (6’1" / Loranger)

Johnson gets to the rim better than any guard in this class. He has the quickest first step and blows by most defenders in a hiccup. His outside shooting is still streaky at best. With the ball in his hands, Johnson makes things happens whether in the halfcourt or transition. His is a threat at all times with the ball.

Reece Seicshnaydre (6’3" / St. Paul’s)

Seicshnaydre is deadly with the ball in his hands and playing both guard positions only helps exemplify that. He put in work at the Prep Hoops LA Top 250 with the nifty passes in transition and straight line drives to the cup where he finished with layups or dunks. His ability to score and pass makes Seicshnaydre a very tough player to defend.

Omarion Miller Omarion Miller 6'2" | CG North Caddo | 2023 State LA (6’2" / North Caddo)

Miller is a 4 star receiver in the fall and the primary ballhandler for the Titans in the winter. This summer at the Benton team camp, he showed that he is just as good at basketball as he is catching the pigskin. Miller can score at all three levels and will dunk on defenders at any given time. He is by and far one of the best combo guards in the state.

Lakavin Thomas Lakavin Thomas 6'0" | CG Bossier | 2023 State LA (6’0" / Bossier)

Thomas has been one of the best players on the Bearkats team since his freshman season. His ability to facilitate the offense on one possession and explode to the rim on the next is one of the reasons he is a threat from anywhere on the floor. Once he becomes more consistent from three, Thomas will be almost impossible to stop.

11-20 are still pretty good....

Derwin Ancar Derwin Ancar 6'2" | SG Phoenix | 2023 State LA (6’2" / Phoenix) - Combo guard who plays both ends. He will compete for Class C most outstanding player for the Spartans.

Shad Levy Shad Levy 6'3" | CG Dunham | 2023 State LA (6’2" / Dunham) - Levy will have the ball in his hands alot. He may have some help but he will be the primary threat for Dunham.

Jalan Washington Jalan Washington 6'1" | CG White Castle | 2023 State LA (6’1" / White Castle) - Saw a lot of success on the PH Circuit playing both guard positions. He is as good as they get.

Kameron Evans Kameron Evans 6'2" | CG Huntington | 2023 State LA (6’2" / Huntington) The Raider QB is also good from range. Improved as a playmaker playing the 1 at times this summer.

Stafford Bailey Stafford Bailey 6'3" | CG Minden | 2023 State LA (6’3" / Minden) - Lefty guard who can penetrate and shoot. His play will determine how much success the Tide will have.

Titus Malone Titus Malone 6'1" | CG Saline | 2023 State LA (6’1" / Saline) - He will be one of the best players on the floor at all times. Malone will put up big numbers in class B.

Kevin Jones Kevin Jones 6'4" | SF Peabody | 2023 State LA (6’5" / Peabody) - Started the summer on fire before a small injury. Potential top 5 combo because he can defend and score.

Bryson Colbert Bryson Colbert 6'2" | CG Hamilton Christian | 2023 State LA (6’2" / Southside) - Guard who attacks the rack hard. Has great vision and makes highlight type passes with his skills.

Kerrick Morris Kerrick Morris 6'2" | SG Southwood | 2023 State LA (6’1" / Southwood) - Can heat it up from deep but can handle the ball also. He will have a chance to be an impact player.

Darius Anderson Darius Anderson 6'2" | CG Southwood | 2023 State LA (6’2" / Southwood) - More of a defensive specialist but is progressing offensively. A player who makes winning plays.

Combo guards are big time offensive threats on the hardwood. I think many of the players listed above will be in the hunt for many of the postseason awards that the state offers at season’s end.