Positional Rankings Review: Class of 2024 Top 20 Point Guards

Since late September, I have given positional reviews from each class. In this latest edition, we will look at the top 20 point guards from the class of 2024. These sophomores range from varsity starters to varsity newcomers. No matter the level, these sophomores are talented players who are looking to make a difference this season. The Top Ten 1 - [player_tooltip player_id="1145438" first="Kohen" last="Rowbatham"] (6’1" - Northshore) - As a freshmen, Rowbatham was part of a Northshore backcourt that took them to the playoffs. He is a three level scorer who is just as good at distributing the rock. With the experience from last year, Rowbatham may be up for a monster season. 2 - [player_tooltip player_id="1105552" first="Kylan" last="Billiot"] (6’3" - Terrebone) - The Terrebone point may be the most athletic point guard in the class. He can get downhill as quick as anyone and finishes through contact at the rim. His ability to cause turnovers and convert them in trapping situations makes him a special player. 3 - [player_tooltip player_id="1105549" first="Laurence" last="Nathan"] (6’1" - Carver) - Nathan handled himself well as the Rams point guard last season. He is a high IQ basketball player with the ability to hurt teams from deep. Nathan is really good at getting the ball to his scorers in scoring position as well. These traits make him dangerous when he has the ball. 4 - [player_tooltip player_id="1277354" first="Carnell" last="Tillman"] (6’1" - Thibodaux) - Tillman is pretty good on both sides of the ball. As a defender, he has quick hands and anticipates passes well. Offensively, he can bury corner threes unconsciously and he can really collapse a defense with penetration. 5 - [player_tooltip player_id="1277355" first="Rayien" last="Oatis"] (5’11" - Donaldsonville) - Oatis is known for being a great decision maker as he also plays quarterback for the football team. He is a good three point shooter, a solid defender, and brings a toughness to the team that is unmatched by most. 6 - [player_tooltip player_id="1218193" first="Jamarion" last="Thomas"] (6’0" - Live Oak) - Thomas has all the tools to be the top point guard on this list. He has seemingly a natural ability to get into the paint and has a floater that he can make from any angle. Thomas can stretch the floor as well which makes him equally dangerous. (pictured above) 7 - [player_tooltip player_id="1277353" first="TJ" last="Callahan"] (6’0" - Episcopal) - Another two sport player who is good at making decisions when he has the ball. Callahan is very good from deep and is extremely good on the defensive end. His athleticism at the point sets him apart from others 8 - [player_tooltip player_id="1105545" first="Greg" last="Manning"] (5’9" - Benton) - Manning is one of the fastest players changing end-to-end with the ball in his hands. He is also a disruptive defender who will guard players baseline to baseline. Manning can also put the ball in the hole which makes him a threat the minute he steps on it. 9 - [player_tooltip player_id="1105591" first="Howard" last="Gaskins"] (5’8" - Liberty) - The Liberty guard is one of the players who saw his playing vary from game to game. However, he made the most of his minutes when he got them. He will get major run this season which means teams will see more of him bombing from the corner three. 10 - [player_tooltip player_id="1105534" first="Austin" last="Delahoussaye"] (5’9" - New Iberia) - The Yellowjacket point guard started and held his own as a freshman. Now, as a sophomore, he will be expected to lead this small, but scrappy bunch from New Iberia. Playing with Hustle Hard Elite this summer gave Austin an avenue to become more of a scorer. This, in turn, will make him a more lethal threat on the floor. Eleven through Twenty <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/08/Chaney-Amir-2.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1269678" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/08/Chaney-Amir-2-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a> 11 - [player_tooltip player_id="1278991" first="Aumad" last="Hackett"] (6’0" - Shaun Dumas Academy) - Hackett will get a chance to showcase his shooting prowess and point guard play with SDA this season. He played with good pace and looked for others at the Frosh/Soph Academy hosted by Hoopfest Tour and Mal Munday. I expect him to do the same with SDA. 12 - [player_tooltip player_id="1285326" first="Amir" last="Chaney"] (5’9" - Springfield) - Chaney is part of the Springfield "dynamic duo" with class of ’23 top ten Jakobe Sykes. He uses his handle to get to the paint to do damage but is just as adept with bombing away from two or three feet behind the arc. Chaney has a highly skilled and may be one of 2A’s best players by season’s end. (pictured above) 13 - [player_tooltip player_id="1105537" first="Rondae" last="Hill"] (5’10" - Calvary Baptist) - Hill has a year of varsity experience under his belt and will be counted on to help the Cavs return to Marsh Madness. His ability to get to the rim and complete layups amidst contact is uncanny for a sophomore. He may live at the free throw line this season. 14 - [player_tooltip player_id="1105530" first="Cornelius" last="Brown"] (5’10" - Kennedy) - Brown seems to have another gear when he sees daylight towards the rim. He can get to the paint in a blur and has some of the most athletic finishes I have seen for a player under six feet. If Coach Byrd gives him free reign, Kennedy opponents will be in trouble guarding him. 15 - [player_tooltip player_id="1105532" first="Braylen" last="Clark"] (5’8" - Evangel) - Clark may be the closest thing to a pure point guard we have in this class. He plays with great pace and controls everything on the floor. Clark can make pinpoint passes into shooting pockets and is good at the draw and kick. If defenders play too far off, he will knock down the open J. He is as good as they get at the point. 16 - [player_tooltip player_id="1285340" first="Kennedy" last="Calhoun"] (6’0" - Evangel) - Calhoun is good at penetration. He seems to have the ability to draw the defender and hit the cutter with great accuracy. His floater is one of the best I have seen recently. 17 - [player_tooltip player_id="1105538" first="Tre" last="Jackson"] (5’10" - Airline) - Just like he operates on Friday nights, Jackson is good of navigating in and out of traffic with the rock. While he is a good passer, he is better a knocking down treys from deep. Jackson will be one of the reasons the Vikings are going to surprise some people in class 5A. 18 - [player_tooltip player_id="1105592" first="Collosians" last="Mason-Jones"] (5’9" - BTW-S’port) - Jones is a good change of pace guard who likes to push the ball up the floor. His defense is what keeps him on the floor for long stretches because he is good at trapping and causing turnovers. 19 - [player_tooltip player_id="1223455" first="Cordell" last="Payne"] (5’9" - Wossman) - Payne is a defender who embraces playing man-to-man the Wossman way. He is known for speeding opponents up and causing turnovers. High level defender. 20 - [player_tooltip player_id="1218738" first="Jovanni" last="Perez"] (5’10" - Shaun Dumas Academy) - Perez is another guard from the Shaun Dumas tree who can get to the rim and shoot the three. He is also very good in transition and knows how to make plays. Look out for positional rankings and all-state preseason previews to continue as we get closer to the beginning of the season. Class B and C will kickoff on November 1st while Class 1A and above begin on November 15rth.

Since late September, I have given positional reviews from each class. In this latest edition, we will look at the top 20 point guards from the class of 2024. These sophomores range from varsity starters to varsity newcomers. No matter the level, these sophomores are talented players who are looking to make a difference this season.

The Top Ten

1 - Kohen Rowbatham Kohen Rowbatham 6'1" | CG St. Thomas Aquinas | 2024 State LA (6’1" - Northshore) - As a freshmen, Rowbatham was part of a Northshore backcourt that took them to the playoffs. He is a three level scorer who is just as good at distributing the rock. With the experience from last year, Rowbatham may be up for a monster season.

2 - Kylan Billiot Kylan Billiot 6'3" | CG Terrebonne | 2024 State LA (6’3" - Terrebone) - The Terrebone point may be the most athletic point guard in the class. He can get downhill as quick as anyone and finishes through contact at the rim. His ability to cause turnovers and convert them in trapping situations makes him a special player.

3 - Laurence Nathan Laurence Nathan 6'2" | PG Carver | 2024 State LA (6’1" - Carver) - Nathan handled himself well as the Rams point guard last season. He is a high IQ basketball player with the ability to hurt teams from deep. Nathan is really good at getting the ball to his scorers in scoring position as well. These traits make him dangerous when he has the ball.

4 - Carnell Tillman Carnell Tillman 6'1" | PG Thibodaux | 2024 LA (6’1" - Thibodaux) - Tillman is pretty good on both sides of the ball. As a defender, he has quick hands and anticipates passes well. Offensively, he can bury corner threes unconsciously and he can really collapse a defense with penetration.

5 - Rayien Oatis Rayien Oatis 5'11" | PG Donaldsonville | 2024 State LA (5’11" - Donaldsonville) - Oatis is known for being a great decision maker as he also plays quarterback for the football team. He is a good three point shooter, a solid defender, and brings a toughness to the team that is unmatched by most.

6 - Jamarion Thomas Jamarion Thomas 6'0" | PG Live Oak | 2024 State LA (6’0" - Live Oak) - Thomas has all the tools to be the top point guard on this list. He has seemingly a natural ability to get into the paint and has a floater that he can make from any angle. Thomas can stretch the floor as well which makes him equally dangerous. (pictured above)

7 - TJ Callahan TJ Callahan 6'0" | PG Episcopal | 2024 State LA (6’0" - Episcopal) - Another two sport player who is good at making decisions when he has the ball. Callahan is very good from deep and is extremely good on the defensive end. His athleticism at the point sets him apart from others

8 - Greg Manning Greg Manning 5'9" | PG Benton | 2024 State LA (5’9" - Benton) - Manning is one of the fastest players changing end-to-end with the ball in his hands. He is also a disruptive defender who will guard players baseline to baseline. Manning can also put the ball in the hole which makes him a threat the minute he steps on it.

9 - Howard Gaskins Howard Gaskins 6'1" | PG Liberty Magnet | 2024 State LA (5’8" - Liberty) - The Liberty guard is one of the players who saw his playing vary from game to game. However, he made the most of his minutes when he got them. He will get major run this season which means teams will see more of him bombing from the corner three.

10 - Austin Delahoussaye Austin Delahoussaye 6'0" | PG New Iberia | 2024 State LA (5’9" - New Iberia) - The Yellowjacket point guard started and held his own as a freshman. Now, as a sophomore, he will be expected to lead this small, but scrappy bunch from New Iberia. Playing with Hustle Hard Elite this summer gave Austin an avenue to become more of a scorer. This, in turn, will make him a more lethal threat on the floor.

Eleven through Twenty

11 - Aumad Hackett Aumad Hackett 6'0" | PG Bonnabel | 2024 State LA (6’0" - Shaun Dumas Academy) - Hackett will get a chance to showcase his shooting prowess and point guard play with SDA this season. He played with good pace and looked for others at the Frosh/Soph Academy hosted by Hoopfest Tour and Mal Munday. I expect him to do the same with SDA.

12 - Amir Chaney (5’9" - Springfield) - Chaney is part of the Springfield "dynamic duo" with class of ’23 top ten Jakobe Sykes. He uses his handle to get to the paint to do damage but is just as adept with bombing away from two or three feet behind the arc. Chaney has a highly skilled and may be one of 2A’s best players by season’s end. (pictured above)

13 - Rondae Hill Rondae Hill 6'0" | PG Calvary Baptist | 2024 State LA (5’10" - Calvary Baptist) - Hill has a year of varsity experience under his belt and will be counted on to help the Cavs return to Marsh Madness. His ability to get to the rim and complete layups amidst contact is uncanny for a sophomore. He may live at the free throw line this season.

14 - Cornelius Brown Cornelius Brown 5'9" | PG Kennedy | 2024 State LA (5’10" - Kennedy) - Brown seems to have another gear when he sees daylight towards the rim. He can get to the paint in a blur and has some of the most athletic finishes I have seen for a player under six feet. If Coach Byrd gives him free reign, Kennedy opponents will be in trouble guarding him.

15 - Braylen Clark Braylen Clark 5'8" | PG Evangel | 2024 State LA (5’8" - Evangel) - Clark may be the closest thing to a pure point guard we have in this class. He plays with great pace and controls everything on the floor. Clark can make pinpoint passes into shooting pockets and is good at the draw and kick. If defenders play too far off, he will knock down the open J. He is as good as they get at the point.

16 - Kennedy Calhoun (6’0" - Evangel) - Calhoun is good at penetration. He seems to have the ability to draw the defender and hit the cutter with great accuracy. His floater is one of the best I have seen recently.

17 - Trevon Jackson Trevon Jackson 6'0" | PG Airline | 2024 State LA (5’10" - Airline) - Just like he operates on Friday nights, Jackson is good of navigating in and out of traffic with the rock. While he is a good passer, he is better a knocking down treys from deep. Jackson will be one of the reasons the Vikings are going to surprise some people in class 5A.

18 - Colossians Mason-Jones Colossians Mason-Jones 5'11" | PG BTW-Shreveport | 2024 State LA (5’9" - BTW-S’port) - Jones is a good change of pace guard who likes to push the ball up the floor. His defense is what keeps him on the floor for long stretches because he is good at trapping and causing turnovers.

19 - Cordell Payne Cordell Payne 5'9" | PG Wossman | 2024 State LA (5’9" - Wossman) - Payne is a defender who embraces playing man-to-man the Wossman way. He is known for speeding opponents up and causing turnovers. High level defender.

20 - Jovanni Perez Jovanni Perez 6'3" | CG Crescent City | 2024 State LA (5’10" - Shaun Dumas Academy) - Perez is another guard from the Shaun Dumas tree who can get to the rim and shoot the three. He is also very good in transition and knows how to make plays.

Look out for positional rankings and all-state preseason previews to continue as we get closer to the beginning of the season. Class B and C will kickoff on November 1st while Class 1A and above begin on November 15rth.