PDE’s Picks: Class 4A & 5A All-State Teams
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This season has gotten off to such a fast start that I almost forgot to give love to classes 4A and 5A with my preseason all-state list. Being that it is still early in the season, let me share my…
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Continue ReadingThis season has gotten off to such a fast start that I almost forgot to give love to classes 4A and 5A with my preseason all-state list. Being that it is still early in the season, let me share my first and second team selections with the masses. These twenty players are some of the better preps in the Boot and I think they will have outstanding seasons for their teams.
All lists are in alphabetical order.
4A 1st Team
G – Alex Hammond Alex Hammond 6'3" | CG McMain | 2022 State LA (6’3″ | McMain | Jr.)
G – Donavan Seamster Donavan Seamster 6'2" | SG Woodlawn-Shreve | 2022 State LA (6’2″ | Woodlawn-Shreveport | Sr.)
G – Leland Smith Leland Smith 6'3" | CG Edna Karr | 2022 State LA (6’2″ | Edna Karr | Sr.)
F – Solomon Washington Solomon Washington 6'7" | SF Carver | 2022 State #127 Nation LA (6’7″ | Carver | Sr.)
G/F – Jacob Wilson (6’5″ | Liberty | Sr.)
The first team has the number one player in the class of 2022, a projected DI signee, arguably the best shooter in the state, a title game MVP, and one of the fastest rising players in the classification. This group is star-studded and gifted.
4A 2nd Team
G – Dorian Finister Dorian Finister 6'5" | CG Carver | 2022 State #173 Nation LA (6’5″ | Carver | Sr.)
G – Markell Mcclain (6’3″ | Peabody | Sr.)
G – Patrick Mccraney (6’2″ | Neville | Sr.)
G – Rayshun McCullar Rayshun McCullar 6'1" | PG Huntington | 2022 State LA (6’1″ | Huntington | Sr.)
G – Lance Waddles Lance Waddles 6'3" | CG Victory Rock Prep | 2022 State LA (6’3″ | Evangel | Sr.)
My second team selections are a probably some of the best two-way players in the class. Finister and Waddles are guards who have D1 offers on the table. McCraney and McClain are coveted by many of the small schools in state while McCullar is trying to bounce back from a tumultuous off-season. That may be fuel for him to finally make an all-state team at the end of the season.
5A 1st Team
G – Jalen Bolden (6’5″ | Zachary | Sr.)
G – Zach Fenn Zach Fenn 6'2" | CG St. Paul | 2022 State LA (6’4″ | St. Paul’s | Sr.)
F – Noah Jonker (6’5″ | ASH | Sr.)
G – Warren Young Warren Young 6'1" | CG Walker | 2023 State LA (6’2″ | Walker | Jr.)
G – Bryce Weinmunson Bryce Weinmunson 6'2" | CG Mandeville | 2022 State LA (6’2″ | Mandeville | Sr.)
The 5A team is similar to the 4A team. This 5A team has everything from state champions to top twenty players. Bolden and Fenn are some of the best all-around players in the state. Jonker has turned himself into a legitimate inside and outside threat. Young is one of the best playmakers in the prep game and Weinmunson is one of the top shooters in the 2022 class and in 5A.
5A 2nd Team
G – Jonathan Bradshaw Jonathan Bradshaw 6'4" | SF Ouachita | 2023 State LA (6’4″ | Ouachita | Jr.)
G – Devin Helaire Devin Helaire 6'1" | SG Natchitoches Central | 2022 State LA (6’2″ | Natchitoches Central | Sr.)
G – Kam Johnson Kam Johnson 5'9" | PG Archbishop Shaw | 2023 State LA (5’9″ | Archbishop Shaw | Jr.)
G – Brandon Hardy Brandon Hardy 6'4" | SG Zachary | 2023 State #234 Nation LA (6’4″ | Zachary | Jr.)
G – Corey Skillman Corey Skillman 6'4" | SG Brother Martin | 2023 TX (6’3″ | Brother Martin | Jr.)
I believe this second team will be players who make their mark in class 5A this year. Rodgers is one of the best players in his class with Johnson and Skillman nipping at his heels. Bradshaw may be the best all-around player in northeast Louisiana and Devin Helaire Devin Helaire 6'1" | SG Natchitoches Central | 2022 State LA is one of the best defenders in 5A.
These were my preseason picks for classes 4A and 5A. We will check in around mid-season and see if these picks have changed.