PDE's Preseason Picks: Class 2A All-state Team

The preseason team for class 2A is one that consists of state runner-ups, district MVPs, and a slew of all-district and all-state players from previous years. This preseason list is one that is rich with talent. I can see all of these players making a mark in their respective districts that will land them in this same situation when March and April arrive. All members placed in alphabetical order. 1st Team G - [player_tooltip player_id="1051631" first="J’Michael" last="Gray"] (6’1" | Franklin | Sr.) F - [player_tooltip player_id="1159181" first="Trey’Dez" last="Green"] (6’7" | East Feliciana | So.) - pictured above G - [player_tooltip player_id="1051643" first="Javonte" last="Howard"] (5’9" | Lakeview | Sr.) G - [player_tooltip player_id="970120" first="Chris" last="Lockett"] (6’5" | Isidore Newman | Jr.) F - [player_tooltip player_id="1105554" first="Kameron" last="Williams"] (6’5" | LCA | So.) [player_tooltip player_id="970120" first="Chris" last="Lockett"] is the top player in the 2023 class and one of the top players in the nation. He was also first team all-state last year as he helped Newman make an appearance in the Division III title game (finished as runner-up). I think it is a lock that Lockett will make the first team once again. [player_tooltip player_id="1105554" first="Kameron" last="Williams"] is the top player in Louisiana per the Prep Hoops rankings. Averaging 16 and 8 as freshman was big in leading LCA to Marsh Madness. He will be better this season now that he is fully acclimated to the speed of the high school game and makes my first team preseason list. Houston and LSU have already offered East Feliciana forward [player_tooltip player_id="1159181" first="Trey’Dez" last="Green"] before his sophomore basketball season has begun. Green is a bigtime threat in the paint as he has showed in preseason showcase events. He definitely earns a spot on my first team, preseason list. [player_tooltip player_id="1051631" first="J’Michael" last="Gray"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1051643" first="Javonte" last="Howard"] are two of the best point guards in the 2022 class. Both players have been the MVP of the respective districts and have led their teams to Marsh Madness in recent years. Both guards can score, rebound, and defend. They are also tough as nails. There are no two guards more deserving of first team nods than these two. 2nd Team <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/08/Brooks-Jordan-2.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1269670" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/08/Brooks-Jordan-2-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a> F - [player_tooltip player_id="1213569" first="Jakobe" last="Dykes"] (6’5" | Springfield | Jr.) G - [player_tooltip player_id="1130920" first="Canin" last="Jefferson"] (6’1" | Isidore Newman | Jr.) F - [player_tooltip player_id="1211092" first="Jordan" last="Brooks"] (6’5" | Port Allen | Sr.) G - [player_tooltip player_id="981598" first="Car’tracus" last="Mitchell"] (6’2" | Rapides | Sr.) G - [player_tooltip player_id="1127253" first="Tony" last="Percy"] (5’9" | Rayville | Sr.) My second team selections may be guard heavy but they are guards who are going to factor into the success of many of the Marsh Madness participants in my opinion. [player_tooltip player_id="981598" first="Car’tracus" last="Mitchell"] is one of the best shooters in 2A and he plays for a Rapides team that likes to put up points. He is one of the top guards in central Louisiana and I think he is a preseason lock for me. [player_tooltip player_id="1130920" first="Canin" last="Jefferson"] is flat out the best point guard in the 2023 class. His ability to pass and score is the reason why he lands on the second team. [player_tooltip player_id="1127253" first="Tony" last="Percy"] can score with the best of them. He had a flameout in the 2A title game last year and I think he uses that as motivation all season. [player_tooltip player_id="1211092" first="Jordan" last="Brooks"] is a forward who should dominate a lot of games for the Port Allen Pelicans. He can punish teams in the paint and is versatile enough to play on the perimeter. His game warrants a second team selection. Rounding out my second team selections is [player_tooltip player_id="1213569" first="Jakobe" last="Dykes"] from Springfield. Dykes pretty much had his way with competition when I saw him during the grassroots season. His ability to score, defend, and shoot makes him an easy selection for the second team. The long winding road to Lake Charles begins this week for class 1A through 5A while class B and C continue their long grind. Watch for the above players and others as we head into the beginning of the regular season with a number of games and tournaments to begin the season.

The preseason team for class 2A is one that consists of state runner-ups, district MVPs, and a slew of all-district and all-state players from previous years. This preseason list is one that is rich with talent. I can see all of these players making a mark in their respective districts that will land them in this same situation when March and April arrive.

All members placed in alphabetical order.

1st Team

G - J’Michael Gray J’Michael Gray 6'0" | PG Franklin | 2022 State LA (6’1" | Franklin | Sr.)

F - Trey’Dez Green Trey’Dez Green 6'8" | PF Zachary | 2024 State #54 Nation LA (6’7" | East Feliciana | So.) - pictured above

G - Javonte Howard Javonte Howard 5'8" | PG Lakeview | 2022 State LA (5’9" | Lakeview | Sr.)

G - Chris Lockett Chris Lockett 6'5" | CG Isidore Newman | 2023 State #180 Nation LA (6’5" | Isidore Newman | Jr.)

F - Kameron Williams Kameron Williams 6'7" | SF Lafayette Christian | 2024 State #60 Nation LA (6’5" | LCA | So.)

Chris Lockett Chris Lockett 6'5" | CG Isidore Newman | 2023 State #180 Nation LA is the top player in the 2023 class and one of the top players in the nation. He was also first team all-state last year as he helped Newman make an appearance in the Division III title game (finished as runner-up). I think it is a lock that Lockett will make the first team once again. Kameron Williams Kameron Williams 6'7" | SF Lafayette Christian | 2024 State #60 Nation LA is the top player in Louisiana per the Prep Hoops rankings. Averaging 16 and 8 as freshman was big in leading LCA to Marsh Madness. He will be better this season now that he is fully acclimated to the speed of the high school game and makes my first team preseason list. Houston and LSU have already offered East Feliciana forward Trey’Dez Green Trey’Dez Green 6'8" | PF Zachary | 2024 State #54 Nation LA before his sophomore basketball season has begun. Green is a bigtime threat in the paint as he has showed in preseason showcase events. He definitely earns a spot on my first team, preseason list.

J’Michael Gray J’Michael Gray 6'0" | PG Franklin | 2022 State LA and Javonte Howard Javonte Howard 5'8" | PG Lakeview | 2022 State LA are two of the best point guards in the 2022 class. Both players have been the MVP of the respective districts and have led their teams to Marsh Madness in recent years. Both guards can score, rebound, and defend. They are also tough as nails. There are no two guards more deserving of first team nods than these two.

2nd Team

F - Jakobe Dykes Jakobe Dykes 6'5" | SF Shaun Dumas Academy | 2023 State LA (6’5" | Springfield | Jr.)

G - Canin Jefferson Canin Jefferson 6'1" | PG Newman | 2023 State LA (6’1" | Isidore Newman | Jr.)

F - Jordan Brooks Jordan Brooks 6'6" | SF Port Allen | 2022 State LA (6’5" | Port Allen | Sr.)

G - Car’tracus Mitchell Car’tracus Mitchell 6'2" | CG Rapides | 2022 State LA (6’2" | Rapides | Sr.)

G - Tony Percy Tony Percy 5'9" | PG Rayville | 2022 State LA (5’9" | Rayville | Sr.)

My second team selections may be guard heavy but they are guards who are going to factor into the success of many of the Marsh Madness participants in my opinion. Car’tracus Mitchell Car’tracus Mitchell 6'2" | CG Rapides | 2022 State LA is one of the best shooters in 2A and he plays for a Rapides team that likes to put up points. He is one of the top guards in central Louisiana and I think he is a preseason lock for me. Canin Jefferson Canin Jefferson 6'1" | PG Newman | 2023 State LA is flat out the best point guard in the 2023 class. His ability to pass and score is the reason why he lands on the second team. Tony Percy Tony Percy 5'9" | PG Rayville | 2022 State LA can score with the best of them. He had a flameout in the 2A title game last year and I think he uses that as motivation all season.

Jordan Brooks Jordan Brooks 6'6" | SF Port Allen | 2022 State LA is a forward who should dominate a lot of games for the Port Allen Pelicans. He can punish teams in the paint and is versatile enough to play on the perimeter. His game warrants a second team selection. Rounding out my second team selections is Jakobe Dykes Jakobe Dykes 6'5" | SF Shaun Dumas Academy | 2023 State LA from Springfield. Dykes pretty much had his way with competition when I saw him during the grassroots season. His ability to score, defend, and shoot makes him an easy selection for the second team.

The long winding road to Lake Charles begins this week for class 1A through 5A while class B and C continue their long grind. Watch for the above players and others as we head into the beginning of the regular season with a number of games and tournaments to begin the season.