Top Performers from November

November was hot and heavy with action as the basketball season got underway all across the state of Louisiana. We are a full month into play in the lower classes while the higher classes are into their third week. In this PHLA piece, we will take a look at top performers from the month that was. If players continue to play like they have started, we should be in for an outstanding season all-around. [player_tooltip player_id="1275290" first="Patrick" last="Mccraney"] - Neville (’22) Opening night for McCraney and the Tigers was a loss to Woodlawn-Shreveport. In that lose, he displayed his improvement on both ends of the floor. He garnered several steals in trapping and man-to-man situations while scoring from all three levels on offense. His 30 point outing was a combination of mid-range, long range, and foul shooting showing why he is one of the top players in his class. [player_tooltip player_id="932850" first="Donavan" last="Seamster"] - Woodlawn-Shreveport (’22) Seamster has similar games to his performance on opening night but none quite like it. Donavan showed improved ballhandling to clear space for his jumper as well improved movement off and around screens. He went 8-8 from the charity stripe and connected on four three pointers. Seamster finished the night with 30 points and showed that the Knights will still be a top 4A team. [player_tooltip player_id="970111" first="Jamaria" last="Clark"] - Doyline (’23) As one can tell by the first two performers, a 30 point night is a big game. A 30 point half is otherworldly, however. During the Doyline comeback win over Zwolle, that is just what [player_tooltip player_id="970111" first="Jamaria" last="Clark"] did. Clark made three triples (five total) and went 9-11 from the free throw line in the second half finishing with 43 points. His performance put class B on notice that he can have a big game and be clutch when it mattered. [player_tooltip player_id="1345539" first="Tyren" last="Thomas"] - Zwolle (’22) When a 6’5" player commands the middle of a game, he is either very athletic or very strong in the paint. Thomas is the former and played at a high level at Doyline. His eight first quarter points paced the Hawks and helped them stay competitive all night against Doyline. His 19 point game included multiple blocks showing that Thomas can be a dominant paint presence at the class B level. Christan Ford - Captain Shreve (’22) Shreve took the overtime loss to Ouachita in their opener. However, they might have found a new wing to lead them in scoring. Christan Ford led the Gators with 29 point on the night (24 in the second half) using his quickness to get to the rim. His free throw shooting was on point as he missed two the whole night. Ford may be a newcomer to the lineup but he seems to be a player the Gators can rely on. [player_tooltip player_id="1128272" first="McKennald" last="Armstead"] - Neville (’22) Armstead dominated the paint during the second half of the Tigers contest against Southwood. He had 14 third quarter points in route to twenty second half. He has a nice jumper from the high post and made it repetitively against the Cowboys. Armstead also had several offensive rebounds that maintained possessions for Neville and help them cement the win. [player_tooltip player_id="1273400" first="Braylan" last="McNeal"] - Ruston (’23) McNeal was an athletic nightmare for the Airline Vikings during the Bearcat win in Bossier City. He caused a lot of shots to be changed and blocked three others with his long arms and wiry frame. He scored 12 points during the game but his defense was the instrument that led to Ruston leaving with a win. [player_tooltip player_id="1130734" first="Jacobee" last="Jackson"] - BTW-Shreveport (’23) Jackson had a game of games when they played Southwood in the Lions’ Den. Jackson scored 31 points and scored them from all three levels of the floor. He was deadly from the free throw line when he got fouled. Jackson made mid-range jumpers from that area all night as well. He also posted the smaller Cowboy guards in what ended up being a career night for him on the floor. [player_tooltip player_id="932848" first="Marquarius" last="Johnson"] - Southwood (’22) Johnson showed a level of maturity in his scoring and gamesmanship during the Cowboys win against BTW. He scored 17 second half points (22 total) using his handle to create space for three pointers and a hesitation dribble to ease by defenders. His scoring and movement caused frustration which ultimately ended in one player ejection. Johnson has become a legit scoring threat and showed it on Tuesday night. November saw some stellar performances. As we move into December, I expect to see more performances on the level of the ones above.

November was hot and heavy with action as the basketball season got underway all across the state of Louisiana. We are a full month into play in the lower classes while the higher classes are into their third week. In this PHLA piece, we will take a look at top performers from the month that was. If players continue to play like they have started, we should be in for an outstanding season all-around.

Patrick Mccraney - Neville (’22)

Opening night for McCraney and the Tigers was a loss to Woodlawn-Shreveport. In that lose, he displayed his improvement on both ends of the floor. He garnered several steals in trapping and man-to-man situations while scoring from all three levels on offense. His 30 point outing was a combination of mid-range, long range, and foul shooting showing why he is one of the top players in his class.

Donavan Seamster Donavan Seamster 6'2" | SG Woodlawn-Shreve | 2022 State LA - Woodlawn-Shreveport (’22)

Seamster has similar games to his performance on opening night but none quite like it. Donavan showed improved ballhandling to clear space for his jumper as well improved movement off and around screens. He went 8-8 from the charity stripe and connected on four three pointers. Seamster finished the night with 30 points and showed that the Knights will still be a top 4A team.

Jamaria Clark Jamaria Clark 6'2" | CG Doyline | 2023 State LA - Doyline (’23)

As one can tell by the first two performers, a 30 point night is a big game. A 30 point half is otherworldly, however. During the Doyline comeback win over Zwolle, that is just what Jamaria Clark Jamaria Clark 6'2" | CG Doyline | 2023 State LA did. Clark made three triples (five total) and went 9-11 from the free throw line in the second half finishing with 43 points. His performance put class B on notice that he can have a big game and be clutch when it mattered.

Tyren Thomas Tyren Thomas 6'5" | PF Zwolle High | 2022 State LA - Zwolle (’22)

When a 6’5" player commands the middle of a game, he is either very athletic or very strong in the paint. Thomas is the former and played at a high level at Doyline. His eight first quarter points paced the Hawks and helped them stay competitive all night against Doyline. His 19 point game included multiple blocks showing that Thomas can be a dominant paint presence at the class B level.

Christan Ford - Captain Shreve (’22)

Shreve took the overtime loss to Ouachita in their opener. However, they might have found a new wing to lead them in scoring. Christan Ford led the Gators with 29 point on the night (24 in the second half) using his quickness to get to the rim. His free throw shooting was on point as he missed two the whole night. Ford may be a newcomer to the lineup but he seems to be a player the Gators can rely on.

McKennald Armstead McKennald Armstead 6'4" | SF Neville | 2022 State LA - Neville (’22)

Armstead dominated the paint during the second half of the Tigers contest against Southwood. He had 14 third quarter points in route to twenty second half. He has a nice jumper from the high post and made it repetitively against the Cowboys. Armstead also had several offensive rebounds that maintained possessions for Neville and help them cement the win.

Braylan McNeal Braylan McNeal 6'6" | SF Ruston | 2023 State LA - Ruston (’23)

McNeal was an athletic nightmare for the Airline Vikings during the Bearcat win in Bossier City. He caused a lot of shots to be changed and blocked three others with his long arms and wiry frame. He scored 12 points during the game but his defense was the instrument that led to Ruston leaving with a win.

Jacobee Jackson Jacobee Jackson 6'3" | SG BTW (Shreveport) | 2022 LA - BTW-Shreveport (’23)

Jackson had a game of games when they played Southwood in the Lions’ Den. Jackson scored 31 points and scored them from all three levels of the floor. He was deadly from the free throw line when he got fouled. Jackson made mid-range jumpers from that area all night as well. He also posted the smaller Cowboy guards in what ended up being a career night for him on the floor.

Marquarius Johnson Marquarius Johnson 6'1" | CG Southwood | 2022 State LA - Southwood (’22)

Johnson showed a level of maturity in his scoring and gamesmanship during the Cowboys win against BTW. He scored 17 second half points (22 total) using his handle to create space for three pointers and a hesitation dribble to ease by defenders. His scoring and movement caused frustration which ultimately ended in one player ejection. Johnson has become a legit scoring threat and showed it on Tuesday night.

November saw some stellar performances. As we move into December, I expect to see more performances on the level of the ones above.