2025s at the Mud Bug Hoopfest

Above All Sports brought their tournament brand to Bossier City Memorial Day weekend hosting the Mud Bug Hoopfest. The premier teams in the tournament consisted mainly of teams from the 2025 class. Needless to say, they did not disappoint. Championship Sunday saw a good semifinal contest between OWE-RW3 and Xpress Sports ’26 with the winner playing in the championship. We will take a look at some of the soon to be sophomore talent and how they fared at Parkway High. Marques Wilson (O.W.E.-RW3 | 6’3" | Green Oaks) Wilson was the most valuable player in the O.W.E. one point victory against Xpress ’26. He was very good making several short jumpers in the paint scoring 12 points during the game. Wilson had a very good game rebounding on both ends of the floor as well. The most impressive play he had was jumping vertically and challenging the Xpress shot at the buzzer without fouling. Wilson has a good overall game and was impressive during the semifinal contest. Jayden Gladney (Xpress Sports ’26 | 6’0" | Airline) Gladney was a flamethrower for a good portion of the game against O.W.E. nailing four threes and leading all scorers with 14 points. One of them was a dribble, step back that he shot with confidence. Gladney has very good form and shot the ball each time with little wasted motion. He also showed a willingness to handle the ball in transition situations and moved the ball when needed during possessions. Gladney is an improving player and has the potential to be a very good spot up shooter. [player_tooltip player_id="1393938" first="Tyler" last="Welch"] (Xpress Sports | 6’2" | Huntington) Welch displayed the potential to be a high level basketball player during the loss Xpress loss to O.W.E. He scored 11 points but it was the way he scored the eleven that showed what kind of play he can be. He made a catch and shoot three off ball rotation, scored a layup on a straight line drive using body control to convert, and broke down his player one-on-one to get to the rim. Welch is as versatile as they get and can score it from every level. He is a talent to watch going forward. [player_tooltip player_id="1347260" first="Chris" last="Shiflett"] (O.W.E.-RW3 | 5’9" | Evangel) The O.W.E. point guard had one heck of a Sunday. While the day had some ups and downs, Shiflett showed that he is one of the premier guards in the 2025 class. He had the ultimate bounce back after missing the front end of a 1-and-1 in the waning seconds of the semifinal game with making the free throws in the final seconds that secured the championship win. Shiflett is a three level scorer who wants the ball in his hands at the end of games. There is no magic formula for that kind of DNA. He just has it. [player_tooltip player_id="1347467" first="Brandon" last="Henderson"] (Xpress Sports | 6’0" | Woodlawn-Shreveport) Henderson is one of the better drivers of the ball and he displayed that during various times on Sunday. He took advantage of the O.W.E. defenders in man-to-man situations and beat them easily with his quick first step. Henderson also showed toughness by taking contact numerous times when help did come on his drives. While he was not successful in making the winning semifinal bucket, he put players on notice that he is a player who is very hard to guard. Daniel Lowery (Next Level Elite | 6’3" | Elkins) Lowery was one of the top reasons that Next Level Elite pushed O.W.E. in the championship game. His ability to get to the rim in transition helped keep his team within striking distance. Lowery made his lone corner three as well during the game showing that he can score on more than just drives to the rim. His 14 points led his team in scoring and displayed his value to the Next Level offense. Spencer Dunn (O.W.E.-RW3 | 5’10" | Homer) The guard from Homer was the most clutch free throw shooter missing only one free throw between the semifinal and final on championship Sunday. Dunn was also very good in transition finishing layups amidst contact. What was most impressive about his Sunday was his willingness to handle the ball in pressure situations when Shiflett was being fully denied and could not handle the ball. Dunn made an impact in multiple facets of the game and helped his team win on Sunday. The class of 2025 showed up and showed out on championship Sunday at Parkway. All the players on the floor during the semifinals and finals proved that Louisiana and Texas have some players that are up-and-coming big time talents. They should be interesting preps to follow as their careers continue.

Above All Sports brought their tournament brand to Bossier City Memorial Day weekend hosting the Mud Bug Hoopfest. The premier teams in the tournament consisted mainly of teams from the 2025 class. Needless to say, they did not disappoint. Championship Sunday saw a good semifinal contest between OWE-RW3 and Xpress Sports ’26 with the winner playing in the championship. We will take a look at some of the soon to be sophomore talent and how they fared at Parkway High.

Marques Wilson (O.W.E.-RW3 | 6’3" | Green Oaks)

Wilson was the most valuable player in the O.W.E. one point victory against Xpress ’26. He was very good making several short jumpers in the paint scoring 12 points during the game. Wilson had a very good game rebounding on both ends of the floor as well. The most impressive play he had was jumping vertically and challenging the Xpress shot at the buzzer without fouling. Wilson has a good overall game and was impressive during the semifinal contest.

Jayden Gladney (Xpress Sports ’26 | 6’0" | Airline)

Gladney was a flamethrower for a good portion of the game against O.W.E. nailing four threes and leading all scorers with 14 points. One of them was a dribble, step back that he shot with confidence. Gladney has very good form and shot the ball each time with little wasted motion. He also showed a willingness to handle the ball in transition situations and moved the ball when needed during possessions. Gladney is an improving player and has the potential to be a very good spot up shooter.

Tyler Welch Tyler Welch 6'2" | PG Huntington | 2025 State LA (Xpress Sports | 6’2" | Huntington)

Welch displayed the potential to be a high level basketball player during the loss Xpress loss to O.W.E. He scored 11 points but it was the way he scored the eleven that showed what kind of play he can be. He made a catch and shoot three off ball rotation, scored a layup on a straight line drive using body control to convert, and broke down his player one-on-one to get to the rim. Welch is as versatile as they get and can score it from every level. He is a talent to watch going forward.

Chris Shiflett Chris Shiflett 6'0" | PG Evangel | 2025 State LA (O.W.E.-RW3 | 5’9" | Evangel)

The O.W.E. point guard had one heck of a Sunday. While the day had some ups and downs, Shiflett showed that he is one of the premier guards in the 2025 class. He had the ultimate bounce back after missing the front end of a 1-and-1 in the waning seconds of the semifinal game with making the free throws in the final seconds that secured the championship win. Shiflett is a three level scorer who wants the ball in his hands at the end of games. There is no magic formula for that kind of DNA. He just has it.

Brandon Henderson Brandon Henderson 6'0" | PG Woodlawn-Shreveport | 2025 State LA (Xpress Sports | 6’0" | Woodlawn-Shreveport)

Henderson is one of the better drivers of the ball and he displayed that during various times on Sunday. He took advantage of the O.W.E. defenders in man-to-man situations and beat them easily with his quick first step. Henderson also showed toughness by taking contact numerous times when help did come on his drives. While he was not successful in making the winning semifinal bucket, he put players on notice that he is a player who is very hard to guard.

Daniel Lowery (Next Level Elite | 6’3" | Elkins)

Lowery was one of the top reasons that Next Level Elite pushed O.W.E. in the championship game. His ability to get to the rim in transition helped keep his team within striking distance. Lowery made his lone corner three as well during the game showing that he can score on more than just drives to the rim. His 14 points led his team in scoring and displayed his value to the Next Level offense.

Spencer Dunn (O.W.E.-RW3 | 5’10" | Homer)

The guard from Homer was the most clutch free throw shooter missing only one free throw between the semifinal and final on championship Sunday. Dunn was also very good in transition finishing layups amidst contact. What was most impressive about his Sunday was his willingness to handle the ball in pressure situations when Shiflett was being fully denied and could not handle the ball. Dunn made an impact in multiple facets of the game and helped his team win on Sunday.

The class of 2025 showed up and showed out on championship Sunday at Parkway. All the players on the floor during the semifinals and finals proved that Louisiana and Texas have some players that are up-and-coming big time talents. They should be interesting preps to follow as their careers continue.