Louisiana 17U Standouts during Live Atlanta

The Cobb Galleria Center housed some of the best Prep Hoops 17U teams from around the country during the NCAA live period this weekend. Louisiana had plenty of representation with 4 17 U teams participating. Friday and Saturday saw some high level performances from those very preps from the Boot. In this Prep Hoops exclusive, we will take a look at the 17U standouts from the first two days of competition in Atlanta. [player_tooltip player_id="970111" first="Jamaria" last="Clark"] (6’3" | O.W.E.-RW3 | 2023) Clark showed the coaches at court side and his opponents his full arsenal. During ATL Live, Clark scored the ball from all three levels and really displayed an ability to get to the rim and use the glass in a variety of ways to finish layups. His use of the dribble to create space for his jumper displayed a high level of ability. Clark also played better defense which speaks well for him going forward. [player_tooltip player_id="970119" first="De’kaveon" last="Taylor"] (6’3" | O.W.E.-RW3 | 2023) Taylor let his defense do a lot of his talking during the ATL event. He is an above average defender who caused players he defended to take tough shots due to his length. Taylor also took his turns at handling point guard duties attempting to broaden his floor game. His willingness to defend on one end and facilitate on the other makes him an attractive player. He is a very versatile guard. [player_tooltip player_id="970126" first="Omarion" last="Layssard"] (6’2" | Cenla Dynasty | 2023) Layssard is probably the most relentless driver of the ball to the cup that I have seen in recent years. During the ATL Live event, when he found an angle, he went to the cup. Layssard is a strong, athletic leaper who takes contact and gets to the foul line for and-1 opportunities. The way he shot the ball from the perimeter is the game changer. His continued consistency from three makes him a deadly offensive force. [player_tooltip player_id="1145438" first="Kohen" last="Rowbatham"] (6’2" | FIFA Elite ’23 | 2024) Rowbatham has the full offensive package and displayed it all on Friday and Saturday in Atlanta. His ability to get lower than the defender and get his shoulder past them and make his way to the cup is high level stuff. Rowbatham created for others, showed he could spot up and shoot, and made off the dribble shots constantly. His awareness to bait guards into errant passes for steals was exquisite as well. [player_tooltip player_id="970139" first="Chris" last="Carpenter"] (5’9" | O.W.E.-RW3 | 2023) Carpenter may be a guard who dribbles at a high volume. However, the opportunities he creates for himself and others shows the patience and confidence in his ability. Carpenter rocked defenders to sleep in Atlanta. When the defender gave him an opening, he hit them with a pull-up jumper or he drove past them to drop the ball off to a big. He is one of the best at the point guard position Louisiana has and he showed it. [player_tooltip player_id="1213753" first="Shad" last="Levy"] (6’3" | Showtime Elite ’23 | 2023) Levy made defenses pay the first two days with his aggressive, down hill play. He placed a ton of pressure on defenders and if they had trouble moving their feet, he either got to the rim or got fouled. His quick hands also caused several transition opportunities for himself and his teammates. Levy showed that he is a force of nature and can apply pressure to defenses in multiple ways. He is definitely a guard to watch. [player_tooltip player_id="1213567" first="Terrance" last="James"] (6’5" | O.W.E.-RW3 | 2023) James was impressive with his all-around play in Atlanta. He showed his defensive versatility by switching on all players perimeter players and defending the oppositions’ post players. James was just as versatile on offense as he nailed catch-and-shoot jumpers off draw and kick or offensive rebound situations and was one of the primary finishers in transition. His performance in Atlanta was textbook in playing the wing at his height. Other noteworthy performers: [player_tooltip player_id="1213564" first="Jonathan" last="Barron"] (Cenla Dynasty) - a slick handling point guard who will hurt you from three; he is as smart as they get at the point [player_tooltip player_id="1273398" first="Cardez" last="Norman"] (O.W.E.-RW3) - athletic big man who can protect the rim; has the quickest second jump on the offensive boards, will rebound everything on the defensive boards he can get to [player_tooltip player_id="1213569" first="Jakobe" last="Dykes"] (FIFA Elite) - highly skilled wing who can shoot it or drive it; when he is going, he can put up big numbers [player_tooltip player_id="1381596" first="Ronneal" last="Harold"] (FIFA Elite) - shot-blocking forward who can go get it above the rim; strong for his frame and rebounds the ball well [player_tooltip player_id="1218194" first="Jaylin" last="Johnson"] (Cenla Dynasty) - lefty guard who can shoot it from three and is explosive to the rim; can score in spurts and rebounds well for a guard [player_tooltip player_id="1213624" first="Reece" last="Seicshnaydre"] (FIFA Elite) - athletic guard with a lot of bounce; he can score at all three levels and can is an above average defender on the perimeter [player_tooltip player_id="1471598" first="Wendell" last="Hampton"] (Showtime Elite ’23) - forward who likes to operate on the perimeter but seems to be most comfortable in the paint; has very good hands and tends to rebound everything he gets his hands on Look for all of these players to participate in the Grind Region Finals in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. All of the players from the teams above will get a chance to play quality opponents before they close out their grassroots season during the last July live period.

The Cobb Galleria Center housed some of the best Prep Hoops 17U teams from around the country during the NCAA live period this weekend. Louisiana had plenty of representation with 4 17 U teams participating. Friday and Saturday saw some high level performances from those very preps from the Boot. In this Prep Hoops exclusive, we will take a look at the 17U standouts from the first two days of competition in Atlanta.

Jamaria Clark Jamaria Clark 6'2" | CG Doyline | 2023 State LA (6’3" | O.W.E.-RW3 | 2023)

Clark showed the coaches at court side and his opponents his full arsenal. During ATL Live, Clark scored the ball from all three levels and really displayed an ability to get to the rim and use the glass in a variety of ways to finish layups. His use of the dribble to create space for his jumper displayed a high level of ability. Clark also played better defense which speaks well for him going forward.

De’kaveon Taylor De’kaveon Taylor 6'3" | CG Huntington | 2023 State LA (6’3" | O.W.E.-RW3 | 2023)

Taylor let his defense do a lot of his talking during the ATL event. He is an above average defender who caused players he defended to take tough shots due to his length. Taylor also took his turns at handling point guard duties attempting to broaden his floor game. His willingness to defend on one end and facilitate on the other makes him an attractive player. He is a very versatile guard.

Omarion Layssard Omarion Layssard 6'2" | SG Northwood | 2023 State LA (6’2" | Cenla Dynasty | 2023)

Layssard is probably the most relentless driver of the ball to the cup that I have seen in recent years. During the ATL Live event, when he found an angle, he went to the cup. Layssard is a strong, athletic leaper who takes contact and gets to the foul line for and-1 opportunities. The way he shot the ball from the perimeter is the game changer. His continued consistency from three makes him a deadly offensive force.

Kohen Rowbatham Kohen Rowbatham 6'1" | CG St Thomas Aquinas | 2024 State LA (6’2" | FIFA Elite ’23 | 2024)

Rowbatham has the full offensive package and displayed it all on Friday and Saturday in Atlanta. His ability to get lower than the defender and get his shoulder past them and make his way to the cup is high level stuff. Rowbatham created for others, showed he could spot up and shoot, and made off the dribble shots constantly. His awareness to bait guards into errant passes for steals was exquisite as well.

Chris Carpenter Chris Carpenter 5'9" | PG Huntington | 2023 State LA (5’9" | O.W.E.-RW3 | 2023)

Carpenter may be a guard who dribbles at a high volume. However, the opportunities he creates for himself and others shows the patience and confidence in his ability. Carpenter rocked defenders to sleep in Atlanta. When the defender gave him an opening, he hit them with a pull-up jumper or he drove past them to drop the ball off to a big. He is one of the best at the point guard position Louisiana has and he showed it.

Shad Levy Shad Levy 6'3" | CG Dunham | 2023 State LA (6’3" | Showtime Elite ’23 | 2023)

Levy made defenses pay the first two days with his aggressive, down hill play. He placed a ton of pressure on defenders and if they had trouble moving their feet, he either got to the rim or got fouled. His quick hands also caused several transition opportunities for himself and his teammates. Levy showed that he is a force of nature and can apply pressure to defenses in multiple ways. He is definitely a guard to watch.

Terrance James Terrance James 6'4" | SF Gibsland Coleman Hig | 2023 State LA (6’5" | O.W.E.-RW3 | 2023)

James was impressive with his all-around play in Atlanta. He showed his defensive versatility by switching on all players perimeter players and defending the oppositions’ post players. James was just as versatile on offense as he nailed catch-and-shoot jumpers off draw and kick or offensive rebound situations and was one of the primary finishers in transition. His performance in Atlanta was textbook in playing the wing at his height.

Other noteworthy performers:

Jonathan Barron Jonathan Barron 5'11" | PG Northwood | 2023 State LA (Cenla Dynasty) - a slick handling point guard who will hurt you from three; he is as smart as they get at the point

Cardez Norman Cardez Norman 6'6" | PF Sterlington | 2024 LA (O.W.E.-RW3) - athletic big man who can protect the rim; has the quickest second jump on the offensive boards, will rebound everything on the defensive boards he can get to

Jakobe Dykes Jakobe Dykes 6'5" | SF St. Mary's Academy | 2023 State LA (FIFA Elite) - highly skilled wing who can shoot it or drive it; when he is going, he can put up big numbers

Ronneal Harold Ronneal Harold 6'6" | PF Amite | 2023 State LA (FIFA Elite) - shot-blocking forward who can go get it above the rim; strong for his frame and rebounds the ball well

Jaylin Johnson Jaylin Johnson 6'3" | SG Alexandria Country Day | 2024 State LA (Cenla Dynasty) - lefty guard who can shoot it from three and is explosive to the rim; can score in spurts and rebounds well for a guard

Reece Seicshnaydre Reece Seicshnaydre 6'3" | CG St. Paul's | 2023 State LA (FIFA Elite) - athletic guard with a lot of bounce; he can score at all three levels and can is an above average defender on the perimeter

Wendell Hampton Wendell Hampton 6'5" | PF St. Mary's Academy | 2023 State LA (Showtime Elite ’23) - forward who likes to operate on the perimeter but seems to be most comfortable in the paint; has very good hands and tends to rebound everything he gets his hands on

Look for all of these players to participate in the Grind Region Finals in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. All of the players from the teams above will get a chance to play quality opponents before they close out their grassroots season during the last July live period.