6 Baton Rouge, Lafayette standouts at 2023 Statement Session
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About 40 of Louisiana’s top basketball players from every corner of the state visited Southside High School in Youngsville on Sunday to help kick off the new school year with the annual HoopFests Statement Session. And prospects from each region…
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Continue ReadingAbout 40 of Louisiana’s top basketball players from every corner of the state visited Southside High School in Youngsville on Sunday to help kick off the new school year with the annual HoopFests Statement Session.
And prospects from each region lived up to event’s billing to send messages with their strong performances against high-level competition with college coaches in attendance and helping lead the six teams.
Here are a few notes on six eye-catchers from the 225 (Baton Rouge) and 337 (Lafayette and Lake Charles) areas in particular.
Broderick Brooks Broderick Brooks 6'4" | SG Zachary | 2024 State LA | 6-4 G | Zachary (2024)
The event’s reported scoring leader was an aggressive and vocal motor for his team and big-time scorer at all three levels, a sniper from long range even against strong closeouts and a highly effective ball-handler with his pace and feel to set up defenders and then blow by them on his way into the lane. The long, quick athlete also frequently embraced the defensive challenges presented by opposing team’s top players.
Jayce Depron Jayce Depron 6'5" | CG Madison Prep | 2024 State LA | 6-3, G | Madison Prep (2024)
The Chargers’ shooting guard didn’t let a slow start from the perimeter stop him from still quickly establishing himself as one of the day’s top performers. Depron was locked in defensively with quick feet and active hands and starting finding his scoring on the other end by attacking the rim. When his outside looks started to drop, he could hardly miss for a stretch — whether open or heavily contested, pulling up, catching and shooting or working around screens. At one point in the semifinals, he rattled off a rapid-fire stretch of a driving basket, blocked shot and 3-pointer to both epitomize and highlight his day. And he also displayed his skills as a distributor as the reported assists leader of the event.
Trey’Dez Green | 6-8 F | Zachary (2024)
The LSU football commitment was among the definite standouts the first half of the day before having to sit with a twisted ankle. At his size — with college basketball coaches in attendance wondering whether he was expected to become a defensive end in college — Green possesses impressively smooth athleticism and quick second jump, covers so much ground so fast with or without the ball. And he plays consistently hard running the court, closing out and be first to the ground for loose balls.
Tate McCurry Tate McCurry 6'3" | CG Catholic | 2025 State LA | 6-3 G | Catholic (Baton Rouge) (2025)
Another standout from the same district who showed his toughness during the event, the Bears’ guard appeared to knock his head, shoulder or both fairly hard early in the day. But after being check on, McCurry was able to not only continue competing, but hit a pull-up jumper near the elbow on the second trip back down court and then unloaded a deadeye stretch from 3-point range.
Jaylen Peters Jaylen Peters 6'5" | SF Liberty Magnet | 2024 State LA | 6-6 F | Liberty Magnet (2024)
Peters played his high school season with several standout guards on his Patriots team, but had more of an opportunity Sunday to showcase his ball handling frequently taking the ball up court after rebounds and steals. He was aggressive, vocal and played with a high motor, but showed good patience at times to work his way into the lane and into good looks.
Wayne Randall Bashay | 6-4 F | New Iberia (2024)
The recent Xavier commitment was all over the court attacking as both a scorer and facilitator and flying around on defense using his long arms and good anticipation to deflect passes and block shots. Bashay consistently pushed the pace with his strong handle, vision and passing, including a couple quick and well-thrown outlets off rebounds.