7 New Orleans area standouts at 2023 Statement Session

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are a few notes on seven eye-catchers from the great New Orleans area in particular, out into the River Parishes and North Shore to cover both the 504 and 985 areas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1358460' first='Christopher' last='Birden'] | 6-8 F | Isidore Newman (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Even with the graduation of a pair of star senior guards, the cupboard at Isidore Newman remains well-stocked, including the long, lean and versatile rising junior forward who had the opportunity Sunday to show some ball-handling ability and range in addition to some spring athleticism and powerful finishing at the rim. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1278991' first='Aumad' last='Hackett'] | 6-0 G | Bonnabel (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The rising senior guard, heading from Shaun Dumas Academy to Bonnabel, was able to get to his spots along the edge of the lane and working the baseline to get going offensively, including an acrobatic reverse layup and short pull-up, before eventually joining event teammate [player_tooltip player_id='1218216' first='Jayce' last='Depron'] in a full-blown barrage of 3-pointers during later stretches of the day. He also stood in and drew at least one of the day's few charges on a nice display of defense, game IQ and effort.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1387999' first='Lionel' last='Larvadain'] | 5-10 G | Eleanor McMain/John Ehret (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coaches and photographers joked with the rising senior guard, who was listed now at John Ehret after playing previously at Eleanor McMain, about his seemingly newly found bounce with his quick, high leaping on display finishing in the lane, blocking a couple bigger opponents' shots and throwing down some powerful slams in unofficial dunk contests between games in layup lines and during breaks. He also showed great vision and recognition on little drop-offs in the lane, cross-court passes and long looks ahead in transition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1394530' first='Daijon' last='Leatherman'] | 6-8 F/C | G.W. Carver (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The big rising junior had a breakout season this past fall to help the Rams reload and rebound en route to another state championship and looked notably confident, aggressive and vocal Sunday as he prepares to take on a more prominent role as an upperclassman. Leatherman showed good all-around feel on his post moves, including soft touch to a little hook, and in his positioning and boxing out on the boards. He also moved well as one of the bigger players on the court, sliding his feet well to keep guards in front of him after switching on screens and bolting down court on some transition rim runs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1277356' first='Chris' last='Leman'] | 6-7 F | Isidore Newman (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A key piece of the Greenies' back-to-back state championships, the versatile forward scored from all three levels Sunday from his confident deep range to getting to his midrange spots and into the rim with his drive and taking passes down around the block. Leman was also a good distributor with more running through him in the setting and worked hard on defense and on the boards as one of his team's top rebounders throughout the day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1434766' first='Jeremiah' last='Lewis'] | 6-1 G | Ponchatoula (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The state championship Green Wave point guard impressed high school and college coaches alike with the bouncy athleticism and body control to his finishing, including at least one powerful transition dunk. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1105547' first='Jordan' last='Moore'] | 6-2 G | Hahnville (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another hyper-springy, strong finisher, Moore is also —&nbsp;like Hackett mentioned above — another former Dumas Academy athlete on the move. In addition to the pressure he was able to put on the rim, he also showed some scoring ability a bit farther out in the lane with some spins and other quick moves. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->