6 CenLa, north Louisiana 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 central and north Louisiana in particular.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1105533' first='Jordan' last='Comanche'] | 6-7 G | Wossman (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Comanche was one of the event's top ball-handlers even as one of the taller players on the court with a great combination of length, strength and quickness that make him a particularly versatile and intriguing prospect coming out of Monroe. He was at his best offensively driving and either finishing around contests and through contact or dishing to open teammates, but also showed the ability to pull up and hit perimeter shots that defenses had to respect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1560430' first='Rondae' last='Hill'] | 5-11 G | Calvary Baptist (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Calvary Baptist coach Victor Morris was on hand to watch his all-state guard, whose hard work and continued strides he praised. The point guard's handle and quickness stood out as he dictated paces much of the day, consistently worked past defenders and into good positions into or on the edge of the lane to either find his shots or his teammates and also showed quick rise and release to get off his perimeter shots. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1105539' first='Javon' last='Johnson'] | 6-0 G | Bossier (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bearkats' standout lived up to his billing as one of the best rebounding guards in the state Sunday earning the event's recognition as the reported rebounding leader of all players. Johnson excelled with his anticipation and active hands to constantly put himself in great position on the boards, in passing lanes for steals and blocking at least one 3-point attempt with a strong closeout. And he did a nice job working his way down into the midrange and lane for some high-percentage looks and hitting a few 3-pointers to help join [player_tooltip player_id='1218216' first='Jayce' last='Depron'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1278991' first='Aumad' last='Hackett'] in leading the day's most effective perimeter-shooting team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1105593' first='Jordan' last='Mathews'] | 6-6 F | Peabody (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mathews paired well with Pineville big man [player_tooltip player_id='1479618' first='Javonte' last='Thomas'] (more below) to provide their team arguably the strongest, most physical front-court duo at the event with their thick builds, ability to finish through contact and active, aggressive rebounding. He also showed the skill that makes him a versatile weapon with his reliable ball-handling to work to his spots and keep the offense moving and his touch on some of his spots near and across the lane.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1347260' first='Chris' last='Shiflett Jr']. | 5-9 G | Evangel Christian (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The rising junior point guard played on the team with arguably the greatest depth of strong ball-handlers, but was able to showcase his quickness, vision and overall skill as a facilitator when he had the ball in his hands, hit open jumpers when Comanche and other teammates found him and held his own on both ends of the court as the smallest listed player on the event roster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1479618' first='Javonte' last='Thomas'] | 6-7 F | Pineville (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As mentioned above, Thomas paired with Mathews as a big, physical duo in the post and on the boards, where they continually earned themselves and their teammates second- and third-chance opportunities. Thomas also earned the event's award as the leading shot blocker. But both showed enough skill further away from the basket to help provide some spacing as Thomas made multiple mid-range jumpers, including defensively contested looks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->