Five select second-round LHSAA playoff matchups to watch
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The LHSAA boys basketball playoffs continue this week with 80 second-round matchups around the state. Here were five games from the “select” school brackets that caught our attention, due in no small part to the notable talent on the rosters.…
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Continue ReadingThe LHSAA boys basketball playoffs continue this week with 80 second-round matchups around the state.
Here were five games from the “select” school brackets that caught our attention, due in no small part to the notable talent on the rosters.
No. 11 Northside at No. 6 Lafayette Christian — Division-II Select
The crosstown and district rematch features a lower seed already with a victory on the higher seed’s floor just two and a half weeks ago. The Vikings will make the short trip again Tuesday fresh off a big opening-round victory highlight by Salvador Simon‘s 23 points and 13 rebounds. Fellow senior wing Bri’Trevian Lee is their highest ranked prospect on Prep Hoops Louisiana’s most recent link. Senior Jamarion Ardoin and junior A’kai Byers give the team a veteran guard duo, with freshman Jaydon Francis joining as one of the top young players in the area. Leading the higher-seeded Knights team into the playoffs after a first-round bye is Tulane-signed senior forward Kameron Williams Kameron Williams 6'7" | SF Lafayette Christian | 2024 State #60 Nation LA . But the state’s top-ranked prospect is far from alone with fellow ranked seniors such as Jeremy Bargky Jeremy Bargky 6'4" | PG Lafayette Christian Academy | 2024 State LA , Morgan Collins Morgan Collins 6'3" | SF Lafayette Christian | 2024 State LA and Deon Wheeler Deon Wheeler 6'1" | CG Lafayette Christian Academy | 2024 State LA , standout sophomore Graham Comeaux and well-known football standouts such as Trae Grogan Trae Grogan 6'3" | SG Cecilia | 2024 State LA , Sandy Lewis and Jalen Noel helping highlight a deep rotation.
No. 12 St. Augustine at No. 5 Edna Karr — Division-I Select
Another of the three district rematches featured on this list. The higher-seeded Cougars won both matchups this regular season, but each by single digits — including their home game 10 days ago by just four. District MVP guard Keith Jones Keith Jones 6'4" | SG Edna Karr | 2024 State LA Jr. leads a group of four all-district selections for Edna Karr’s 2024 class, including Grambling State-signed football standout Tyrone Wilson, big man Jyren Brooks and wing Jelthroe Moses Jr. The veteran guard duo of Air Force-signed senior Turner Duncan Turner Duncan 6'3" | PG St. Augustine | 2024 State LA and junior Cy Merrett earned district honors to lead this year’s Purple Knights, along with college-bound football standouts Joshua Jackson Joshua Jackson 6'3" | SG Brother Martin | 2024 State LA and Hubert Caliste Hubert Caliste 6'6" | PF St. Augustine | 2024 State LA Jr. and senior guards Brandon Royal and Dandrick Green Jr.
No. 13 St. Louis Catholic at No. 4 Archbishop Shaw — Division-II Select
Just a few miles away on the New Orleans West Bank from that Catholic League rematch, former Catholic League member Archbishop Shaw will host visiting St. Louis Catholic from Lake Charles in an intriguing Division-II matchup. Seniors Christian Creppel Christian Creppel 6'5" | SF Archbishop Shaw | 2024 State LA , Xavier Meyers Xavier Meyers 6'2" | SG AB Shaw | 2024 State LA , Aidan LaSalle and William Lewis Jr. are among the leaders for the Eagles, along with junior post player Kobe Butler Kobe Butler 6'7" | SF Archbishop Shaw | 2025 State LA and talented freshman guard Allen Shaw III Allen Shaw III 5'9" | PG Archbishop Shaw | 2027 State LA . Senior forwards Clayton Blackledge Clayton Blackledge 6'8" | PF St. Louis Catholic | 2024 State LA , Christian Guillory and Evan Ezell, junior guard Alex Goodwin and sophomore guards Joe Devall and Nick Devall help headline a Saints bunch that won its first-round game by 20.
No. 15 Catholic (Baton Rouge) at No. 2 Liberty Magnet — Division-I Select
The last of the district rematches on the list, the higher-seeded Patriots scratched out a 41-39 victory at Catholic early this month behind senior guard Howard Gaskins Howard Gaskins 6'1" | PG Liberty Magnet | 2024 State LA Jr.‘s scoring and junior guard Malek Robinson Malek Robinson 5'10" | PG Liberty | 2025 State LA ‘s defense and facilitation. Forwards Jaylen Peters Jaylen Peters 6'5" | SF Liberty Magnet | 2024 State LA and Marquise McPipe Marquise McPipe 6'3" | SG Liberty | 2024 State LA join that duo as the headline prospects for Liberty Magnet. The Bears’ heavy junior core of Nico Jones, Matthew Trahan, Tate McCurry Tate McCurry 6'3" | CG Catholic | 2025 State LA , Matthew Hotstream, C.J. Washington and Amari Clayton Amari Clayton 6'1" | SG Catholic | 2025 State LA , with big key plays by senior Dylan Gifford, helped the team control the bulk of a high-profile opening-round defeat of John Curtis and figure to be the top players to watch Tuesday in hostile, albeit nearby territory.
No. 17 Bonnabel at No. 1 St. Thomas More — Division-II Select
The Bruins came away from Friday’s long trip north with a memorable first-round road victory highlighted by 31 points by junior star Jeremiah Lucas Jeremiah Lucas 6'4" | SG Bonnabel | 2025 State #311 Nation LA and double-double by athletic senior forward Chris Hervey Chris Hervey 6'6" | PF Bonnabel | 2024 State LA Jr. As mentioned heading into that matchup, seniors Aumad Hackett Aumad Hackett 6'0" | PG Bonnabel | 2024 State LA and Nicholas Allen, junior Omar De La Rosa Omar De La Rosa 6'2" | SG Bonnabel | 2025 State LA and sophomore Thomas Colette and Gavin Lucas Gavin Lucas 6'1" | PG Bonnabel Magnet Academy | 2026 State LA are among other top players to know. The second round poses a shorter trip, but stiffer competition in top-seeded St. Thomas More. The perennial power Cougars are led by a a strong senior group that includes Michael Mouton Michael Mouton 6'5" | SG St. Thomas More | 2024 State LA , Chad Jones Chad Jones 6'7" | PF St. Thomas More | 2024 State LA , Hays Regard Hays Regard 6'4" | SG St. Thomas More | 2024 State LA and Anthony Angelle Anthony Angelle 6'3" | CG St. Thomas More | 2024 State LA among its ranked players and a junior class led by guard Elijah Guidry Elijah Guidry 6'2" | CG St. Thomas More | 2025 State LA .