LHSAA select semifinals players to watch, notes

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The final week of Louisiana's high school basketball season is upon us.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Forty teams head to Lake Charles this week for semifinals Monday through Thursday and state championships Friday and Saturday in 10 brackets — five select divisions and five nonselect divisions. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are notes and players to watch for the "select" school matchups.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 1 Avoyelles Public Charter vs. No. 4 Rapides —  Division-V Select (Monday, 1:00 p.m.)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The reigning champion Vikings are back as the top seed and kick off the week's action against another program making a second straight tournament appearance. Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2218441' first='Armonii' last='Benjamin']</strong> and junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1560448' first='Jalen' last='Brown']</strong> are the highest-profile prospects for the small-school program and young roster, which features froward <strong>Kaileb Barr</strong> as the primary senior and interior presence. Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2382783' first='Christopher' last='Newton']</strong> is among the leaders for <strong>Rapides</strong>, along with juniors <strong>Sheldrick Vall</strong>, <strong>Jashon Jones</strong>, <strong>Antwone Jones</strong> and sophomores <strong>Zayveian Johnson</strong> and <strong>Jaydan Wilson</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 2 J.S. Clark Leadership Academy vs. No. 3 Episcopal of Acadiana —  Division-V Select (Monday, 2:45 p.m.)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Talented sophomore <strong>Le'Damian George</strong>, juniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2206875' first='Lawrence' last='Pickney']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1709789' first='Rayshawn' last='Pickney']</strong> and seniors <strong>Eric Ned Jr.</strong> and <strong>Ashton Joubert</strong> lead J.S. Clark Leadership Academy to its second straight tournament appearance. And waiting is district foe Episcopal of Acadiana — a team with good size for a small-school program — led by seniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1208576' first='Jacob' last='Vilar']</strong>, <strong>Javion George</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1646174' first='Miles' last='Eble']</strong> and junior <strong>Semar Flugence</strong>. Clark claimed both matchups this regular season by margins of eight and 13 and has now won five straight in the series dating back to the 2021-22 season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 2 Dunham vs. No. 3 University Lab —  Division-III Select (Monday, 4:30 p.m.)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A pair of Baton Rouge — and former district — rivals and annual contenders meet up for the third time this season with the slightly higher seeded Tigers having claimed the previous two. Dunham makes its second straight state tournament trip and seventh in eight years, including 2018 and 2020 championships, while U-High returns for the first time since a 2021 runner-up finish that ended a streak of nine straight trips that included a 2014-16 three-peat. Freshman guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2421118' first='Elijah' last='Haven']</strong> is the star prospect long-term for the Tigers, but with plenty of veteran leaders around him among the standouts, including senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1455376' first='Mason' last='Lavergne']</strong> and junior forward <strong>Brayden Rabalais</strong>. And sophomore guard <strong>A.J. Olivier</strong> is another name to know alongside Haven and Lavergne in the backcourt. Seniors <strong>Darryl Hurst</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1275304' first='Cooper' last='Coates']</strong> and junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2408458' first='Trushaad' last='Bush']</strong> have helped lead the charge for the Cubs, with freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2132743' first='Ethan' last='Kimmie']</strong> coming on strong and senior <strong>Adam Bazile</strong> a potentially difference-making shooter when given the opportunity.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 1 Isidore Newman vs. No. 13 Episcopal (Baton Rouge) —  Division-III Select (Tuesday, 2:45 p.m.)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two-time defending champion Isidore Newman returns to the state tournament with new-look, but once again elitely talented roster following the graduation of its starring 2023 group. The lineup is bigger with senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1105540' first='Todd' last='Jones']</strong> and juniors <strong>Chris Cenac</strong> and <strong>Christopher Burden</strong> at the forefront with sophomore <strong>R.J. Livingston</strong>, one of the nation's top young players, quickly and effectively filling big shoes left by his predecessors in the backcourt. The Knights return to the tournament for the second time in three years behind a deep core of senior leaders in guards <strong>T.J. Callahan</strong>, <strong>Reed McMains</strong>, <strong>Parks McMains</strong> and <strong>Isaac Alton</strong> and big man <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1589545' first='Lance' last='Clark']</strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 1 Crescent City vs. No. 5 Lincoln Prep —  Division-IV Select (Wednesday, 1:00 p.m.)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of a couple semifinal rematches from a year ago, Lincoln Prep scratched its way to an overtime victory in the 2023 meeting. Senior guard Stephen Burks III, juniors Devin Burton and Amarjae Young and sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='1543654' first='Joseph' last='Spann'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1543679' first='Zion' last='Hicks'] are among the leading playmakers for this year's Panthers. The high-scoring backcourt of senior [player_tooltip player_id='1218738' first='Jovanni' last='Perez'] and junior [player_tooltip player_id='1543685' first='Dwight' last='Magee'], junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2471333' first='Isiah' last='Stevens'] and sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='2415381' first='Devin' last='Guitroz'] have helped lead Crescent City through a brutal schedule to a top seed and back to Lake Charles for opportunities at semifinal revenge and title glory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 2 Liberty Magnet vs. No. 3 Southwood —  Division-I Select (Wednesday, 2:45 p.m.)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Patriots are back in the state tournament for the third time in four years and trying to advance to a second title games in the past three behind senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1105591' first='Howard' last='Gaskins'] Jr.</strong> and forwards <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1408867' first='Jaylen' last='Peters']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1560409' first='Marquise' last='McPipe']</strong> and junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2408250' first='Malek' last='Robinson']</strong>. Louisiana (Lafayette)-signed big man <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1105536' first='Jeremiah' last='Evans']</strong>, the top-ranked prospect in the game, helped punch Southwood's first state-tournament ticket since 2002 with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer Friday night. He, guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1484700' first='Maurice' last='Cason']</strong>, forward <strong>Kamauri Fleming</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1386497' first='Travis' last='Brooks']</strong> and wings <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1697889' first='Dylan' last='Bell']</strong> and <strong>Detreveon "Tre" Lars</strong> headline the Cowboys' deep 2024 class already in historically notable territory and looking for more.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 1 St. Thomas More vs. No. 4 Pineville —  Division-I Select (Wednesday, 4:30 p.m.)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The top-seeded Cougars make their ninth straight state tournament appearance this week and are chasing their first title since four straight from 2018 to 2021. The high-profile duo of forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1386535' first='Chad' last='Jones']</strong> and guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1105548' first='Michael' last='Mouton']</strong>, both among the state's top playoff performers the past two weeks, lead a strong senior group that includes <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1218185' first='Hays' last='Regard']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1105527' first='Anthony' last='Angelle']</strong> among other names to know — plus guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2206930' first='Elijah' last='Guidry']</strong>, a ranked 2025 prospect, as a key non-senior. Pineville meanwhile makes its first trip since a 1990 state title with its own deep senior class leading the way, including guards <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2382757' first='Evyn' last='Goree']</strong>, <strong>Malik Marzett</strong> and <strong>Kayden Clark</strong>, wing <strong>Kylan Edwards</strong>, forward <strong>Jaylan Witty</strong> and big man <strong>JaVonte Thomas</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 1 Madison Prep vs. No. 4 Archbishop Shaw — Division-II Select (Thursday, 1:00 p.m.)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The top-seeded Chargers have been one of the state's most dominant programs for more than a decade with a state tournament appearance every spring since 2012 and eight titles in the past 11 years, but return hungry after falling short in last year's title game. Senior guards <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1218217' first='Josh' last='Smith']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1218216' first='Jayce' last='Depron']</strong>, senior forwards <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1585179' first='Quentin' last='Dabney']</strong> and <strong>Jamari Thigpen</strong> and junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1492968' first='Chris' last='Lindo']</strong> headline this year's veteran team, with senior guards <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1480418' first='Hezekiah' last='Dantzler']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2382772' first='Donnie' last='Haney']</strong> among key reserves playing big roles when called upon. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1560388' first='Christian' last='Creppel']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1892405' first='Xavier' last='Meyers']</strong>, <strong>William Lewis Jr.</strong> and <strong>Jaden Vappie</strong> are the senior leaders for and Archbishop Shaw program making its second straight tournament trip. Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1601451' first='Kobe' last='Butler']</strong> has played a huge role anchoring the defense inside, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2132726' first='Allen' last='Shaw III']</strong> is a freshman already playing a big role and proving himself as a young name to know for years to come. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 2 Peabody vs. No. 3 G.W. Carver —  Division-II Select (Thursday, 2:45 p.m.)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The third-seeded Rams are back in the state tournament for a fifth straight year and looking for a third straight state championship with the senior guard duo of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1105549' first='Laurence' last='Nathan']</strong> and <strong>Stanley Waterhouse</strong> and junior big man <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1394530' first='Daijon' last='Leatherman']</strong> helping highlight this year's roster and sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1680452' first='Chesney' last='Sadler']</strong> already playing a big role as an underclassman. No team came closer to upended Carver's 2023 run than Peabody in last year's 46-44 semifinal matchup. The Warhorse return with the big front line of seniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1105593' first='Jordan' last='Mathews']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1479623' first='Justin' last='Burns']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2382768' first='Zaydrien' last='Sewell']</strong> and junior <strong>Isaiah Burns</strong> and senior guards <strong>Robert Garland</strong> and <strong>Greg McInnis Jr.</strong> and junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1560429' first='Rashad' last='Mitchell']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 2 St. Martin's Episcopal vs. No. 6 Hamilton Christian (Thursday, 4:30 p.m.) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A rematch of a 2023 quarterfinal, which the Saints won, may be one of the most intriguing semifinal matchups of the week's strong slate overall. Senior captains <strong>Matt Weaver</strong>, <strong>Cooper Odom</strong> and <strong>Jophie LaForge</strong> lead St. Martin's back to the program's second straight, along with juniors <strong>Harlem Berry </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2623483' first='Ashton' last='Oliver']</strong>. Underclassmen <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2313822' first='Javon' last='Vital']</strong>, the freshman point guard, and <strong>DeRay Vital</strong>, the sophomore big man, are the headline prospects for the Warriors with juniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2302337' first='Seth' last='Ned']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1347293' first='Shawn' last='Weston']</strong> and senior <strong>Garrett Humphery</strong> among veteran leaders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->