Louisiana Top 28: Division IV All Tournament Teams
First Team:
Caleb Starks 6’3 2017 G LCA (Northwestern St. commit)
Caleb Starks had a very simple game plan for most of the season. Whoever the best player on the other team is, you go out and shut him down, and whatever you give us on offense is just lagniappe. And for nearly this entire season, that gameplan worked. And don’t get me wrong, that added offense could be the best offensive players on a lot of teams in the state.
Tyreon “Speedy” Payne 5’10 2017 G Southern Lab
Speedy was a big reason why Southern Lab was able to get to the state championship game, leading all scorers in the semifinal against Houma Christian. In the state finale, he was tasked to be more of a distributor, setting up teammates to finish around the rim.
Camren Hare 6’2 2017 G Hamilton Christian
Hamilton Christian might have fallen in the semi-finals, but they fought like hell in that game, and that is in large part due to the leadership of Hamilton Christian’s seniors Camren Hare and Keenan Fontenot (more on him in a second.) Hare might not have had the best shooting night, but hit a few big shots when they matter, and just the threat of his shooting ability created gaps in the defense that wouldn’t have otherwise been there.
Azharen Earnest 6’6 2017 F Southern Lab
All season long, Earnest was the best player for Southern Lab, and he brings maximum effort on both ends of the court. On offense, he did most of his work in the post and around the basket, and could finish through contact with either hand. On defense, he anchored Southern Lab’s 2-3 matchup zone, and made it difficult all night for LCA to finish at the rim.
Greg Williams 6’4 2018 G LCA MVP
This championship has been a long time coming for Greg Williams, who has been starting for the Knight’s since he was in the 8th grade. Three years straight for LCA they had made it to the Top 28, only to come up short. However, this year, Greg Williams made sure that he was finally going home happy. Williams asserted himself from the tip, and finished with a game high 24 points including some monster dunks.
Second Team
Keenan Fontenot 6’0 2017 G Hamilton Christian
Fontenot was used as a swiss army knife this season for Hamilton Christian, doing whatever was tasked of him. At times, that was to score, at other times it was to rebound, at other to set up his teammates and on occasion it was to guard the other teams top scorer. Whatever he could do to help his team win, he did it, and he did it with a smile.
Trent Washington 6’3 2018 F Houma Christian
Washington was the best player for a very overmatched Houma Christian team that had never played on such a big stage, and it showed. However, Houma Christian is only graduating two seniors and they are bringing back their two best players in Trent and Tre Washington, so hopefully this season was just a stepping stone for them.
Terrance Jones 5’8 2019 G LCA
Jones might only be 5’8, but he plays like he is 6’4, attacking the goal relentlessly, and shooting from the outside at an impressive clip. His defense hasn’t yet caught up with his offense, but he has never been relied on as a shutdown defender. If he can execute on defense the same way he does on offense, I like his chances of moving on to the next level.
Michael Thomas 6’0 2020 G Hamilton Christian
What really stood out to me about Thomas was his ferocity, especially at the defensive end. He was able to use his length and athleticism to slow down the man he was guarding, and that defensive intensity is rare for a player so young. He also showed an above average ability to both handle the ball and shoot from downtown.
Brenden Vessell 5’9 2018 G Southern Lab
Vessell was the leading scorer for Southern Lab in the championship game, totalling 11 points. He was one of the few players still capable of penetrating for Southern Lab, once LCA switched to a 1-3-1 to take away Earnest at the rim. Vessell did a good job of using creative finishes at the rim to score for his size.