Eye-catchers from Tour HoopsFest senior showcase

About 50 players visited Southside High this weekend for another opportunity to compete and put their talent and skills on display for media and college coaches.   The Tour HoopsFest's unsigned senior showcase drew 2023 standouts from all over Louisiana.   Here were a few notes on seven of the top performers and eye-catchers from the Acadiana area, west, central and north Louisiana.   And <a href="https://prephoops.com/2023/04/e-catchers-from-2023-tour-hoopsfest-senior-showcase-504-225-985/">click here for more notes on seven prospects from the New Orleans, Baton Rouge, north shore, river and bayou parishes</a>.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/embed/Bu7qpAuBiPw </div></figure>     [player_tooltip player_id='1273401' first='Jabbari' last='Barry'] — 6-1 G — Barbe   The LSWA Class 5A all-state honorable mention was among the talks of the two-day event, including multiple college offers earned on Saturday. Barry has good size both in his height and a solid build he uses well and pairs with tight, crafty ball-handling and good changes of pace to get into the lane and around the basket. He scored at all three levels with a smooth 3-point shot to go with his moves from the mid-range in, showed impressive vision and creativity distributing in transition and in the half-court and provided a few defensive highlights with well-timed blocked shots.   [player_tooltip player_id='1606993' first='Mason' last='Guillory'] — 6-3 G — St. Thomas More   Coaches said Guillory had a solid day Saturday, but the St. Thomas More standout came out Sunday in a clear attacking mentality and established himself as his team's top playmaker and one of the event's top performers in the process. Guillory is a long, lean three-level scorer with quickness past defenders into the lane and pulling up for perimeter and mid-range looks. He also used his length to consistently contest shots, including at least one perimeter block.   Dynell Jones — 6-3 G — Southside   One of a couple of Sharks seniors who had nice days on their home-court, "D.J." was one of the the top perimeter shooters at the event with half a dozen 3-pointers in one of his team's games alone — often deep, well-contested or both. Jones is a strong, solidly built athlete who particularly excelled finding open spots around the 3-point line and spotting up, but was also able to get good shots off off the dribble and on the move.   De'Vion Lavergne — 6-3 G — North Central   The LSWA Class 1A Outstanding Player after leading to his Hurricanes to a fourth state championship in five years took a few minutes to find his rhythm with his a new team after a late switch because of another player's absences, but hit his stride as one of Sunday's top two-way players with outright dominant stretches. The long, lean guard was a tenacious defender, a mindset and area of development in which he has taken pride, with a string of pick-pocketing, charge-drawing and shot-contesting highlights on that end of the court to go with his high-flying scoring ability around the rim whether off the dribble or on cuts and rebounds.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/embed/ITCbKWi1HcI </div></figure>     [player_tooltip player_id='970126' first='Omarion' last='Layssard'] — 6-2 G — Northwood (Lena)   The Gators' Class 1A all-state and state champion star was another of the clear top performers at the unsigned senior showcase, generating buzz throughout the event and earning college opportunities. "Diddy" is a quick, explosive leaper able to get above the rim in the blink of an eye off the dribble, off-ball and on the boards or create space for his mid-range jumper. Layssard has a solid build to play physically inside, but also showed some range to his offensive game with a few shots from beyond the arc.   [player_tooltip player_id='1213563' first='Randarius' last='Morris'] — 6-5 F — Northwood (Lena)   State championship teammates Layssard and Morris, himself a Class 1A all-state second-teamer, had the benefit of playing on the same team in this weekend's event and give those in attendance a glimpse of the physical, high-motor play that helped fuel the Gators' memorable season. Morris was one of the tallest players at the event with muscular build which he anticipated and positioned well to be a monster on the boards. He finished around the rim with a nice mixture of strength and touch and moved well running the court and occasionally having the defend the perimeter.   [player_tooltip player_id='1241644' first='Christian' last='Walker'] — 6-1 G — New Iberia   The all-state guard has also been a standout for his Yellow Jackets' football program, and that background shows in his physical play. Even when his perimeter shot wasn't falling early, Walker was an impact player with his hustle and active hands to snatch steals and rebounds and tip boards away from bigger opponents and out to his teammates. He and Barry led their team with creative passing, chemistry and a great feel for where they and their other teammates were on the court. And Walker's 3-pointers began falling in clutch moments late in their first game to help slow down their opponents' comeback attempts and seal away a victory.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/embed/1liyBo4nAVM </div></figure>

About 50 players visited Southside High this weekend for another opportunity to compete and put their talent and skills on display for media and college coaches.