LHSAA select semifinals players to watch, notes
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The final week of Louisiana’s high school basketball season is upon us. 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…
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Continue ReadingThe final week of Louisiana’s high school basketball season is upon us.
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.
Here are notes and players to watch for the “select” school matchups.
No. 1 Avoyelles Public Charter vs. No. 4 Rapides — Division-V Select (Monday, 1:00 p.m.)
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 Armonii Benjamin Armonii Benjamin 6'2" | CG Avoyelles Public Charter | 2026 State LA and junior guard Jalen Brown Jalen Brown 5'10" | PG Avoyelles Charter | 2025 State LA are the highest-profile prospects for the small-school program and young roster, which features froward Kaileb Barr as the primary senior and interior presence. Senior guard Christopher Newton Christopher Newton 5'11" | PG Rapides | 2024 State LA is among the leaders for Rapides, along with juniors Sheldrick Vall, Jashon Jones, Antwone Jones and sophomores Zayveian Johnson and Jaydan Wilson.
No. 2 J.S. Clark Leadership Academy vs. No. 3 Episcopal of Acadiana — Division-V Select (Monday, 2:45 p.m.)
Talented sophomore Le’Damian George, juniors Lawrence Pickney Lawrence Pickney 6'3" | CG JS Clark | 2025 State LA and Rayshawn Pickney Rayshawn Pickney 6'0" | CG J.S. Clark Leadership | 2025 State LA and seniors Eric Ned Jr. and Ashton Joubert 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 Jacob Vilar Jacob Vilar 6'2" | SG Episcopal School of Acadiana | 2024 State LA , Javion George and Miles Eble Miles Eble 6'4" | SG Episcopal Of Acadiana | 2024 State LA and junior Semar Flugence. 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.
No. 2 Dunham vs. No. 3 University Lab — Division-III Select (Monday, 4:30 p.m.)
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 Elijah Haven Elijah Haven 6'5" | SF Dunham | 2027 State LA is the star prospect long-term for the Tigers, but with plenty of veteran leaders around him among the standouts, including senior guard Mason Lavergne Mason Lavergne 6'0" | PG Dunham | 2024 State LA and junior forward Brayden Rabalais. And sophomore guard A.J. Olivier is another name to know alongside Haven and Lavergne in the backcourt. Seniors Darryl Hurst and Cooper Coates Cooper Coates 6'6" | SF University Lab | 2024 State LA and junior Trushaad Bush Trushaad Bush 6'2" | SG University Lab | 2025 State LA have helped lead the charge for the Cubs, with freshman Ethan Kimmie Ethan Kimmie 6'3" | SF University Lab | 2027 State LA coming on strong and senior Adam Bazile a potentially difference-making shooter when given the opportunity.
No. 1 Isidore Newman vs. No. 13 Episcopal (Baton Rouge) — Division-III Select (Tuesday, 2:45 p.m.)
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 Todd Jones Todd Jones 6'8" | PF Newman | 2024 State #185 Nation LA and juniors Chris Cenac and Christopher Burden at the forefront with sophomore R.J. Livingston, 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 T.J. Callahan, Reed McMains, Parks McMains and Isaac Alton and big man Lance Clark Lance Clark 6'5" | PF Episcopal | 2024 State LA .
No. 1 Crescent City vs. No. 5 Lincoln Prep — Division-IV Select (Wednesday, 1:00 p.m.)
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 Joseph Spann Joseph Spann 6'1" | CG Lincoln Prep | 2026 State LA and Zion Hicks Zion Hicks 6'1" | SF Lincoln Prepatory | 2026 LA are among the leading playmakers for this year’s Panthers. The high-scoring backcourt of senior Jovanni Perez Jovanni Perez 6'3" | CG Crescent City | 2024 State LA and junior Dwight Magee Dwight Magee 5'9" | PG Crescent City | 2026 State LA , junior wing Isiah Stevens and sophomore forward Devin Guitroz Devin Guitroz 6'0" | CG Crescent City | 2026 State LA 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.
No. 2 Liberty Magnet vs. No. 3 Southwood — Division-I Select (Wednesday, 2:45 p.m.)
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 Howard Gaskins Howard Gaskins 6'1" | PG Liberty Magnet | 2024 State LA Jr. and 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 and junior guard Malek Robinson Malek Robinson 5'10" | PG Liberty | 2025 State LA . Louisiana (Lafayette)-signed big man Jeremiah Evans Jeremiah Evans 6'10" | C Southwood | 2024 State #249 Nation LA , 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 Maurice Carson Maurice Carson 5'11" | PG Southwood | 2024 State LA , forward Kamauri Fleming, Travis Brooks Travis Brooks 6'1" | SG Southwood | 2024 State LA and wings Dylan Bell Dylan Bell 5'8" | PG Southwood | 2024 State LA and Detreveon “Tre” Lars headline the Cowboys’ deep 2024 class already in historically notable territory and looking for more.
No. 1 St. Thomas More vs. No. 4 Pineville — Division-I Select (Wednesday, 4:30 p.m.)
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 Chad Jones Chad Jones 6'7" | PF St. Thomas More | 2024 State LA and guard Michael Mouton Michael Mouton 6'5" | SG St. Thomas More | 2024 State LA , both among the state’s top playoff performers the past two weeks, lead a strong senior group that includes 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 other names to know — plus guard Elijah Guidry Elijah Guidry 6'2" | CG St. Thomas More | 2025 State LA , 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 Evyn Goree Evyn Goree 6'1" | SG Pineville | 2024 State LA , Malik Marzett and Kayden Clark, wing Kylan Edwards, forward Jaylan Witty and big man JaVonte Thomas.
No. 1 Madison Prep vs. No. 4 Archbishop Shaw — Division-II Select (Thursday, 1:00 p.m.)
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 Josh Smith Josh Smith 6'3" | PG Madison Prep | 2024 State LA and Jayce Depron Jayce Depron 7'5" | CG Madison Prep | 2024 State LA , senior forwards Quentin Dabney Quentin Dabney 6'5" | SF Madison Prep | 2024 State LA and Jamari Thigpen and junior forward Chris Lindo Chris Lindo 6'6" | PF Madison Prep | 2025 State LA headline this year’s veteran team, with senior guards Hezekiah Dantzler Hezekiah Dantzler 6'1" | CG Madison Prep | 2024 State LA and Donnie Haney Donnie Haney 6'3" | SF Madison Prep | 2024 State LA among key reserves playing big roles when called upon. Christian Creppel Christian Creppel 6'5" | SF Archbishop Shaw | 2024 State LA , Xavier Meyers Xavier Meyers 6'2" | SG AB Shaw | 2024 State LA , William Lewis Jr. and Jaden Vappie are the senior leaders for and Archbishop Shaw program making its second straight tournament trip. Junior forward Kobe Butler Kobe Butler 6'7" | SF Archbishop Shaw | 2025 State LA has played a huge role anchoring the defense inside, and Allen Shaw III Allen Shaw III 5'9" | PG Archbishop Shaw | 2027 State LA is a freshman already playing a big role and proving himself as a young name to know for years to come.
No. 2 Peabody vs. No. 3 G.W. Carver — Division-II Select (Thursday, 2:45 p.m.)
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 Laurence Nathan Laurence Nathan 6'2" | PG Carver | 2024 State LA and Stanley Waterhouse and junior big man Daijon Leatherman Daijon Leatherman 6'9" | PF Carver | 2025 State LA helping highlight this year’s roster and sophomore Chesney Sadler Chesney Sadler 5'10" | CG Carver | 2026 State LA 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 Jordan Mathews Jordan Mathews 6'5" | SF Peabody | 2024 State LA , Justin Burns Justin Burns 6'4" | SF Peabody | 2024 State LA and Zaydrien Sewell Zaydrien Sewell 6'2" | SG Peabody | 2024 State LA and junior Isaiah Burns and senior guards Robert Garland and Greg McInnis Jr. and junior Rashad Mitchell Rashad Mitchell 5'10" | PG Peabody | 2025 State LA .
No. 2 St. Martin’s Episcopal vs. No. 6 Hamilton Christian (Thursday, 4:30 p.m.)
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 Matt Weaver, Cooper Odom and Jophie LaForge lead St. Martin’s back to the program’s second straight, along with juniors Harlem Berry and Ashton Oliver. Underclassmen Javon Vital Javon Vital 5'11" | CG Hamilton Christian | 2027 State LA , the freshman point guard, and DeRay Vital, the sophomore big man, are the headline prospects for the Warriors with juniors Seth Ned Seth Ned 5'11" | PG Hamilton Christian | 2025 State LA and Shawn Weston Shawn Weston 6'0" | CG Hamilton Christian | 2025 State LA and senior Garrett Humphery among veteran leaders.