LHSAA non-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 “non-select” school matchups.
No. 2 Anacoco vs. No. 6 Gibsland-Coleman — Division-V Non-Select (Monday, 6:15 p.m.)
Anacoco makes its fourth straight state tournament appearance, but is still searching for its first title since going back-to-back in 2015 and 2016. Seniors Dustin Welch Dustin Welch 6'3" | SG Anacoco | 2024 State LA , Landin Draughn, Caden Cooley and Kaleb Goodwin lead the way with a handful of sophomores helping round out the rotation. Gibsland-Coleman won an overtime thriller Friday to make its third straight trip, including a 2022 title. This year’s Bulldogs don’t include a senior on the roster, but are led by sophomore guards De’Avery Durham, DeMarquis Durham DeMarquis Durham 6'0" | SF Gibsland-Coleman | 2026 State LA and Deveryuan Moore and juniors Devery Moore Devery Moore LA Jr. and Carlos Rudolph Carlos Rudolph 6'0" | CG Gibsland-Coleman | 2025 State LA .
No. 1 Zwolle vs. No. 4 Negreet — Division-V Non-Select (Monday, 8 p.m.)
Defending champion Zwolle is the top seed, making its third straight tournament appearance with a veteran roster led by junior star Preston Sanders Preston Sanders 6'2" | CG Zwolle | 2025 State LA and a strong senior class led by guard Howard Etheridge Howard Etheridge 5'8" | PG Zwolle | 2024 State LA and Jermaine Hudson and forwards Alec Williams Alec Williams 5'10" | SG Zwolle | 2024 State LA and Dawson Leone. Negreet meanwhile made the leap from a No. 27 seed and first-round loss last spring to its first semifinal berth in more than two decades with senior forward Jonathan Holmes and the junior trio of center Sebastian Brown and guards Layton Byles and Jamauri Thomas all averaging in double-figures.
No. 6 Marksville vs. No. 7 Richwood — Division-III Non-Select (Tuesday, 1 p.m.)
The Tigers are back in the state tournament for the first time since back-to-back 2005 and 2006 appearances. Seniors Marcus Price Marcus Price 5'11" | PG Marksville | 2024 State LA Jr. and Zach Shuler and juniors Elidrick Murray and Bralyn Bazile are among the leaders with a talented cast of freshmen that includes Devin Lavalais Devin Lavalais 5'11" | PG Marksville | 2027 State LA , Dayne Small and Jaden Price already playing big roles. Richwood has meanwhile ended its own tournament drought by reaching its first semifinal since 2014 behind seniors Xzander Washington Xzander Washington 6'5" | SF Richwood | 2024 State LA , Yushunta Specks and Michael Wright, junior Markari Newton Markari Newton 5'11" | PG Richwood | 2025 State LA , Austin Love Austin Love 5'11" | SG Richwood | 2025 State LA and Karder Mason and sophomore Lavell Lane Lavell Lane 6'4" | SF Richwood | 2026 State LA .
No. 2 Ringgold vs. No. 6 Franklin — Division-IV Non-Select (Tuesday, 4:30 p.m.)
Ringgold had seen far more missed postseasons (six) and first-round losses (seven) than quarterfinal appearances (two) since its previous most recent state tournament appearance nearly two decades ago. But the Redskins have now made the quarters twice in the past four years and reached the semifinals for the first time since 2005. And while seniors such as J’Bari Adams and Trevor Williams Trevor Williams 6'0" | SF St. Amant | 2024 State LA and guard Xzorion Willis have been key, the team has also received notable contributions from all ages, including junior guard Ladaunte McCoy and standout freshmen Jordyn Wilson Jordyn Wilson 6'1" | CG Ringgold | 2027 State LA and Antravion Kinsey. Franklin meanwhile makes its second straight state tournament appearance behind a deep senior class headlined by speedy Grambling State football signee Jay’Shaun Johnson and backcourt mate J’Kylon Ceaser and a few key seniors, including the experienced Treyshaun Mack who played a big role on the 2023 run.
No. 8 Donaldsonville vs. No. 13 Red River — Division-III Non-Select (Tuesday, 6:15 p.m.)
Raiyen Oatis, Ja’Kai Allen and Zykiren Cole are the senior leaders for a Donaldsonville program back in its second state tournament in three years. The Tigers’ players to watch also include junior forward Tahj Williby and sophomores Quinnton Dabney Quinnton Dabney 6'0" | CG Donaldsonville | 2026 State LA , Chase Schonberg, Donald Schonberg, Donald Brown and Jaden Allen. Red River leans heavily on strong junior and sophomore classes including forward Jomello McDonald (2025) and guards Jayden Wells Jayden Wells 6'0" | PG Red River | 2025 LA (2025), Warren Bowman (2026), Collin Stafford Collin Stafford 5'10" | CG Red River Bulldogs | 2026 LA (2026) and Zy’quavious Smith (2026) around a key senior leader in Josiah Jones.
No. 1 Lakeview vs. No. 4 Pickering — Division-IV Non-Select (Tuesday, 8 p.m.)
The top-seeded Gators are making their fourth state tournament appearance in the past five years, but are still seeking their first win there since back-to-back runner-up finishes in 2014 and 2015. Seniors Alonzo Driver Alonzo Driver 5'11" | CG Lakeview | 2024 State LA , Andre Sowell Andre Sowell 6'2" | SG Lakeview | 2024 State LA , Dereon Joseph Dereon Joseph 6'4" | PF Lakeview | 2024 State LA , Taylor Phillips, Treston Carter and Kaleb Collins Kaleb Collins 6'0" | PG Northwest | 2024 State LA have helped lead the way with junior Jamarcus Reliford Jamarcus Reliford 6'1" | PG Lakeview | 2025 State LA another big name to know. After three straight first-round losses and five in the past six years, Pickering is making its first state tournament appearance in at least two decades. Junior guard Anthony Berry Anthony Berry 5'10" | PG Pickering | 2025 State LA has filled up the stat sheet to lead the way, along with the senior trio of forward Christin Morgan, center Jace Donaldson and guard Landon Cupit and fellow junior Desire’ Privitera Desire’ Privitera 5'7" | PG Pickering | 2025 State LA .
No. 2 Wossman vs. No. 3 Carroll — Division-II Non-Select (Wednesday, 6:15 p.m.)
The Monroe rivals will meet for a fifth — yes, fifth — time this season Wednesday in the semifinals with the higher-seeded Wildcats having won three of the first four, but all four matchups decided by 10 points or fewer. The consistent contenders each have notable recent state tournament experience, including both making the 2023 trip, but haven’t met in the playoffs since a Wossman win in the 2018 quarterfinals. Senior guards Jordan Comanche Jordan Comanche 6'6" | CG Wossman | 2024 State LA and Krystian Lewis Krystian Lewis 6'3" | CG Wossman | 2024 State LA and juniors Antron Mason II Antron Mason II 6'1" | CG Wossman | 2025 State LA , Zion Weeks Zion Weeks 6'0" | PG Wossman | 2025 State LA and Andre Mackey Andre Mackey 6'3" | SF Wossman | 2025 State LA lead this year’s Wildcats group, while senior forwards Lavion Owens Lavion Owens 6'4" | SF Carroll | 2024 State LA and Keshon Anderson and junior guards Treylan Neal Treylan Neal 6'1" | CG Carroll | 2025 State LA , Jaden Williams Jaden Williams 6'1" | CG Carroll | 2025 State LA and Demarion Deal Demarion Deal 6'1" | SG Carroll | 2025 State LA lead the Bulldogs.
No. 1 Iowa vs. No. 4 Brusly — Division-II Non-Select (Wednesday, 8 p.m.)
Senior guards Da’Shawn Ceaser and Desa’monte Gradney Desa’monte Gradney 6'2" | CG Iowa | 2024 State LA helped lead the top-seeded Yellow Jackets to a second straight state tournament with their high-scoring quarterfinal efforts. That duo, fellow guard Cameron Washington, forward Luke Guillory and Collin Goodly and brothers Josiah Bushnell (2024) and Jeremiah Bushnell Jeremiah Bushnell 6'3" | SG Iowa | 2026 State LA (2026) are among the leading players to watch for this year’s squad. Awaiting is a similarly deep and talented Brusly squad making its first tournament trip since 2020 after falling short to Iowa in last season’s quarterfinals. Forward Cody Loupe Cody Loupe 6'2" | SG Brusly | 2024 State LA and guard Tyran Young Tyran Young 6'2" | CG Brusly | 2024 State LA are senior leaders with juniors Edrick Snearl Edrick Snearl 6'4" | SF Brusly | 2025 State LA , Steven Wesley and Brandon Hymes and sophomores Micah Bryant Micah Bryant 6'1" | PG Brusly | 2026 State LA and Ryland Johnson Ryland Johnson 5'7" | PG Brusly | 2026 State LA among the top players in strong 2025 and 2026 classes.
No. 5 Natchitoches Central vs. No. 8 Ruston — Division-I Non-Select (Thursday, 6:15 p.m.)
The eighth-seeded Bearcats traveled south Friday and knocked off top-seeded perennial power Zachary to punch their ticket to a second straight state tournament. The team is talented, defensive-minded and unselfish with super-freshman Ahmad Hudson Ahmad Hudson 6'6" | SF Ruston | 2027 State LA continuing to develop into an outright star to further bolster the team’s veteran core that includes seniors Jamadrion Lillard Jamadrion Lillard 6'3" | CG Ruston | 2024 State LA , Zhy’Avion Scott Zhy’Avion Scott 6'2" | SG Ruston | 2024 State LA and Trey Dimmer and juniors Aidan Anding Aidan Anding 6'0" | SG Ruston | 2025 State LA and Joran Parker Joran Parker 6'1" | CG Ruston | 2025 State LA . Former district foe Natchitoches Central meanwhile claimed its own road upset of Denham Springs to head back to its first state tournament since 2021. Multisport senior Camryn Davis is the Chiefs’ lone senior, but with a junior group that includes point guard Jaden Braden Jaden Braden 5'9" | PG Natchitoches Central | 2025 State LA and forward Jacorien Beard and sophomore group that includes leading scorer Ja’Dell Demery and guard Harold Remo.
No. 2 Ponchatoula vs. No. 3 New Iberia — Division-I Non-Select (Thursday, 8 p.m.)
A rematch of last season’s state championship will wrap up this week’s semifinal action. Ponchatoula, the champions a year ago, have been on an absolute tear through district and the playoffs that now includes seven straight victories by 20 or more points and back-to-back performances of 35-plus points by Santa Clara signee Allen Graves Allen Graves 6'9" | PF Ponchatoula | 2024 State LA , plus nearly 20 points per contest by fellow seniors Jeremiah Lewis Jeremiah Lewis 6'3" | SG Ponchatoula | 2024 State LA and Taj Jackson Taj Jackson 6'2" | CG Ponchatoula | 2024 State LA . Xavier (New Orleans) signee Wayne Randall-Bashay Wayne Randall-Bashay 6'4" | SF New Iberia | 2024 State LA is the headline prospect for New Iberia with point guard Austin Delahoussaye Austin Delahoussaye 6'0" | PG New Iberia | 2024 State LA and wing Kentravion Smith among the senior leaders and junior wings Otis Anderson Otis Anderson 6'1" | SG New Iberia | 2025 State LA , Devin Frank Devin Frank 6'3" | SG New Iberia | 2025 State LA and Khaled Fusilier as other top players to watch.