Louisiana's Final Top 50 Class of 2010 Players

With the 2009-10 season now in the books, Louisiana Basketball Report and Louisiana Prep Insider has decided to list the top 50 players in the senior class. In what has been long awaited and much needed list, we have officially released what we feel is a list of the top 50 players in this years 2010 class. In the coming days and weeks, we will also list the top 20 for the 2011, 2012, and 2013 classes. We will also introduce the top 10 for next years crop of freshman for the 2014 class. So enjoy, and stay tuned. Now it is time for the rankings.

In a class that has had several Division-1 players sign this year, none stood out more in 2009-10 than Peabody’s Markel Brown. The 6’5” 180 lb senior and Oklahoma State signee really made his presence felt this year as he led the Warhorses to a 40-0 record and the 4A state title. With two highly impressive games in the Cajun Dome in March, Brown was clearly the best player at the Top 28 and all season as he led Peabody with a 32.5 ppg scoring average as well as a 41-0 record.  Brown is a super-athletic combo-guard that can handle the ball very well, defends, gets to the rim and finishes very well with acrobatic dunks and has a developing and very good 3-point shot. Brown was also named 4A State Player of the Year as well as the Louisiana Mr. Basketball winner as well as ESPN Rise All-American 2nd team.

The state’s #2 rated player is Christian Life Academy’s Langston Galloway from Baton Rouge, a St. Joseph’s (PA) signee. What really separated Galloway, a 6’3” 185 lb guard from the rest of the top five players is his ability to make his teammates better and the fact the he does all the little things so well that helps his team win. Yes, Galloway is an elite scorer and very good defender, but what he does when his shot isn’t falling is special. His ability to defend the basketball is impressive. He can score almost at will and can get to the rim with the best of them, but to dive on floors for loose balls, take a key charge, make the extra pass and also make the big shot, that is what makes him the state’s second-rated player. For the season Galloway averaged 26 ppg as well as 6 rebounds and 4 assists as he helped CLA and himself to get the Crusaders 4th state title in five years.

Coming in as the #3 rated player is LSU signee Matt Derenbecker from Metairie Park Country Day in Metairie. Derenbecker is a 6’7” 195 lb sharp-shooting guard that can flat score the basketball. At 6’7” his ability to look over the defense and pass the ball is really one of his strong points. He also handles the ball well enough to play the point at times. A two-time winner of the Gatorade Player of the Year award in Louisiana, the lefty led the 2009 Cajuns of Country Day to the state title along with current LSU player Eddie Ludwig. One of Derenbecker’s best skills is the way he gets his teammates involved. Everybody knows he can score but when he is doubled and tripled teamed, he passes the ball to open teammates extremely well. An underrated ball-handler, he can also get to the rim and finish as well. For the season Derenbecker averaged 25.5 ppg in his senior season.

The 4th rated senior in this year’s 2010 class is one of the state’s most successful players in terms of win/losses and state titles. Cedric Jenkins, the 6’2” 180 lb. scoring machine from LaPlace and Riverside Academy led the Rebels to their first state title in basketball in 2010. The Southern Mississippi signee helped lead a team that also boasted the state’s top rated sophomore Ricardo Gathers. Jenkins is a kid that battled through several injuries during high school and still had great seasons while at Reserve Christian and now Riverside. Coach Timmy Byrd called Jenkins “one of the best players I have ever coached” after the senior led his team to the state title. Besides being able to shoot the basketball, he can also handle it, defend it and is an underrated passer as well. With unlimited range on his shot, he was also defended tight, which allowed him to show his improved athleticism. Cedric really improved his stock this year. Always considered a top 10 player he really proved in the Cajun Dome that he is worthy of the #4 spot. On a team that had several talented players Jenkins averaged 19.9 ppg and 6 assists.

Rounding out the top five is another Oklahoma State signee in Brian Williams from Glen Oaks High School in Baton Rouge. Williams is an athletic wing that can really get up and down the court and isn’t afraid to make a highlight reel dunk or take a big shot. The 6’5” 200 lb guard is definitely going to be a great fit for the Cowboys of OSU and coach Travis Ford.  A bouncy kid, who can score the basketball with the best of the state, Williams was battled with injuries this year, which may have kept him from being a top 3 player. Even with a stress fracture in his shin, Williams still averaged 18.0 ppg and led his team to its 2nd straight Top 28 berth.


For the rest of the top 50 click here

For Our Scout.com Article click here

Peabody Duo signs with Kansas City Community College

It wasn't too surprising that Peabody star Kalvin Balque Jr.(right) would sign to play basketball at a higher level, as he did Thursday in signing with Kansas City (Kan.) Community College.


But it was surprising too see Brandon Morris, who split time as the team manager and cameraman for the Class 4A state champion Warhorses, do the same.

Balque averaged 10 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals per game as a No. 3 (small forward) player for unbeaten Peabody as a senior, but Morris, who went to Aiken Optional School after too many no-shows at class as a freshman at Bolton, hadn't played high school basketball in two seasons. Even so, he played somewhere, he said, "every day" and sharpened his game the last two summers on Peabody's AAU team.

Balque's father, Kalvin, said his son had a "rocky start, too" to his high school career when Kalvin Jr. spoiled his freshman year at Alexandria Senior High with bad grades.

Balque transferred to Peabody as a sophomore and on the second day of school, he asked Peabody coach Charles Smith if he could play basketball.

"I told him to bring me his report card," Smith said, "and I think he had one A, in phys. ed., and the rest Fs. I told him he'd have to get his grades up as he sat out the first semester, and he pulled them up to a C average. He played JV ball the rest of the year and the next year he made the varsity.

"He needs to go to a junior college, though, to develop skills at the 1 or 2 guard," Smith added.

The 6-foot Morris, whom Smith coached the last two summers, was one of a group of players who played in a scrimmage that served mostly as a KCCC tryout for Balque (pronounced BAL-q), but he caught the attention of KCCC coach Bill Sloan just as Smith thought might happen, after nailing a couple of 3-pointers, making a dunk and getting a couple of steals.

"Coach Sloan asked me, 'Who is that?' And I told him, 'That's my manager.' He couldn't believe it. 'Manager?! If we'd have had him this year, we could've won the championship.'"

Sloan came to get one player at Peabody, and he got two.

Morris said he completed his required credits to graduate from Bolton High School on Tuesday, and he said his mother (Tammy Butler), coach Smith and friends from the Peabody team helped him get this "golden opportunity."

Balque said he remembered coach Smith telling him as a new sophomore on campus "that he wanted a student first, that he could get a player from across the street." He said he hoped to "continue to make better grades" at KCCC and use the experience as a "stepping stone" to play for a university.

Smith said both young men showed that, "By sticking with it and working hard, you can overcome your mistakes."

Courtesy of the Alexandria Town Talk

Class B and C 2nd Round Preview and Predictions

As you all know, last week was the start of the 2010 LHSAA Playoff. With very little upsest in the first round of Class B and C, here are some matchups to look forward too. Lets start in Class B, one game that really just jumps off at me is the 18 seed Hosanna Christian Blazers hosting #2 seed Midland at Family Christian. Hosanna is coming off a minor upset win on tuesday in which it got 38 points from Senior D'Quincey McGuire. Midland, as expected won by a large margin. This game is interesting in so many aspects. Hosanna is a team that really relies on 2 players in McGuire and Justin Matthews, both seniors for first year Coach Ken Perry. Midland is lead by 3 seniors and it all goes through Miles Prejean. Midland is looking to get back to the state title game after missing out on it the last few years. Hosanna, is trying to make a name and prove that last year's loss to Zwolle in the same round has helped them grow as a team. In Class C action, a game to really look at is Grand Isle vs. Dubach which pairs the 8 seed vs. the 9 seed. Grand Isle is coming off a fairly easy win over district foe First Baptist while Dubach cruised by 20 over Cotton Valley. Grand Isle will look to senior leaders Galin Santiny and Wade Scioneaux to get the win for Coach Eddie Vaughn. Here are the predictions for Class B and C.

Class C 2nd Round Predictions:

1. Pleasant Hill over 16. Calvin

9. Grand Isle over 8. Dubach

5. Kilbourne over 12. Saline

4. Jehovah-Jireh over 13. Pelican

3. Plainview over 19. Claiborne Christian

6. Atlanta over 11. Spearsville

11. Sicily Island over 7. Grace Christian

2. Athens over 15. Marion

Class B 2nd Round Prediction:

1. Rapides over 17. Bell City

9. Gibsland-Coleman over 8. Castor

5. Centerville over 12. Houma Christian

4. Fairview over 13. Holden

3. Zwolle over 19. Summerfield

6. Simsboro over 11. Shongaloo

23. Doyline over 7. Hornbeck

2. Midland over 18. Hosanna Christian

Class 4A Playoff Preview and Predictions

Trevante Drye(left) and BrianWilliams(center) of Glen Oaks and Ronald McGhee of Istrouma(right)

Markel Brown(left) of Peabody and Jalan West(right) of Bossier will lead their teams tonight

Nick Syrie of Northside will lead his team tonight against Benton

When you mention the best teams in Louisiana traditionally you seem to think about Peabody, Glen Oaks, Washington Marion all have been top teams in Louisiana in the past decade. Throw in another team in Bossier and you have the top 4 seeds in the 4A playoffs. Peabody is 1, Bossier is 2, Washington Marion is 3 and Glen Oaks is 4. Well if you think the top teams in 4A stops there, guess again. There is also Wossman at 5, Northside at 6, Ellender at 7, Istrouma at 8, Salmen at 9 and Cecilia at ten. To the casual fan some may think that Peabody and Glen Oaks are the favorites, they may very well be, but I see two other teams to seriously watch out for. How about 2 seed Bossier as the 4A state champ against last years 4A state champ Salmen with an entirely new starting line-up. That very well could be the title game. Bossier, 34-1 is on a 32 game win streak. Their lone loss, to 1A Christian Life in the opening weekend of the year which is not a bad loss at all. Salmen comes in at 28-6 and has already easily beaten Glen Oaks by 16. You might wonder how is Salmen going to get there as a 9 seed? Well the past 2 years they have won a state title and was a semi-finalist all as a 9 seed and all while Peabody was a 1 seed. The only difference, a 2nd round game with Istrouma looms in the balance at Istrouma which is a hard place to win at. Istrouma has lost the last 2 years to Top 28 participant in each of them years OP Walker by 2 and by 3 at OP Walker so don't think for one second that Istrouma would not love to return the favor of a second round road loss to the defending champ. Now let's look at some of the top players. Markel Brown from Peabody(Oklahoma State), Brian Williams(Oklahoma State) and junior Trevante Drye from Glen Oaks, Jalan West, Devonte Francis from Bossier. Keaven Fontenot from washington-Marion, Nick Syrie(junior) and Tony Montgomery from Northside, Trevon Lewis from Ellender, Jarvis Ray and Jamal Silas of OP Walker, Ronald McGhee and Darius Johnson from Istrouma, Donovan Williams of Cecilia and TJ Price of Salmen. This years talent in 4A is seriously loaded. So, let's sit back and enjoy the ride in 4A, it will be a great on once again.

First Round Playoff Predictions

Top Bracket


1. Peabody over 32. Woodlawn-SH
16. McDonogh #35 over 17. Franklin
9. Salmen over 24. Morgan City
8. Istrouma over 25. St. Louis
5. Wossman over 28. Belle Chasse
12. DeRidder over 21. Tioga
13. Minden over 20. Huntington
4. Glen Oaks over 29. Haughton

Bottom Bracket

3. Washington Marion over 30. Woodlawn-BR
14. Edna Karr over 19. Vandebilt Catholic
11. East Jefferson over 22. St. Martinville
6. Northside over 27. Benton
26. O.P. Walker over 7. Ellender
23. Helen Cox over Cecilia
15. Neville over 18. Alexandria
2. Bossier over 31. Franklinton

Class 3A Playoff Preview and Predictions

Sophomores Cleveland Thomas(left) of Northwest and Gervaughn McGhee of Redemptorist will lead their teams in the Bi-District rounds tonight

LeDon Carter(left) Richwood doing what he does  & Gary Stewart of Vidalia will lead their teams tonight

Richwood, Plaquemine, E.D. White, Vidalia, Carroll, Rayville, Abbeville. When talking about the 3A playoffs these are the teams that most would consider as the favorites, I think I would have to agree with them. Although, Richwood, the defending champion is a 7 seed, do not count out this team. A brutal schedule, the football team doing well in the playoffs and replacing a couple starters got this team to a rough start, but in traditional fashion the Rams have come alive once again in late February. Even taking second in district to 3 seed Carroll, the Rams are still my favorite to win the title. Led by 6'6" LeDon Carter, 6'5" LaDarrian Williams(Alabama State commit), junior D'Andre Martin and shooter Marceis Davis the Rams will get a shot early on to prove their worth in the playoffs. A possible quarterfinal trip to 2 seed Plaquemine lies ahead if both can get to that round. These two teams are definitely two of the better 3A teams. My other two favorites are top seeded Vidalia, 2009's runner-up who are led by as good a trio of players as there is in Louisiana with Gary Stewart, Quartrell Thomas and Torrey Dixon will have whoever travels to Vidalia very nervous to play in front of that ruthless crowd and student section known as "Sanders' Soldiers"(named after Coach Sanders, the Vidalia Head Coach.) The other team to seriously watch is Abbeville led by 6'7" Keelon Lee. Looking for sleeper picks well I got them too. Watchout for 19 seed Northwest led by sophomore standout Cleveland "Pancake" Thomas and junior Derrell Joubert a sharpshooting point guard. Another team to watch is 13 seed Redemptorist led by another sophomore standout in 6'4" Gervaughn "Gee" McGhee and 6'2" senior Deuce Coon also a football standout. If they can get past a potential 2nd round match with ED White, a top 28 appearance is very likely.

First Round Playoff Predictions

Top Bracket


1. Vidalia over 32. G.W. Carver
16. Bogalusa over 17. Avoyelles
9. Crowley over 24. Baker
8. Rayville over 25. Northeast
5. Abbeville over 28. Patterson
21. Madison over 12 Caldwell
13. Redemptorist over 20. Marksville
4. E.D. White over 29. Kaplan

Bottom Bracket

3. Carroll over 30. W.L. Cohen
19. Northwest over 14. Port Allen

11. Holy Cross over 22. Franklin
6. Green Oaks  over 27. Booker T. Washington
7. Richwood over 26. Loyola Prep
10. Amite over 23. North DeSoto
15. Iowa over 18. Rayne
2. Plaquemine over 31. John McDonogh

Class 2A Playoff Preview and Predictions

Brian Bridgewater of Episcopal(left) and Dantrell Thomas of Many(right) will look to start the playoffs with a win tonight in the Bidistrict Round

Just like Class C, 2A will have a new champion in 2010 with the 2009 champion Springhill not qualifying this year. There could possibly be a few players and a coach that could win their 6th straight title with the Reserve Christian kids and longtime coach Timmy Byrd now at Riverside Academy. Riverside, led by the nation's #9 ranked sophomore Ricardo Gathers and senior standout Cedric Jenkins, Riverside goes from a not so good team to a powerhouse in less than a year. With Riverside taking the 1 seed, last years state runner-up Many is the 4 seed and 2007 and 2008 champion St. Thomas Aquinas has the 2 seed while Many's district rival Red River is the 3 seed. STA has already beaten Riverside once this year.  With Riverside and STA the favorites, Many, Mamou, Red River, Episcopal, Dunham, Donaldsonville, Pointe Coupee Central and Evangel may all have a say in the race to the Top 28 as well. In what was clearly the toughest district in 2A, the district 9 teams of Episcopal who is led by the nations #1 ranked freshman by HoopScoop.com Brian Bridgewater, Dunham led by senior trio of Dantrail Butler, Jasper Caine and Kyle Planchard, Pointe Coupee Central with DJ Cobb and Idrakery Lewis and Donaldsonville is another team to look at from district 9. Mamou is also a team to watch with 5'8 senior Zach Baty leading his team with a almost 30 ppg average. With these teams as possible sleepers, you also need to look at the front runners. Many will be lead by seniors Dantrell Thomas, Nic Jacobs(LSU football), DJ Palmer and junior Rod Davis. Red River will look to the Cordarius' Johnson and Smith while STA will look at a some younger kids in junior Zay Jackson and sophomore Stephen Wronkowski. 

Cedric Jenkins of Riverside(left) and Cordarius Smith(right) of Red River will lead their teams tonight

First Round Predictions

1. Riverside over 32. Sterlington

17. Ville Platte over 16. Port Barre
9. Anacoco over 24. Lakeview
8. Springfield over 25. South Beauregard
5. Evangel over 28. North Caddo
12. Dunham over 21. Lakeside
20. Welsh over 13. F.A. Douglass
4. Many over 29. Pickering

Bottom Bracket

3. Red River over 30. Calvary Baptist
19. Farmerville over 14. Newman

11. Episcopal-BR over 22. St. Helena Central
6. Mamou over 27. Lusher Charter
7. Donaldsonville over 26. Pope John Paul II
10. Pointe Coupee Central over 23. Rosepine
18. Capitol over 15. Jonesboro-Hodge
2. St. Thomas Aquinas over 31. John Curtis

Class 1A Playoff Preview and Predictions

Langston Galloway(left) and Yondarious Johnson(right) of Plain Dealing are ready to lead their teams tonight

Michael Harrell(left) of Southern Lab and Matt Derenbecker(right) of Country will look to lead their team

In what has become one of the most intense playoffs for the past decade, 1A is once again set up for a matchup between traditional 1A powers in the 2010 playoffs. Last years state champion Country Day is back and perhaps just as good if not better than last years team. Christian Life, the champion from 2006-2008 is another team to watch. They have the most veteran laden squad with 7 seniors. They will have a different look on the sideline though as 1st year coach Carlo Maggio leads the way for the Crusaders following the departure of Todd Foster to become the head coach at Baton Rouge Community College. Other teams to watch are 4 seed North Central,  5 seed Plain Dealing, and 11 seed Arcadia. Some of the top players to look for will includ 4 Division 1 signees in Country Day's Matt Derenbecker(LSU), and Christian Life's trio of Langston Galloway(St. Joe's), Patrick Robinson(Northwestern State) and Kaleb Knight(Grambling state). Other players to watch are Plain Dealing's Yondarious Johnson, Southern Lab's Michael Harrell(Southeastern Louisiana) and Ronald Martin a junior from White Castle.

First Round Playoff Predictions:

 Top Bracket

1. Christian Life over 32. Oberlin
16. Basile over 17. Gueydan
9. East Iberville over 24. Ascension Catholic
8. Southern Lab over 25. Crescent City
5. Plain Dealing over 28. Jackson
12. Grambling over 21. Ecole Classique
13. Block over 20. Northwood-Lena
4. North Central over 29. Vermillion Catholic
Bottom Bracket

3. Central Catholic over 30. Logansport
19. Tensas over 14. Delhi
11. Arcadia over 22. Delcambre
6. Elton over 27. Oak Grove
7. St. Mary over 26. Hamilton Christian
10. White Castle over 23. Haynesville
18. Varnado over 15. St. Martin’s Episcopal
2. Country Day over 31. Catholic P.C.

Class B Playoff Preview and Predictions

C.J Johnson(left) of Rapides and Marvin Frazier(right) of Zwolle will look to make another deep run

As the 2010 Class B playoffs begin, familiar Top 28 teams locked up the top 3 seeds again. Coming in as the #1 seed is Rapides High School(39-5) followed by Midland(30-3) at 2 and defending state champion Zwolle(33-9) at 3. The 4th seed Fairview(28-7) led by scoring machine guard Cody Neal. With no clear cut favorite to win the title, I personally believe that the top 4 seeds could very well be the final 4 teams standing. Rapides is led by CJ Johnson who was one of the top players for the Mustangs last year, Fairview has Neal, Zwolle has 6'7" F Marvin Frazier and Midland has Miles Prejean. As good as the top 4 teams are there are others like Centerville with TJ Kemp and Jovan Sanders that can also make a lot of noise as the 5 seed. There are also a handful of other teams outside the top 10 that need be taken seriously one of which includes the 12 seed in Houma Christian coming in at 18-4 and led by freshman Nate Frye but they will have a tough game with 21 seed Maurepas led by possible All-State player Demitri Gill who has averaged over 32 a game in district. So, this years Class B playoffs will be very interesting once again.

Predictions for the Bi-District Round

Top Bracket

1. Rapides over 32. Episcopal of Acadiana
16. Florien  over 17. Bell City
9. Castor over 24. Negreet
8. Gibsland Coleman over 25. Hathaway
5. Centerville over 28. Forest
21. Maurepas over 12 Houma Christian
13. Holden  over 20. Quitman
4. Fairview over 29. Weston

Bottom Bracket

3. Zwolle over 30. Mt. Hermon
19. Summerfield over 14 Pitkin
11. Shongaloo over 22. Monterey
6. Simsboro over 27. Grand Lake
7. Hornbeck over 26. Singer
10. Lacassine over 23. Doyline
18. Hosanna Christian over 15. Glenmora
2. Midland over 31. Simpson