Offers, Interest Pouring in For Dominic Magee

Dominic MaGee at LeBron James Skills Academy
Photo Courtesy of 247Sports

Written by Bobby Sibley @CoachB_Sibley on twitter

As many of you know, March through July are huge months for a kids recruiting, one kid taking advantage of that is New Orleans, LA (Helen Cox) PG Dominic MaGee. The 6'4" athletic lead guard has had a huge spring that is transferring into a huge summer. Playing his travel ball with Baton Rouge based Louisiana Future, MaGee has raised his stock a ton. Coming into the summer as a virtual unknown nationally, the rising 2014 PG has definitely seen his stock rise. After a 1st round exit of the playoffs during his junior year, MaGee has since been working on his game and traveling the country against the top players nationally. A strong, physical PG that is explosive and can score, MaGee is a high major player that when he limits his turnovers, will be one of the top players in the country next season. With fellow New Orleans player Craig Victor departing St. Augustine HS, MaGee is considered the #1 player in Louisiana now. With that target on his back, he will be out to prove that he deserves this title. Below is a Q&A that Dominic and Louisiana Basketball Report had yesterday.

LBR: What schools have officially offered?
DM: LSU, UCLA, Alabama, Oklahoma, Houston, Memphis, Louisville, Louisiana Tech, Tulane, Tulsa, Minnesota, Auburn, Oral Roberts, Arizona and Texas A&M

LBR: If you have a top 10 list of schools, who are they and why?
DM: I don't have a top 10. I want to enjoy the process.

LBR: When will you make a decision?
DM: I am not sure, just weighing all of my options.

LBR: What schools are recruiting you that haven't offered, but you would like to get an offer from?
DM: Kansas, Kansas State and Texas

LBR: Who are the best players you have faced?
DM: Rashad Vaughn(Top 15 Recruit Nationally), Josh Perkins(Top 30 Recruit Nationally) and Jaylin Lindsay(Top 50 Recruit nationally and new Providence Commit)

LBR: What is your current GPA and ACT?
DM: GPA is 2.8 and my ACT is 17 but I will be taking it again in September.

LBR: How big of an influence is your mom and who will be helping with your decision?
DM: My mom is my #1 fan, she is my heart. With my decision, my family will be helping me.

LBR: What are some things that people don't know about Dominic Magee that you want them to know?
DM: I am a fun loving kid, who loves to have fun, I am coach able, I want to learn more about the game, I want to get better and I don't want to learn from a coach that wants to put me down or hates on me.

LBR: What do you want to accomplish this season at Helen Cox?
DM: I want to take my team past the 1st round and win state.

LBR: What camps have you been to this summer?
DM: I have been to the Reebok Breakout Camp, LeBron James Skills Academy and the Deron Williams/Kyrie Irving Skills Academy.

LBR: What did you learn from these events?
DM: I learned to be a smarter PG, how to play more smoothly and that I need to be more patient on the pick and roll as well as being a more vocal leader/floor general.

We would like to personally thank Dominic for his time and we look forward to seeing how he does the rest of the month with Louisiana Future.

Also, follow Dominic on Twitter @YounginDnic and follow us on twitter at @LA_BBALLREPORT and @CoachB_Sibley

Thanks

1st Annual Workout with the Stars



Garrett Temple(left) Tyrus Thomas(center) Glen "Big Baby" Davis (Right)



Written by Bobby Sibley @CoachB_Sibley on twitter

 

On July 5th Elevated Heights will be hosting its 1st annual Workouts with the Stars program. This is the opportunity to give kids around Baton Rouge and the surrounding areas, an inside look on what it takes to play on the highest levels of basketball in the world. The workouts will feature some of Baton Rouge’s best athletes that are on display every year to the entire world. Some athlete’s that will be attending these workout are 2008 NBA Champion Glen Davis, the Charlotte Bobcats Tyrus Thomas and Garrett Temple and many many more. This will give the kids an opportunity of a lifetime to learn from professional athletes that love the game of basketball with a passion. Workouts will start at 9am until 12pm. Then the players will break for lunch and come back to play some pick up games from 4pm to 7pm. The places these workout will be held will vary. Don’t mess this opportunity that many of us never got a chance to be a part of!

For more information email Shawn Bridgewater at coachbridge@gmail.com or call (225)733-8240.

Introducing Class of 2012 Louis Dabney

Player Profile: Louis Dabney
HT: 6'3" WT: 185 lb. Pos.: Point Guard
High School/AAU: Riverside Acad./La. Select
Hometown: LaPlace, LA
College List: LSU, Ole Miss, Georgia Tech, Tulane
Offers: Ole Miss, Tulane
Player Analyis: Athletic, strong, physical
tough point guard, who is a lock-down defender
with a very good upside and talented scorer.

"I take pride in my defense. I want to be known as a lockdown defender and a pure point guard"- Louis Dabney

Athletic, strong, physical, tough and a lock-down defender are the attributes you think of when you think of the 6’3” 185 lb. Louis Dabney. Not only is Louis a tough defender but he is very good penetrator and talented passer. An athletic guard, he can also score the basketball in a variety of ways with his strengths being getting to the rim and a 12 foot jumper.

“I am working on it” Dabney said of his shot. “I get in the gym and put up shots and it helps that coach(Timmy Byrd) is pushing me.”

Not only is Dabney working on his shot, he is also working on becoming the best defender in the state. “I take pride in my defense. I want to be known as a lockdown defender and a pure point guard.” Dabney said.

He is close to that, last weekend at the Baton Rouge Community College team camp, Dabney was not just guarding the other teams best defenders but he was locking them down. In the two games we saw, Dabney’s defense was on point. Not only did he keep the opposition in check, but he made them settle for jumpers because of his ability to guard the basketball. To go with his defense, Dabney showed a great ability to run a team.

“Ed McCain(former Reserve Christian star and Ex-Bradley player) and Tweety(former Reserve Christian and Baylor star) helped me out a lot. You know Tweety was a shooter so that helps me and Ed, he was the best.” Dabney said. “Ed took me under his wing and has really helped develop my passing skills.”

With a lot of work being put in, Dabney is slowly putting his name on people’s radars. In a early season tournament in Shreveport in November, one Division 1 coach told us “Dabney was the best player for Riverside tonight” That included nationally known Ricardo Gathers and Southern Miss signee Cedric Jenkins. That was a big time compliment for a then sophomore guard who has received interest from LSU, Ole Miss, Tulane and Georgia Tech. Dabney also claims to have offers from Ole Miss and Tulane.

To stay up with the latest information and the schedule of Louis Dabney for the rest of the month and in July, just contact us at: louisianabasketballreport@gmail.com.

Special thanks to Louis Dabney and Coach Timmy Byrd for allowing us to do this interview.
Extra Questions with Louis Dabney:

Louisiana Basketball Report- What was it like to bring the 1st state title to Riverside Academy?
Louis Dabney- Means a lot to bring it to Riverside, they have never had it before, it meant a lot to the people and fans because they never had basketball success.

LBR- Where will you be playing at in July?
LD- I know I will be at the NIKE Peach Jam with Louisiana Select but not sure where else as of now.

LBR- What does it mean to play for Coach Byrd?
LD- Means a lot, he took me when I was a knucklehead and made me a better player.

LBR- With Ole Miss, LSU, Tulane and Ga. Tech recruiting you, who is your favorite? Why?
LD- LSU is my favorite because it’s close to home. I am a home body. I also like Coach Trent Johnson. I feel he can make me a better player.

LBR- What is the difference between playing at Riverside and Reserve?
LD- Well at Reserve we were more a 3-point shooting team because we had a lot of shooters. This year at Riverside we turned into a inside out team because of Rico(Ricardo Gathers)

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

Top 28 Action Day 5: Class C, 1A, 2A, 4A and 5A State Championship Games

Championship Saturday!! What more can I ask for being a basketball junkie like I am? A day that is going to be filled with some of the state's top teams, nationally ranked players, undefeated teams and defending champions will all be on tap. One game that most people have their eyes set on will be today's Class 1A game featuring  LSU signee Matt Derenbecker(right) of Country Day and St. Joseph's signee Langston Galloway of Christian Life. This game has been played in the Cajun Dome every year for the past four. The first two meetings were won by Christian Life in the championship game, last year's meeting was a CLA loss in the semi's and this year's game is for the Title as well. This game not only features 4 Division 1 signees but it features very good friendship's as well. Derenbecker, Galloway and CLA's Patrick Robinson all played for the Mid-City Cyclones AAU team together that also featured Jesuit's Dominick Scelfo. Derenbecker, Galloway and Robinson have gotten very close over the past year and have often mentioned CLA's loss last year to the Cajuns. With an overwhelming amount of trash talk amongst the friends over the past year, all will be decided and setteled at 1:30 today in Lafayette. No more talking, no more "wait until saturday", all that is going to be left is to play ball and see what happens. This game is going to be fun to watch so you do not want to miss a single minute. The biggest X-factor of this year's game will be the play of 6'5" senior McCall Tomeny(below), whose 26 points led CLA over Plain dealing on thursday.

In the second session of the day, the 2A game will also feature a game amongst friends. Riverside Academy's Cedric Jenkins and Ricardo Gathers played AAU with Jonesboro-Hodge's TJ Williams with the Louisiana Select Nike team. Not sure if the players have sent a lot of texts to each other or not but one sure thing will happen and that is that no love will be lost when the teammates face each other today at 5:00. We will definitely be entertained as Williams, a 6'7" 230 lb senior will battle head to head with the 6'6" 225 lb sophomore Gathers. In the 5A game we will see Scotlandville against Brother Martin. SMHS will be led by Stephen F. Austin signee J-Jay Thomas and Levie Wright. BM will look to senior Patrick Swilling to lead the way. In the final game of the evening, it will be 40-0 Peabody taking on 38-1 Bossier. Peabody features 6'4" Oklahoma state signee Markel Brown(pictured above) and 6'6" sophomore Troy Jones. Bossier is led by junior Jalan West and sophomore JJ James.

Now it is time for our predictions where below you will see the daily talk and preview from Brady and Kevin with the Daily Advertiser. For further Top 28 Action coverage check in at the Daily Advertiser.

PREDICTIONS
Class C State Championship
Athens over Pleasant Hill

Class 1A State Championship
Christian Life over Country Day

Class 2A State Championship
Riverside over Jonesboro-Hodge

Class 4A State Championship
Peabody over Bossier

Class 5A State Championship
Scotlandville over Brother Martin

Class C Top 28 State Championship Capsules

Athens Trojans

Coach: Marcus Jackson.
Record: 39-4.
Seed: No. 2.

Playoff road: Beat Holy Rosary 91-25, Marion 76-47, Grace Christian 75-27, Spearsville 75-53

Top scorers: Devarius Critton, 6-2, Sr, 16.0 ppg; Willie Cato, 5-11, Sr, 15.0 ppg; Earvin Sneed, 5-11, So, 14.0 ppg; Quartez McDaniel, 6-2, Jr, 12.0 ppg.

Top 28 history: 11th appearance with three titles and five runner-up finishes.

Notes: In addition to an eventful recent history at the Top 28, Athens also brings a healthy resume to this year's Top 28. The Trojans have three wins over fellow semifinalist Saline, split two games with Class 1A semifinalist Arcadia, and also went 1-1 in two games against Class 4A Minden.

PLEASANT HILL EAGLES


Coach: Dale Skinner.
Record: 33-6.
Seed: No. 1.

Road to the Top 28: Beat McManus 89-38, Calvin 73-52, Grand Isle 65-47, Saline 65-51

Top scorers: Matthew Scott, 6-3, Sr, 17.0 ppg; Ledarius Holmes, 5-8, So, 13.0 ppg; Aaron Holmes, 5-8, Fr, 12.0 ppg; Latarius Turner, 6-2, Sr, 12.0 ppg; Damaris Holmes, 6-2, Jr, 11.0 ppg.

Top 28 history: Eighth appearance with two titles and three runner-up finishes.

Notes: Not only is Skinner the team's basketball coach, but he's also the principal of the school. Pleasant Hill was 3-2 against Zwolle and has wins over Many and Leesville this season.


Class 1A Top 28 State Championships

Country Day Cajuns

Coach: Mike McGuire.
Record: 41-5.
Seed: No. 2.

Playoff road: Beat Catholic-PC 91-47, Varnado 86-51, White Castle 69-53, Arcadia 64-56

Top scorers: Matt Derenbecker(right), 6-7, Sr, 25.5 ppg; Nick Hansel, 6-3, Jr, 12.5 ppg; Hunter Ham, 6-4, Sr, 10.5 ppg; Dylan Kavanagh, 5-11, Sr, 8.0 ppg.

Top 28 history: Ninth appearance with three titles and three runner-up finishes.

Notes: The Country Day-Arcadia semifinals pairing represents a rematch of last year's championship game won by the Cajuns, 61-47. Derenbecker was MVP of last year's championship game (31 points, nine rebounds). Country Day also defeated Arcadia, 80-58, in the 2008 semifinals.

Christian Life Academy

Coach: Carlo Maggio
Record: 35-5.
Seed: No. 1.

Playoff road: Beat Oberlin 92-41, Gueydan 91-36, East Iberville 73-49, Plain Dealing 48-45

Top scorers: Langston Galloway(right), 6-4, Sr, 26.0 ppg; Patrick Robinson, 6-6, Sr, 16.0 ppg; McCall Tomeny(left), 6-4, Sr, 14.0 ppg.

Top 28 history: Eighth appearance with four titles (including three straight from 2006-08) and two runner-up finishes.

Notes: This is CLA's fifth straight appearance. Galloway is a St. Joseph's of Philadelphia signee, while Robinson signed with Northwestern State. Maggio was at Plainview last season. Todd Foster left CLA to begin his career as a college coach at Baton Rouge C.C.

Class 2A Top 28 State Championships

Jonesboro-Hodge Tigers

Coach: Allen Tew.
Record: 26-9.
Seed: No. 15.

Playoff road: Beat Capitol 73-63, ST Aquinas 65-62 (OT), Donaldsonville 86-58, Red River 56-47

Top scorers: Thomas Williams(right), 6-7, Sr, 23.1 ppg; Kevin Cottonham, 5-8, Soph, 11.7 ppg; LaQuinten Calahan, 6-1, Sr, 7.5 ppg.

Top 28 history: Eighth appearance with three titles and 1 runner-up finish.

Notes: Lost in the state semifinals in 2002, 2005, 2007. Took third place in District 3-2A behind Many and Red River, who tied for first. Defeated Red River once in three games this season, giving the Bulldogs their only home loss. Williams has received scholarship offers from 10 teams, including UL Monroe, Grambling, Southeastern and UT-San Antonio.

Riverside Rebels

Coach: Timmy Byrd.

Record: 37-6.

Seed: No. 1.

Playoff road: Beat Sterlington 102-52, Port Barre 103-68, Springfield 72-52, Evangel 75-49

Top scorers: Ricardo Gathers(left), 6-7, Soph, 20.0 ppg; Cedric Jenkins(right), 6-2, Sr, 19.0 ppg; Louis Dabney, 6-3, Soph, 13.0 ppg; Ed Gallina, 6-5, Sr, 11.0 ppg; Franklin Francois, 5-7, Sr, 8.0 ppg.

Top 28 history: First appearance.

Notes: This is the school's first boys basketball playoff appearance since 2005. The Rebels do so as the No. 1-ranked team in Class 2A. Of course, the cast is different. Byrd and all of his starters were Reserve Christian Eagles last year. All moved over to Riverside when Reserve Christian closed its doors in May.


Class 4A Top 28 State Championships
 

Bossier Bearkats


Coach: Jeremiah Williams.
Record: 38-1.
Seed: No. 2.

Playoff road: Beat Franklinton 108-70, Neville 83-74, Ellender 76-62, Washington-Marion 80-60

Top players: Jalan West(right), 5-10, Jr, 15.5 ppg; Joseph James, 5-8, Jr, 13.3 ppg; Devonte Francis(left), 5-11, Soph, 13.6 ppg; Lyndale James, 6-5, Jr, 7.9 ppg.

Top 28 history: Sixth appearance with a pair of runner-up finishes.

Notes: This is Bossier's second straight season in the Top 28. The Bearkats are led by their speedy, pressure-packed backcourt with West leading the way 4.5 assists and 1.4 steals a game.
 
picture courtesy of Brad Kemp the Daily Advertiser
 
Peabody War Horses

Coach: Charles Smith
Record: 40-0
Seed: No. 1.

Playoff road: Beat Woodlawn 80-26, McDonogh-35 57-28, Istrouma 53-40, Glen Oaks 65-52

Top players: Markel Brown(right), 6-5, Sr, 32.5 ppg; Troy Jones, 6-7, Soph, 15.5 ppg; Joshua Ivory, 6-2, Soph, 10.5 ppg; Kalvin Balque, 6-5, Sr, 12.5 ppg.

Top 28 history: 19th trip with 5 championships and 4 runner-up finishes.

Notes: Peabody is making its first trip to the Top 28 since 2007. The last time Peabody was here stars such as Raphelle Turner and Marcus Simmons led the Warhorses to the 4A state championship.

Class 5A Top 28 State Championships

Scotlandville Hornets

Coach: Carlos Sample
Record: 33-5.
Seed: No. 2.

Playoff road: Beat Denham Springs 65-57, Natchitoches Central 75-63, Covington 89-83, Jesuit 60-58

Top scorers: J-Jay Thomas(right), 6-4, Sr, 24.2 ppg; Levi Wright, 6-1, Jr, 16.5 ppg; Deshawn Washington, 5-9, Soph, 11.3 ppg.

Top 28 history: First trip.

Notes: The Hornets won their first district title since 1975 this year. In the modern LHSAA format, the last time the team advanced to the quarterfinals was in 1977. Scotlandville did win a state title in 1959 in the old LIALO. Thomas averages 11 rebounds and is a Stephen F. Austin signee.

Brother Martin Crusaders

Coach: Scott Thompson

Record: 29-10.

Seed: No. 9.

Playoff road: Beat Lafayette High 56-49, Ponchatoula 66-63, St. Augustine 62-58, Hammond 68-66

Top scorers: Patrick Swilling(right), 6-4, Sr, 18.3 ppg; Schane Rillieux, 5-11, Jr, 14.1 ppg; Ryan Berger, 6-4, Sr, 8.7 ppg; Myron Chapman, 6-2, Soph, 7.5 ppg

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.

30 Louisiana Players Nominated for 2010 McDonald's All-American Game

This year's class of 2010 has been well represented on the list of nominated players for the prestigious McDonald's All-American game which includes close to 1500 nominated senior nationally of about 30,000 that play for their high school teams. Being one of 30,000 to be mentioned is an honor in itself but to actually move on and get to play in the game is even greater. Here is a list of players from Louisiana that have been selected to play in the game.

1978 Micah Blunt East Jefferson (Metairie) Tulane
1982 Benoit Benjamin Carroll (Monroe) Creighton
1983 Tom Curry Redemptorist (Baton Rouge) Marshall
1986 Dwayne Bryant De La Salle (New Orleans) Georgetown
1986 Fess Irvin East Ascension (Gonzales) LSU; James Madison
1990 Melvin Simon Shaw (Marrero) New Orleans
1992 Duane Spencer Cohen (New Orleans) Georgetown; LSU
1993 Jerald Honeycutt Grambling Tulane
1993 Randy Livingston Newman (New Orleans) LSU
1994 Neil Reed East Jefferson (Metairie) Indiana; Southern Mississippi
1996 Lester Earl Glen Oaks (Baton Rouge) LSU; Kansas
1997 Marcus Fizer Arcadia Iowa St.
1998 Stromile Swift Fair Park (Shreveport) LSU
2000 Chris Duhon Salmen (Slidell) Duke
2003 Brandon Bass Capitol (Baton Rouge) LSU
2004 Glen Davis University (Baton Rouge) LSU
2005 Tasmin Mitchell Denham Springs LSU
2006 Demond Carter Reserve Christian Baylor
2006 D.J. Augustin Brother Martin(New Orleans)/Hightower*(Sugarland,TX) Texas
2008 Greg Monroe Helen Cox (Harvey) Georgetown

*= Moved to Hightower his senior year after Hurricane Katrina

Below is a list of all 30 players nominated from our state along with their picture. Of the 30 nominated ten* kids have signed their national letters of intent to play college. Leading the list of players are four nationally ranked players by Rivals including two in the top 100. Matt Derenbecker(71), Shavon Coleman(97), Langston Galloway(120) and Brian Williams(127) have all been nominated to play in the game.

*=Technically only nine signed but Dominick Scelfo of Jesuit will be at Cornell. With Cornell being an Ivy League school, they don't offer athletic scholarships, only academic.

LOUISIANA

In Alphabetical Order

Chip Armelin Sulphur High School Sulphur LA

Markel Brown Peabody Magnet High School Alexandria LA

Signed with Oklahoma State

LaDon Carter Richwood High School Monroe LA

Jacolby Colbert Westgate High School New Iberia LA

Shavon Coleman Thibodaux High School Thibodaux LA

Signed with UL-Monroe

Matt Derenbecker Metairie Park Country Day School Metairie LA

Signed with Louisiana State University

Langston Galloway Christian Life Academy Baton Rouge LA

Signed with St. Joseph's University(PA)

Michael Harrell Southern University Laboratory High School Baton Rouge LA

Signed with Southeastern Louisiana University

Cedric Jenkins Riverside Academy Reserve LA

C.J. Johnson Rapides High School Lecompte LA

YonDarius Johnson Plain Dealing High School Plain LA

Kaleb Knight Christian Life Academy Baton Rouge LA

Signed with Grambling State University

Antonio Landers Ouachita Parish High School Monroe LA

Keelon Lee Abbeville High School Abbeville LA

Trevon Lewis Ellender Memorial High School Houma LA

Kyle McClue Riverside Academy Reserve LA

Ronald Mcghee Istrouma High School Baton Rouge LA

Elridge Moore St. Augustine High School New Orleans LA

Daniel Piper Pineville High School Pineville LA

No picture

Patrick Robinson, Jr. Christian Life Academy Baton Rouge LA

Signed with Northwestern State University(LA)

Dominick Scelfo Jesuit High School New Orleans LA

Committed to Cornell University

Gary Stewart Vidalia High School Vidalia LA

Patrick Swilling, Jr. Brother Martin High School New Orleans LA

Dantrell Thomas Many High School Many LA

J.J. Thomas Scotlandville Magnet High School Baton Rouge, LA

Signed with Stephen F. Austin(TX)

McCall Tomeny Christian Life Academy Baton Rouge LA

Tyler Washington Port Allen High School Port Allen LA

Hakeem Welch Alexandria Senior High School Alexandria LA

Brian Williams Glen Oaks High School Baton Rouge LA
Signed with Oklahoma State

Thomas "TJ" Williams Jonesboro Hodge High School Jonesboro LA