Louisiana high school boys basketball Top 25 rankings (1/9/2024)

Madison Prep, Liberty Magnet, Peabody Magnet, Lafayette Christian and Wossman top the list

Check out our first edition of the SBLive Louisiana Top 25 boys prep basketball rankings for the 2023-24 season. 

Let us know your thoughts on X @SBLive_LA and on Facebook at SBLive Louisiana. Who is too high? Who is getting slept on? We want to know.

Note: Power ratings and records as reflected by Geaux Preps on Jan. 9.

1. Madison Prep (13-1) - Last season (Division II select runner-up)

The Chargers are the only in-state program to hand Liberty Magnet a defeat, beating the Patriots by 17 points in December. Madison Prep followed that game with wins over Southwood, Southside, University Lab, Brother Martin, St. Augustine and Captain Shreve.

Jayce Depron (6-foot-5, Sr.) is a top-ranked player by Prep Hoops Louisiana who was the assists leader at Mal Mundy's summer Statement Session. Mundy wrote on X that Depron "is known for being a super athletic/bouncy guard who can score, fly by defenders, shoots the mid range/3 ball well."

Players to watch include: Josh Smith (6-3, Sr.), Chris Lindo (6-7, Jr.), Quentin Dabney (6-5, Sr.), Hezekiah Danztler (6-0, Sr.), Calvin Spears (6-4, Jr.) and Wes Favorite (5-6, Jr.).

2. Liberty Magnet (11-1) - Last season (ineligible for playoffs)

The Patriots will be extra hungry come playoff time after missing last year due to an LHSAA ruling following a scuffle with Zachary, which was also ruled ineligible.

Five Patriots are averaging at least eight points per game, led by 6-foot-2 senior guard Howard Gaskins Jr. (14.9 ppg, three assists). Jaylen Peters (6-5, Sr.) is averaging 10.5 ppg with six rebounds. 6-foot-2 senior Marquise McPipe (9.5 ppg, three steals), 5-10 junior guard Malek Robinson (8.7 ppg, five assists, four steals) and 6-4 sophomore Kingston Jarrell (eight points, four rebounds) are top scorers.

6-foot-3, 195-pound senior guard Chandler Holmes is chipping in 6.6 points per game for Liberty, which has impressive depth with 11 players who average at least eight minutes per game.

The Patriots have wins over New Iberia, Scotlandville, George Washington Carver, Southside, Slidell and McKinley.

3. Peabody Magnet (14-2) - Last season (Division II select semifinalist)

The Warhorses defeated a trio of tough District 3-5A teams - Lafayette High, New Iberia and Southside - to win the Darrel Mitchell Sr. Holiday Classic at St. Martinville.

The Warhorses finished as runner-up to Trinity (Kentucky) at the Allstate Sugar Bowl Prep Classic. Trinity won in overtime, 48-45. Peabody also has wins over Iowa, Zachary, Evangel Christian, Alexandria and Crescent City with losses to Alexandria and Captain Shreve.

6-foot-5 senior forward Jordan Mathews is averaging 17.6 points and 11.8 rebounds per game. 6-5 senior forward/center Justin Burns is also averaging a double-double with 14.3 ppg and 13.9 rpg. 6-2 junior forward Isaiah Jones is scoring 10.5 pgg. 6-foot junior guard Rashad Mitchell is scoring 9.3 ppg.

Also, 5-10 senior point guard Gregory McInnis Jr. is shooting 58% from the field.

4. Lafayette Christian (17-0) - Last season (Division II select regional playoff team)

Kam Williams, a 6-foot-8 Tulane signee, is ranked as the No. 1 player in Louisiana by Prep Hoops Louisiana. Jeremy Bargky (6-4, Sr.) showed the tendency to get red-hot from the perimeter at the St. Thomas More Sunkist Shootout. 6-foot-3 senior Morgan Collins and 6-foot-2 senior Deon Wheeler are part of a deep group of seniors.

Football stars Trae Grogan (6-3, 195, Sr.) and Sandy Lewis (6-4, 240, Sr.) provide muscle and athleticism off the bench.

The Knights, who are No. 3 in the Division II select power ratings, beat Isidore Newman and Brother Martin at the Sunkist Shootout and also have wins over Carencro and Beau Chene. Their only loss was by four points to undefeated (22-0) Madison-Ridgeland (Miss.). Out-of-state losses are not tallied in the LHSAA power ratings.

5. Wossman (17-2) - Last season (Division II non-select semifinalist)

Top players include 6-foot-6 senior combo guard Jordan Comanche, 6-foot-3 senior guard Krystian Lewis, 6-foot-1 junior guard Antron Mason II, 6-foot-0 junior point guard Zion Weeks, 6-2 junior guard Kesean Hines and 6-3 junior forward Andre Mackey. 6-foot-4, 275-pound football defensive lineman Jayden Williams can take up space and move around people in the lane.

Lewis was named MVP of the Don Redden/Keith Brown Memorial Classic. The Wildcats blew out Ouachita Parish in the finals, 69-35.

Wossman, which is No. 1 in the Division II non-select power ratings, lost as the No. 1 seed to No. 4 Bossier, 48-42, in the playoffs last season. The Wildcats have wins over St. Thomas More, Capitol, Franklin Parish, Catholic-Baton Rouge, Jennings, West Monroe (twice), Ruston and Carroll, its district rival. The Wildcats' only losses are to Iowa and Huntington in the first game of the season. Wossman has won 12 straight games.

6. St. Thomas More (12-1) - Last season (Division I select semifinalist)

The second-seeded Cougars lost to eventual champion No. 3 Catholic-Baton Rouge, 68-59, in the Top 28 last season. A large portion of that team are now seniors, including 6-foot-7 forward Chad Jones, 6-foot-5 guard Michael Mouton, 6-4 guard Hays Regard, 6-1 guard Monwell Willis and 6-4 guard Anthony Angelle. 6-1 junior forward Elijah Guidry is another essential player.

The Cougars, whose only in-state loss was a 55-52 setback to Wossman, have wins over Bossier, Captain Shreve, Dunham, St. Thomas Aquinas, Archbishop Rummel, Catholic-New Iberia, Edna Karr and Archbishop Hannan.

Coach Danny Broussard is expected to rejoin the team this month. The legendary coach has been recovering from heart surgery.

7. New Iberia (15-3) - Last season (Division I non-select runner-up)

The defensive-minded Yellow Jackets finished as runner-up to Ponchatoula in last season's title game in the program's best-ever finish. 6-foot-5 wing Wayne-Randall Bashay returns and is leading the team in scoring. Randall-Bashay is versatile with a well-rounded arsenal. He handled the ball a great deal of the time, along with senior point guard Austin Delahoussaye, in a two-point loss to Liberty Magnet.

The Yellow Jackets were able to withstand the Patriots' pressure defense and held Liberty well below its offensive output in the 46-44 loss.

Delahoussaye (6-foot), 6-foot-1 junior Otis Anderson, 6-4 senior forward Kentravion Smith and 6-foot-3 sharpshooter Devin Frank are all veteran starters for coach Chad Pourciau. Khaleb Fusilier is a dangerous weapon off the bench, especially from beyond the arc.

Anderson has enjoyed some big offensive outings, scoring up to 18 and 20 points in recent games. Frank can fill it up from 3-point range. Delahoussaye is the second-leading scorer. He and Randall-Bashay are combining to dish out 7.2 assists per game. Smith is shooting nearly 60% from the field.

The Yellow Jackets have wins over Alexandria (twice), David Thibodaux and Zachary, rallying from nearly 20 points down to beat the Broncos, 39-37, at Southside and losses to Northwest and Peabody in addition to Liberty.

8. Zachary (13-3) - Last season (ineligible for playoffs)

The Broncos are part of a challenging District 4-5A that is composed of Liberty Magnet, Catholic-Baton Rouge (defending state champion), Scotlandville (Division I select runner-up), Central-BR (13-5) and Woodlawn-BR (13-8).

The Broncos are very stout even without 6-foot-7 power forward and LSU tight end commit Trey'Dez Green, who was ruled eligible for football but not basketball upon transferring from East Feliciana, where he led his team to a semifinal appearance as the No. 1 seed in Division IV non-select.

Key players include Broderick Brooks (6-4, Sr.), Amir Chaney (5-10, Sr.), Kheiri Haynes (5-9, Sr.), Chase McClinton (5-10, Sr.), Skyler LeDoux (6-3, Sr.), Tabo James (6-1, Sr.), DJ Franklin (6-4, Sr.), Ronald Gathe (6-0, Sr.) and 6-foot-2 junior Xavier Ferguson, who can jump out of the gym.

Brandon Hardy, a 2,000-plus point career scorer who led the Broncos to two state championships, signed with the University of Louisiana from last year's team, which was 21-6 and No. 3 in the Division I non-select power ratings when its season ended prematurely.

Zachary, which is No. 1 in the Division I non-select power ratings, has wins over Rayville, Bossier, St. Paul's, Carroll, Alexandria, Ponchatoula and University Lab with losses to New Iberia, Peabody and George Washington Carver.

9. Ponchatoula (12-2) - Last season (Division I non-select champions)

With 6-foot-10 center Allen Graves battling the flu last weekend, 6-2 senior point guard Jeremiah Lewis had great back-to-back performances at the Wayde Sims Foundation Invitational. Lewis scored a combined 50 points in a win over East Ascension and a finals loss to Scotlandville.

The defending Division I non-select champion Green Wave, who are fifth in the Division I non-select power ratings, have two wins over defending Division I select state champion Catholic-Baton Rouge and a win over Southern Lab, Archbishop Rummel and Scotlandville in a previous matchup.

Key players include 6-foot-2 senior Taj Johnson, Jamal Sapp (6-2, Sr.), Cedric Braziel (6-5, Jr.), Cody Al-Naziat (6-3, Jr.), Cory Jackson (6-3, Jr.), Reese Elzy (5-11, Jr.), Brody Bridges (6-4, Fr.) and Graves, a University of Santa Clara commit.

10. Iowa (14-3) - Last season (Division II non-select semifinalist)

The second-seeded Yellow Jackets bowed out of the Top 28 at the hands of No. 3 Carroll, 63-57, in last season's playoffs.

Top players include: Dashawn Ceaser (6-3, Sr.), Desa'monte Gradney (6-2, Sr.), Luke Guillory (6-3, Sr.), Josiah Bushnell (5-11, Sr.), Cohen Charles (6-1, Jr.), Victor Fisher (6-4, Soph.) and Jeremiah Bushnell (6-3, Soph.).

Ceaser was named All-Tournament at the STM Sunkist Shootout. Iowa has wins over Madison Prep, Dunham, Huntington, Wossman, St. Louis, Beau Chene and Lafayette High with losses to Peabody, Isidore Newman and Vandebilt Catholic. The latter two games were at the Sunkist Shootout.

11. Captain Shreve (15-3) - Last season (Division I select quarterfinalist)

The sixth-seeded Gators dropped a 60-43 decision to No. 3 Catholic-Baton Rouge in the third round of last season's playoffs.

Key players include 6-foot-3 senior Jyrin Sowell (14.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg), 5-foot-9 junior Marcus Lofton (10.2 ppg), 6-foot-2 senior EJoshua McDonald (9.9 ppg, 2.1 steals per game), J.D. McDonald (5-9, Soph.) and 6-foot-7 senior Aaron Guinn (6.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg).

The Gators have wins vs. Peabody, Bossier, Natchitoches Central, Scotlandville and Ringgold with losses to St. Thomas More, Madison Prep and Pineville.

12. Isidore Newman (8-3) - Last season (Division III select state champions)

Where to rank the Greenies? It's a complicated question. Newman's only loss outside of the Sunkist Shootout was to Madison Prep. The Greenies lost to Lafayette Christian and St. Thomas Aquinas at the Sunkist Shootout but were without 6-foot-10 senior Chris Cenac as well as coach Randy Livingston.

Once he received a legal ruling against the LHSAA that reinstated him, Livingston returned to the bench at the Lafayette tourney and guided his team to a double-overtime, 65-60 win over Catholic-New Iberia, which is one of the frontrunners expected to challenge Newman in Division III select.

There is an upcoming hearing on an injunction as Newman seeks to become legally cleared to participate in the playoffs - and Livingston looks to have his suspension overturned.

Key players include: 6-foot-8 senior Todd Jones, 6-foot-2 sophomore Randy Livingston Jr., 6-foot-2 sophomore Jackson Williams, 6-foot-7 junior Chris Birdin Jr., and 6-foot-1 sophomore Sabastian Thrower.

The Greenies have notable wins vs. Iowa, Hahnville, Slidell and John Curtis Christian.

13. Pineville (13-1) - Last season (Division I select quarterfinalist)

The seventh-seeded Rebels were eliminated by No. 2 St. Thomas More, 75-64, in the third round of last year's playoffs.

6-foot-6, 230-pound senior center Javonte Thomas cuts an imposing figure down low. Senior Kylan Edwards (6-0), senior Jaylan Witty (6-3), senior Evyn Goree (5-11), senior Malik Marzett (6-0) and sophomore Avanta Lyons (5-11) are central figures for the Rebels, whose only loss was by one point to Natchitoches Central, 61-60, at the Alexandria Tournament.

Pineville has wins over Captain Shreve, H.L. Bourgeois, Leesville, Winnfield and Tioga.

14. Calvary Baptist (13-2) - Last season (Division III select runner-up)

The third-seeded Cavaliers lost, 52-42, to No. 1 Isidore Newman in the title game last season.

Key players include: 6-foot senior point guard Rondae Hill (19.5 ppg, 6.2 apg), 6-foot junior Bubba Strong (14.9 ppg), 6-foot-2 freshman Tyrone Jamison (13.9 ppg, 4.9 apg), 6-foot senior Konnor Cotton (7.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.3 steals per game), 6-foot-8 junior Justin Houston and 5-foot-11 senior football star Landon Sylvie.

Notable wins vs. Bossier, Booker T. Washington-Shreveport, Huntington, Evangel Christian, Ringgold (twice) and Parkway (twice) with losses to Southwood and St. Augustine.

15. George Washington Carver (10-4) - Last season (Division II select champions)

The No. 6 Rams upset No. 3 Archbishop Hannan (60-50), No. 2 Peabody (46-44) and No. 1 Madison Prep (34-25) to win the state title last season.

Top players include 6-foot-2 senior Laurence Nathan, 6-foot-8 junior Daijon Leatherman, 5-foot-10 sophomore Chesney Sadler and 6-foot sophomore Davinta Smith.

Carver has wins over Zachary, L.B. Landry, Brother Martin, Catholic-Baton Rouge, Eleanor McMain and twice vs. Crescent City with losses to Isidore Newman, Liberty Magnet, L.B. Landry and Northshore.

16. St. Augustine (14-2) - Last season (Division I select quarterfinalist)

The No. 9 Purple Knights were bounced out of last year's third round by top-seeded Scotlandville, 67-52.

Top players include 6-foot-3 senior guard Turner Duncan, 5-foot-9 junior guard Tye Williams and 6-foot-5, 230-pound senior Hubert Caliste Jr., a football prospect/tight end with offers from Florida State, Indiana, Nebraska, Georgia Tech, Tulane, Houston, Louisiana Tech and others.

The Purple Knights have lost two of their last three to Madison Prep and by one point, 52-51, to L.B. Landry. St. Aug has wins over Calvary Baptist, Brother Martin, Dunham, Country Day and Slidell.

17. Jesuit (16-1) - Last season (bi-district playoff team)

Hahnville is the only loss for the Blue Jays, who were eliminated by No. 17 Alexandria in the first round of the playoffs last year. Jesuit, which was the No. 16 seed, lost 59-46 to the Trojans.

Jesuit has wins over L.B. Landry (twice), Terrebonne, St. Paul's, Brother Martin, H.L. Bourgeois and Edna Karr.

18. Alexandria (12-4) - Last season (Division I select regionals playoff team)

The Trojans, as a No. 17 seed, beat Jesuit before bowing out, 69-40, to top-ranked Scotlandville in the second round of last year's playoffs.

Key players include 6-foot-1 junior Jordyn Johnson (12.4 ppg), 6-foot-3 senior Jaylin Johnson (9.7 ppg), 6-foot-6 sophomore Tyshawn Duncan (6.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg), along with Chavez Whitehead (8.7 ppg, 1.8 steals per game, team-high 53 assists), Ashton Bobb (7.4 ppg) and football star A'Myrion Mingo (5-11, Sr.), who are part of a very deep bench.

The Trojans boast wins over Peabody, Lakeview, Winnfield and Tioga with two losses to New Iberia and a loss each to Zachary and Southside. Alexandria is unbeaten on its home court.

Jaylin Johnson is shooting 61% from the floor.

19. Scotlandville (13-6) - Last season (Division I select runner-up)

Jamal Drewery (5-10, Sr.) is one of the state's most prolific scorers, putting in 20.5 ppg with 5.6 assists. Senior Ja'Marryon Brown is scoring 11.5 ppg with 6.3 rebounds per game and 2.2 steals, followed by senior Trelen Washington (7.5 ppg) and junior Aaron Marshall (7.2 ppg).

The Hornets have won seven of their last eight games. Scotlandville beat Ponchatoula and University Lab to win the Wayde Sims Foundation Invitational and have previous wins over Eleanor McMain, Southern Lab, Capitol and Dunham, with losses to Ponchatoula, Denham Springs, McKinley, Captain Shreve, Liberty and Crescent City.

20. Natchitoches Central (15-3) - Last season (Division I non-select bi-district playoff team)

The No. 24 Chiefs lost to ninth-seeded Salmen, 77-63, in the first round of last season's playoffs.

Top players include Logan Smith, Jaden Braden, Jacorien Beard, Harold Remo, Jadell Demery and Camrin Davis.

The Chiefs, who are No. 2 in the Division I non-select power ratings, have wins over Pineville, Tioga, Anacoco, Pickering, Winnfield and Richwood, with losses to Captain Shreve, Zwolle and Northwood-Shreveport.

21. Denham Springs (18-2) - Last season (Division I non-select bi-district playoff team)

The No. 14 Yellow Jackets were upset, 53-50, by 19th-seeded West Monroe in the opening round last year.

Key players include 6-foot-3 sophomore Jermaine O'Conner and 5-foot-11 senior Maison Vorise, who excelled in football as a defensive back.

Denham Springs has wins over Scotlandville, H.L. Bourgeois, Doyle, Parkview Baptist, Neville and Episcopal, with losses to Carroll and Walker.

22. Vandebilt Catholic (15-3) - Last season (Division II select quarterfinalist)

The No. 4 Terriers lost to fifth-seeded Archbishop Shaw, 54-45, in the third round of last season's playoffs.

Key players include 5-foot-11 junior guard Jordan Matthews, 5-foot-10 junior guard Jaylon Coleman, 5-foot-9 senior Jahyri Coleman, 6-foot-3 sophomore Terrell Nixon, 5-foot-9 junior Robert Sandolph and 6-foot senior Sam Kinnard.

The Terriers' overall team speed impressed at the STM Sunkist Shootout where they secured wins over Iowa (63-54), St. Thomas Aquinas (70-44) and Catholic-New Iberia (56-42), with a 59-54 loss to Brother Martin.

Vandebilt Catholic also has wins over Terrebonne, H.L. Bourgeois, St. Paul's, St. Martin's and St. Charles Catholic, with losses to St. Thomas Aquinas and L.B. Landry.

23. Archbishop Shaw (12-2) - Last season (Division II select semifinalist)

The No. 5 Eagles were knocked out of the Top 28 by top-seeded Madison Prep, 46-28.

Top players include 6-foot-2 senior William Lewis Jr., 6-foot-5 senior Christian Creppell, 6-foot senior Aidan Lasalle, 6-foot-6 junior Kobe Butler and 5-foot-11 junior Khalil Awogboro.

Notable wins vs. St. Thomas Aquinas, Southern Lab, Northshore, Terrebonne, L.B. Landry and Mandeville. Losses by a total of five points to Brother Martin (58-56) and Brusly (60-57, OT).

24. Southwood (12-4) - Last season (Division I select quarterfinalist)

The fourth-seeded Cowboys lost, 48-44, to Shreveport city rival and No. 5 Huntington in the third round of last year's playoffs.

Key players include 6-foot-10 senior center Jeremiah Evans, senior guard Maurice Carson, senior forward Kamauri Fleming and senior guard/forward Detreveon Lars.

Evans posted 25 points with 14 rebounds and four blocks in the Cowboys' 74-64 District 1-5A win over Parkway. Carson and Lars had 15 points apiece. Fleming scored 10 points with five rebounds.

Southwood has wins over Calvary Baptist, Anacoco, Carroll, Rayville, Ringgold (twice) and Booker T. Washington-Shreveport, with losses to Madison Prep, Rayville, Huntington and Archbishop Hannan.

Southwood is No. 6 in the Division I select power ratings.

25. St. Thomas Aquinas (10-5) - Last season (Division III select quarterfinalist)

The sixth-seeded Falcons lost, 56-54, to No. 3 Calvary Baptist in the third round of last year's playoffs.

Since then, 6-foot-1 senior Kohen Rowbatham has joined the team where he pairs nicely with 6-foot-1 senior Kendrell Perry and 5-foot-8 senior Case Reed. Rowbatham and Perry are football prospects who can shoot the 3, mix it up inside and do everything in-between.

The Falcons don't have a ton of depth and foul trouble could pose a problem. St. Thomas Aquinas has wins over Vandebilt Catholic, Isidore Newman, Mandeville, East St. John, Barbe and John Curtis Christian, with losses to St. Thomas More, Vandebilt Catholic, Archbishop Shaw and Country Day.

Next Up

Brother Martin (14-6), Lafayette (13-2), Buckeye (19-0), Archbishop Hannan (9-3), L.B. Landry (13-7), David Thibodaux (15-4), Carencro (10-5), St. Paul's (13-6), Bossier (14-7), University Lab (11-5), Carroll (15-6), Dunham (15-4), Capitol (16-5), Crescent City (13-4), Southside (10-5)

Trending Up

Ruston (9-7 overall, won six straight games and seven of the last eight with only a loss to Wossman)

Archbishop Rummel (12-6 overall, won five straight games and seven of the last eight with only a loss to St. Thomas More)

St. Amant (18-5 overall, won seven games in a row and 12 of the last 13)

Slidell (13-7 overall, won six consecutive games and nine of the last 10)

Live Oak (11-3 overall, won six straight including vs. University Lab, Central-Baton Rouge and Episcopal)

Plaquemine (14-4 overall, won six straight)

Delayed Gratification

Northwest (8-2 overall, basketball was delayed by its football team reaching the state semifinals, beat New Iberia, 45-43, on Dec. 21)

Small School Watch

In Division V non-select, No. 1 Zwolle (21-2), No. 2 Lacassine (26-1), No. 3 Anacoco (23-6) and No. 4 Negreet (21-2) are playing on a different level.

Zwolle, Anacoco and Negreet have also beat up on each other. Negreet beat Zwolle, 61-56, on Jan. 6 at the Negreet Tournament. Zwolle won a December matchup, 63-56, in its tournament.

In November, Negreet played Anacoco in back-to-back games, beating the Indians at home, 65-40. Two days earlier, Anacoco topped Negreet at the Simpson Tournament, 52-46.

Anacoco won in overtime, 58-56, at Zwolle in November. Lacassine's sole loss is to Eunice in overtime, 72-69.

Best of the Rest

Catholic-New Iberia, Mandeville, Huntington, Avoyelles Public Charter, Zwolle, Anacoco, Lacassine, Negreet, Episcopal School of Acadiana, McKinley, Evangel Christian, St. Amant, H.L. Bourgeois, North Central, Franklin, Beau Chene, Richwood, Rayville, Lakeview, Jennings, French Settlement, Ringgold, John Curtis Christian, Bonnabel, J.S. Clark, Country Day, Edna Karr, St. Martin's Episcopal, Southern Lab, Archbishop Rummel, Slidell, Live Oak, Northwest

Photo of Madison Prep's Jayce Depron (right) by Robin Fambrough, The Advocate 

-- Mike Coppage | @SBLiveLA