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

With 9-game win streak, New Iberia jumps to the Top 5

Check out our latest 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: Records and power ratings as reflected on Geaux Preps on Jan. 25.

1. Madison Prep, 13-1 (previous rank: 1) - LHSAA Power Rating Division II select No. 1

The Chargers beat Division I select defending state champion Catholic-Baton Rouge, 55-53, on Jan 23. A previously scheduled game against Capitol was listed as postponed. Another game against Alexandria was listed as canceled.

Josh Smith's bucket and a defensive play from Jamari Thigpen at the opposite goal sealed the win over Catholic-BR, according to Robin Fambrough of the Baton Rouge Advocate.

Smith scored 18 points for the Chargers, who are 16-2 overall (includes out-of-state opponents). Jayce Depron and Quentin Dabney combined to score 22 points.

Madison Prep takes on Zachary on Jan. 25.

2. Liberty Magnet, 16-1 (previous rank: 2) - LHSAA Power Rating Division I select No. 2

The Patriots beat Glen Oaks, Peabody Magnet and Southern Lab. The 52-46 win over Peabody was in hostile territory in Alexandria where the Warhorses lost for only the ninth time.

The Patriots trailed, 18-6, at the end of the first quarter but won the next three. In addition, Liberty held the Warhorses to three points in the third quarter.

Marquise McPipe led all scorers with 14 points. Jaylen Peters had 11 points. Malek Robinson and Chandler Holmes added 10 points apiece.

Howard Gaskins Jr. is averaging a team-high 14.1 points per game for Liberty, which has upcoming games at St. Thomas Aquinas and Isidore Newman.

3. Peabody Magnet, 19-3 (previous rank: 3) - LHSAA Power Rating Division II select No. 2

The Warhorses bounced back from a six-point loss to Liberty Magnet with wins over Tioga and Southwood.

Rashad Mitchell scored 16 points in the 63-57 win over Southwood at Mal Mundy's Extravaganza Classic held at Calvary Baptist in Shreveport. George McInnis Jr. added 15 points, and Justin Burns and Robert Garland added 13 each.

Analyst Clifton Dixon wrote on X that Garland, a senior guard, "played with a high level of poise" and "never got rattled under pressure."

4. St. Thomas More, 18-1 (previous rank: 5) - LHSAA Power Rating Division I select No. 1

The Cougars have an overall record of 21-5 including games vs. out-of-state opponents. STM defeated Carencro, Northside, Metairie Park Country Day and Lafayette Christian.

The games vs. Northside and LCA were decided by a total of nine points. In the 46-43 win over Lafayette Christian, Michael Mouton scored 13 consecutive points and finished with 19 points, according to Eric Narcisse of the Acadiana Advocate. Coach Wesley Cortese praised Elijah Guidry's defensive effort vs. Tulane signee Kam Williams.

5. New Iberia, 19-3 (previous rank: 6) - LHSAA Power Rating Division I non-select No. 2

The Yellow Jackets have won nine straight games with their most recent wins coming against Comeaux and Catholic-New Iberia.

New Iberia rallied from a 26-14 halftime deficit to beat Catholic-NI, 42-40. Otis Anderson's 14 points led the team, followed by Wayne Randall-Bashay's 13 points and Austin Delahoussaye (10). Randall-Bashay, a Xavier-New Orleans commitment, had a double-double with 11 rebounds, four assists, four steals and three blocks.

The Yellow Jackets have a key District 3-5A game on tap Jan. 26 vs. Lafayette High (16-2). Both teams are 1-0 in league play.

6. Zachary, 17-3 (previous rank: 7) - LHSAA Power Rating Division I non-select No. 1

The Broncos defeated Archbishop Hannan in overtime, 58-56, and have won eight straight games leading up to a Jan. 25 game at fellow Baton Rouge area power Madison Prep. Another test awaits on Jan. 27 vs. Iowa.

7. Wossman, 23-3 (previous rank: 9) - LHSAA Power Rating Division II non-select No. 1

The Wildcats defeated Sterlington, Carroll, Calvary Baptist and Richwood.

Wossman struggled from long range in the 54-48 win over district rival Carroll, according to Jake Martin of the Ouachita Citizen. Tristen Wooten had a couple of big baskets down the stretch. Krystian Lewis and Tre Mason each scored in double figures.

The Wildcats came back from a 50-40 deficit to defeat Calvary Baptist in overtime, 69-65, on the road. Clifton Dixon of LouisianaHoops.com wrote following the game that senior guard/forward Jordan Comanche "finds his offensive rhythm effectively" and that "his elite court vision and decision-making are exemplary."

Junior guard Zion Weeks also received praise from Dixon.

8. Iowa, 20-3 (previous rank: 9) - LHSAA Power Rating Division II non-select No. 2

The Yellow Jackets beat Jennings, Lafayette Christian, Northside and Kinder. The 58-50 win over Lafayette Christian was the Knights' first loss to an in-state opponent. The game was held at Brad Boyd's Cajundome Classic in Lafayette.

Defensive standout Cohen Charles received game MVP honors. Dashawn Ceaser, Desa'Monte Gradney, Luke Guillory and Cameron Washington were top offensive producers. Guillory is an Air Force Academy football signee.

Ceaser averaged 32 points in a recent five-game span while making 60% of his field goal attempts.

The Yellow Jackets trounced Kinder, 77-15, in a district game. There is a huge game on Jan. 27 vs. Zachary at Madison Prep.

9. Captain Shreve, 20-3 (previous rank: 10) - LHSAA Power Rating Division I select No. 3

The Gators beat Parkway, Byrd and Franklin Parish.

The 62-41 win over Parkway pushed the Gators' district record to 6-0. Jyrin Sowell posted 25 points, eight rebounds and three blocks. E'Joshua McDonald had 13 points, six rebounds and two steals. Marcus Lofton added 12 points, four rebounds and a steal.

The 57-44 win over Franklin Parish was at the Extravaganza Classic. Analyst Clifton Dixon wrote following the game that Lofton, a junior guard, showed "proficiency as a perimeter shooter" and stood out for his defensive capabilities.

10. Isidore Newman, 9-3 (previous rank: 12) - LHSAA Power Rating Division III select No. 1

The Orleans Parish Civil Court issued a preliminary injunction in favor of Newman coach Randy Livingston, who sued the LHSAA for penalties levied against him and the basketball program.

On the court, the Greenies beat defending Division I non-select state champion Ponchatoula, 68-56. Sophomore Randy Livingston Jr. scored 20 points and sank a 3-pointer that gave Newman the lead for good, according to Chris Dabe of nola.com. Chris Cenac scored 12 points with eight rebounds.

On Saturday, Newman takes on Division IV select No. 1 Crescent City (14-4).

11. Ruston, 13-7 (previous rank: 13) - LHSAA Power Rating Division I non-select No. 6

The Bearcats have won 10 straight games with recent wins over Arcadia and West Ouachita. The 73-25 rout of West Ouachita put Ruston's District 2-5A record at 2-0.

In a district-opening win over Pineville, guard Joran Parker scored 15 points with five rebounds. Guard Aidan Anding, a top defensive back prospect in football, received scholarship offers from the Univ. of Miami, Houston and Jacksonville State.

12. Ponchatoula, 18-4 (previous rank: 11) - LHSAA Power Rating Division I non-select No. 5

The Green Wave beat Covington, Northshore and Salmen and lost to Isidore Newman.

In the loss to Newman, Allen Graves scored 20 points before fouling out with over five minutes to go in the fourth quarter, according to Chris Dabe of nola.com. In the 58-42 district win at Northshore, the 6-foot-9 Graves had 21 points, 15 rebounds, four steals and three blocks, according to Ken Trahan of Crescent City Sports.

13. Denham Springs, 23-2 (previous rank: 15) - LHSAA Power Rating Division I non-select No. 3

The Yellow Jackets beat St. Thomas Aquinas, Live Oak and Pine. The Yellow Jackets overcame an 18-point deficit to beat Live Oak, 79-75, in a district game inside a packed home gym. Key players include 6-foot guards Da'Jean and Da'Sean Golmond, Maison Vorise and Jermaine O'Conner.

The Yellow Jackets have a big game coming up at Central-BR (17-5), which has won eight straight games. A district game at the end of the regular season vs. St. Amant (21-5) will be one to see. St. Amant has won nine straight and 15 of its last 16 games.

14. Southwood, 17-6 (previous rank: 24) - LHSAA Power Rating Division I select No. 7

The Cowboys bounced back from a close loss to Peabody with district wins over Airline and Natchitoches Central. Southwood stayed tied with Captain Shreve at the top of District 1-5A (both are 6-0) by defeating Natchitoches Central, 52-44.

According to Prep Hoops Louisiana's Preston Edwards, the Cowboys got 25 points (20 in the second half) of the win over Natchitoches Central. The visiting Chiefs took a 28-23 lead at the half.

15. Alexandria, 16-5 (previous rank: 17) - LHSAA Power Rating Division I select No. 10)

The Trojans beat West Monroe and Avoyelles Public Charter. Ashton Bobb scored 15 points and Markel Gaines added 14 points and five rebounds in the win at Avoyelles Public Charter. Jaylin Johnson pulled down six rebounds with a steal and scored six points. A'Myrion Mingo contributed two points, four rebounds, two steals and two assists.

16. Lafayette Christian, 19-2 (previous rank: 4) - LHSAA Power Rating Division II select No. 5

The Knights lost games to Iowa and St. Thomas More by a total of 11 points. Kam Willliams scored 23 points in the 46-43 loss to STM. Senior guard Deon Wheeler went for 30 points in an 84-56 win over Westgate.

17. George Washington Carver, 16-5 (previous rank: 21) - LHSAA Power Rating Division II select No. 4

The Rams reeled off wins over Bonnabel, McDonogh 35, Catholic-Baton Rouge and Warren Easton.

It took two overtimes to settle the 75-70 win over Catholic-BR. Laurence Nathan scored 28 points and Daijon Leatherman had 26 points and 15 rebounds, according to Chris Dabe of nola.com. Nathan accounted for his team's final seven points in regulation. Chesney Sadler added 12 points.

18. Edna Karr, 17-8 (previous rank: NR) - LHSAA Power Rating Division I select No. 11

The Cougars have overcome a 2-8 start by winning seven straight and 15 of their last 17 games. Karr is 5-0 in the Catholic League with recent district wins vs. St. Augustine, Archbishop Rummel, John Curtis Christian, Holy Cross and Brother Martin and a non-district win over Scotlandville.

The Cougars outscored St. Augustine, 15-7, in the fourth quarter of the 47-38 win over St. Augustine, according to Vashon Jones of Crescent City Sports. Jyren Brooks and Keith Jones scored in double figures. Brooks had 14 points and nine rebounds. Jones registered 11 points with seven rebounds, three assists and three blocks.

Jethro Moses (seven points, three assists, three blocks) and Dezemen Favorite made key shots. Favorite is a tailback on the football team.

The Cougars host Jesuit (20-3, 2-2) on Jan. 26 in a district rematch of a Jan. 2 non-league game won by the Blue Jays, 46-26.

19. Scotlandville, 15-8 (previous rank: 19) - LHSAA Power Rating Division I select No. 12

The Hornets lost to red-hot Edna Karr and beat Warren Easton. Jamal Drewery was the lone double-digit scorer in the loss to Edna Karr with 14 points. The junior point guard is averaging 21 points and six assists per game.

20. Natchitoches Central, 19-4 (previous rank: 14) - LHSAA Power Rating Division I non-select No. 4

The Chiefs had their five-game winning streak snapped by Southwood, 52-44. Jadell Demery scored 15 points with 10 rebounds in the loss. Jaden Braden added 10 points.

The Chiefs host Captain Shreve in a pivotal district game on Jan. 26 and will get another shot at Southwood at home on Feb. 16.

21. Brusly, 18-1 (previous rank: 16) - LHSAA Power Rating Division II non-select No. 3

The Panthers lost the district opener to St. Michael, but turned around and beat a strong Northwest team, 69-51.

In the 55-41 loss to St. Michael at home, the Panthers made only one of 18 3-point tries, according to Jim Kleinpeter of the Baton Rouge Advocate. Tyran Young scored 13 points, while Edrick Snearl had nine points before fouling out.

22. Vandebilt Catholic, 18-3 (previous rank: 22) - LHSAA Power Rating Division II select No. 3

The Terriers are on a nine-game winning streak with recent wins against Country Day and local Houma-area opponent Terrebonne. Jordan Matthews and Jahyri Coleman forced turnovers that led to baskets in the 75-60 win at Terrebonne. Samuel Kinnard's early 3-pointer resulted in an early 12-8 lead.

23. Archbishop Shaw, 16-2 (previous rank: 23) - LHSAA Power Rating Division II select No. 7

The Eagles beat Woodlawn-Baton Rouge and West Jefferson and have a game at Catholic-BR on Jan. 26. 6-foot-2 senior Xavier Meyers scored 19 points in the win over Woodlawn. 6-foot-5 senior Christian Creppel added 13 points, and freshman Allen Shaw had 11 points.

24. Lafayette, 16-2 (previous rank: 25) - LHSAA Power Rating Division I select No. 6

The Lions beat Barbe, 45-29, and will host New Iberia on Jan. 25 in a game that will take place at Northside High due to construction at LHS.

25 (tie). Calvary Baptist, 14-5 (previous rank: 20) - LHSAA Power Rating Division III select No. 5

The Cavaliers opened district with a 39-point rout of D'Arbonne Woods Charter after close losses to Wossman and East St. John.

Clifton Dixon wrote after the 69-65 overtime loss to Wossman that Cavaliers' guard Bubba Strong "showed efficiency from beyond the arc" and "the ability to finish through contact." Freshman guard T.J. Jamison was praised by Dixon for "controlling the game's pace with finesse" and for his "dynamic mid-range pull-up shooting."

Strong, a junior, had 13 points in the win over D'Arbonne Woods Charter. Jamison had 11 points and three assists. Senior point guard Rondae Hill added 12 points and six assists.

25 (tie). Jesuit, 20-3 (previous rank: NR) - LHSAA Power Rating Division I select No. 5

The Blue Jays rebounded from losses to Brother Martin and St. Augustine by defeating St. Mary's and Holy Cross.

BEST OF THE REST

Slidell, East St. John, St. Amant, Central-BR, Southside, St. Augustine, Northwest, Carroll, French Settlement, Rayville, Lakeview, Ringgold, North Central, Franklin, Negreet, Lacassine, Zwolle, Doyline, St. Mary's, Pineville, Brother Martin, St. Paul's, Buckeye, Archbishop Hannan, L.B. Landry, St. Michael's, David Thibodaux, Booker T. Washington-SH, University Lab, St. Thomas Aquinas, Catholic-New Iberia, Crescent City, Dunham, Episcopal, Capitol, St. Charles, Southern Lab, J.S. Clark, Avoyelles Public Charter, Episcopal School of Acadiana. St. Martin's Episcopal 

Photo of New Iberia's Wayne Randall-Bashay by Brad Bowie, The Acadiana Advocate

-- Mike Coppage | @SBLiveLA