This week starts one of the top tournaments in the state as Coach Dexter Washington has taken things to another level in Lake Charles gathering 16 of the top teams in the state to compete in a classic bracket style tournament which is sure to be entertaining!
We're excited to be broadcasting the semifinals and championship game on Saturday bringing you all some of the biggest matchups of the year but before we get to that we wanted to highlight the teams as well as some of the top players in the event!
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1st Round Matchups
Lafayette Christian vs. Washington Marion
Thursday 4:00pm - Sam Houston Main Gym
LCA is arguably the favorite to win this tournament as they are considered to be one of the top teams in the state regardless of classification! LCA is a well balanced team with Jada Richard being one of the top players in the state we all know about her but they are surrounded by several other college prospects at a variety of postions. The draw of Washington Marion in the 1st round will be an interesting match up as Washington Marion is a program on the rise from the Lake Charles area!
Prediction: Washington Marion will look to challenge themselves in this tournament but will be outmatched versus the powerhouse of LCA as LCA advances to the second round to take on the winner of Hamilton Christian and Southern Lab.
Players to Watch:
Lafayette Christian
Jada Richard - Top ranked player in the 2024 class - (High Major prospect)
Dacia Jones - Top 10 ranked guard in the 2023 class
Eve Alexander - Top 10 ranked guard in the 2024 class
Indera Hebert - Top 30 ranked guard in the 2024 class
Taylen Taylor - Honorable Mention point guard 2025
Kaliyah Samuels - Top 5 guard/forward 2025
Washington Marion
Ty'la Broussard-Antoine - Honorable Mention guard 2025
Hamilton Christian vs. Southern Lab
Thursday 7:00pm - Sam Houston Main Gym
Southern Lab is fresh off a state championship and brings back all of its core pieces as they look to go back to back this season! They take on a the host team in Hamilton Christian lead by junior standout McKenzie Devile.
Prediction: Hamilton Christian is much improved from last year but Southern Lab is too deep and experienced in bigger matchups as they advance over Hamilton Christian to take on the winner of Lafayette Christian and Washington Marion.
Southern Lab
Shaila Forman - #2 Ranked prospect in the 2025 class
Madison Alcerro - Top 30 ranked forward in the 2025 class
Asia Patin - Top 10 ranked guard in the 2026 class
Hamilton Christian
McKenzie Devile - Top 10 guard in the 2024 class
St. Louis Catholic vs. Rosepine
Thursday 5:30pm - Sam Houston Main Gym
St. Louis Catholic has won back to back state championships and are lead by senior Paris Guillory who's the number two ranked prospect in the state! They take on Rosepine who I've been hearing a lot about and I'm excited to see for the first time this year. Rosepine and SLC are currently ranked number two in their respective classifications as they both will be serious contenders for a state title so this could be the top matchup in the first round!
Prediction: Having not seen Rosepine and going off of their schedule and word of mouth I can't help but lean towards St. Louis Catholic in this one but could certainly see this game going either way. Feels like it could be a close game down the stretch and I'd imagine Paris Guillory will make the plays necessary to push St. Louis over the top as they advance to the second round to take on the winner of Wossman and Barbe.
St. Louis Catholic
Paris Guillory - #2 Ranked 2023 prospect - Louisiana Tech signee
Gabbie Link - honorable mention guard in the 2023 class
Rosepine
Addison Fruge - Honorable Mention 2023 class
Kelly Norris - Honorable Mention 2023 Class
Wossman vs. Barbe
Thursday 7:00pm - Sam Houston Aux Gym
Wow is all I can say about this first round matchup as it'll feature 6-7 college prospects on the court at one time! Wossman is the defending 3A state champion and they bring back the majority of that championship team as they are now trying to make a case for one of the top teams in the state regardless of classification! They take our #3 ranked Division I team in Barbe. Barbe is lead by senior Mikaylah Manley who is a ULM signee.
Prediction: Barbe and Wossman both will be looking to make a statement with a win in this game as both teams have a lot to gain with this matchup. Barbe is looking to make a deep playoff run in division I this year but Wossman has already been there and done that! Wossman wants to be considered one of the top teams state regardless of classification and with that you'll have to win big matchups like this.... so Wossman advances in a close one but as always when two great teams matchup we all win in this can't miss game!
Wossman
Da'Naya Ross - Top 3 prospect in the 2024 class
Ramiah Augurson - #1 ranked prospect in the 2025 class
Anyra Wilson - Top 20 ranked guard in the 2025 class
Brittany Burton - Top 30 ranked forward in the 2024 class
Barbe
Mikaylah Manley - Top prospect in the 2023 class - ULM Signee
Ariel Williams - Top 30 ranked forward in the 2023 class
Megan Colston - Honorable Mention 2023 class
Mia Colston - Honorable Mention 2025 class
Ruston vs. Madison Prep
Thursday 4:00pm - Sam Houston Aux Gym
We haven't seen Madison Prep this season as they lost 6 seniors from last years team and are still figuring things out early this year. Ruston also looks completely different from years past as they've went from one of the biggest teams in the state to one of the smaller 5A teams in regards to size.
Prediction: Madison Prep has always had one of the more difficult schedules for the past 5+ years as their coach believes in challenging his team early and this tournament will be no different. Having seen Ruston earlier last week I think they will have enough guard play lead by junior Jaliyah McWain to get a win over Madison Prep and advance to the second round to take on the winner of Fairview and Lafayette.
Ruston
Jaliyah McWain - #11 ranked player in the 2024 class
Madison Prep
Laila Robinson - #14 ranked player in the 2024 class
Fairview vs. Lafayette
Thursday 5:30pm - Sam Houston Aux Gym
Another great matchup and easily a top 10 matchup between two of the best teams in the state regardless of classifications. Fairview is the favorite to win another state championship in division V and Lafayette has started the season off 2-0 lead by senior Chrysta Narcisse who has signed to South Alabama.
Prediction: Really difficult to call this game as you can go either way. I really like the improvements Lafayette's Kira Johnson (2025) has made to give Narcisse and Lafayette 1-2 punch but I believe the lack of depth is going to catch up to Lafayette as Fairview is the fastest pace of play in the state for 10+ years now! Fairview wears down Lafayette and pulls away late in this one to advance to the second round and will play the winner of Ruston and Madison Prep.
*Lafayette does have the size to rebound against Fairview which is something to note as that will give them a good shot early if they can build a double digit lead we could see this game go the other way.
Lafayette
Chrysta Narcisse - #3 ranked prospect 2023 class - South Alabama signee
Grace Paul - Top 25 ranked forward in the 2024 class
Kira Johnson - Top 10 ranked guard in the 2025 class
Fairview
Reesie Jinks - Honorable Mention guard 2025
John Curtis vs. LaGrange
Thursday 8:30pm - Sam Houston Aux Gym
This will be our first look at John Curtis this year. They have won countless state championships in a row but have lost there top player as well as have a new coach so lots of questions need to be answer but this squad will be right back in the state championship title hunt as the squad has reloaded with lots of young talent! LaGrange is one of those teams that play physical and hard from the time you get off the bus until the final buzzer.
Prediction: Coach Holmes and LaGrange will have their hands full with the talented John Curtis squad as it's likely they will keep things close but I expect John Curtis to pull away down the stretch behind the great guard play. John Curtis advances to the second round and will play the winner of Parkway and Jennings.
John Curtis
Heaven Jordan - Top 5 ranked prospect in the 2024 class
Imani Daniel - Top 20 ranked prospect in the 2025 class
Chikae Desdunes - #1 ranked prospect in the 2026 class
Ke'Sonia Nelson - Top 25 ranked guard in the 2026 class
LaGrange
Ala'jsa Walker - Top 30 ranked prospect in the 2023 class
Parkway vs. Jennings
Thursday 8:30pm - Sam Houston Main Gym
Parkway is our current #1 ranked team in the state and therefore they are the favorite to win this tournament as they look to compete against several of the top teams in the state after going 0-3 versus some of the top teams in the country last week. Parkway is lead by the #2 player in the country in Mikaylah Williams who's one of the best prospects to come out of Louisiana in the past 20 years. If you're in the area this week and claim to be a basketball fan you'll want to make sure you watch Parkway at least one as players like Mikaylah Williams don't come around very often. Jennings has only played one game to date and was a blow out win so I'm not sure what to expect in this first round matchup from them. We should know more after Tuesdays match up versus Barbe.
Prediction: Parkway is to talented and they advance to the second round to take on the winner of John Curtis and LaGrange.
Parkway
Mikaylah Williams - #2 Player in the world - LSU Signee
Ty'lissa Henderson - #11 ranked prospect in the 2023 class
Chloe Larry - Top 10 ranked guard in the 2024 class
Zara Baker - Top 5 ranked prospect in the 2026 class
Jennings
Zy Etienne - Honorable mention class of 2023
