Louisiana high school boys basketball Top 25 rankings (2/1/2024)
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. 31.
1. Madison Prep, 17-1 (previous rank: 1) - LHSAA Power Rating Division II select No. 1
The Chargers beat Scotlandville, Calvary Baptist and Zachary in a span of four days. Josh Smith scored 16 points and Jayce Depron added 15 points in the 54-44 win at Scotlandville.
In the 68-56 win over Calvary Baptist at the Charger Classic, Madison Prep led 46-19 at the half. Smith received game MVP honors. 6-foot-5 senior forward Quentin Dabney led the team in scoring in the 54-52 win over Zachary, a victory that marked a fourth consecutive close win.
MPA previously defeated Catholic-Baton Rouge 55-53, Dunham (49-47) and Captain Shreve (42-41). The Chargers also notched a 56-42 win over Woodlawn-Baton Rouge on Jan. 31.
2. St. Thomas More, 20-1 (previous rank: 4) - LHSAA Power Rating Division I select No. 1
The Cougars defeated North Vermilion and Teurlings Catholic to open District 4-4A play. Chad Jones, who also achieved his 1,000th career point, led the scoring with 14 points in the 61-46 win over Teurlings Catholic. Andrew Gardner added 12 points.
That game marked the return of coach Danny Broussard to the bench. The legendary coach was out several weeks following surgery. In the 63-33 win over North Vermilion, the Cougars made 10 3-pointers. Michael Mouton and Anthony Angelle scored 11 points apiece.
3. Isidore Newman, 11-3 (previous rank: 10) - LHSAA Power Rating Division III select No. 1
The Greenies make a huge jump with wins over Liberty Magnet and Crescent City. In the 53-51 win at Liberty, Chris Cenac and Todd Jones scored 16 points apiece, according to Josh Preston.
Cenac had 16 rebounds, and Jones also had a double-double with 10 boards. The two big men combined to block seven shots. Twelve of Cenac's points came in the first half, which ended with Newman leading, 28-26.
Chris Birden added nine points and two rebounds, and RJ Livingston scored six points and dished out four assists.
Newman defeated Crescent City, 65-49, at Booker T. Washington-New Orleans.
4. Ponchatoula, 21-4 (previous rank: 12) - LHSAA Power Rating Division I non-select No. 4
The Green Wave beat Peabody Magnet, Slidell, Northshore and Mandeville. The 86-57 win over Peabody was at Booker T. Washington-New Orleans.
Allen Graves scored 31 points in the matchup of state powers and grabbed 16 rebounds, according to Ken Trahan of Crescent City Sports. Jeremiah Lewis added 20 points, and Taj Jackson had 19.
Ponchatoula is 4-0 in district and is coming off a 73-71 win at Slidell (20-8, 3-1). The Green Wave faces St. Paul's (19-8, 4-1) at home on Feb. 6.
5. Zachary, 19-4 (previous rank: 6) - LHSAA Power Rating Division I non-select No. 1
The Broncos followed a two-point loss at Madison Prep with wins over tough opponents Iowa and St. Thomas Aquinas. Guard Kheiri Haynes was named game MVP for his performance in the 64-58 win over Iowa. The game was played at Madison Prep's Charger Classic.
Haynes had an early 3-pointer from the top of the key to tie the score at 16-all vs. Iowa. Amir Chaney nailed a 3 to put the Broncos ahead, 24-23, in the second quarter. BeeJay Brooks and DeRayne Franklin (6-3, 215, Sr.) had steals that led to fast break points in the third quarter.
Zachary throttled St. Thomas Aquinas, 88-64, three days after the Falcons beat Liberty.
6. Wossman, 26-3 (previous rank: 7) - LHSAA Power Rating Division II non-select No. 1
The Wildcats defeated Union Parish, North Webster and Richwood and are 5-0 in District 1-3A with a rematch against city rival Carroll (20-7, 4-1) set for Feb. 9 at home. On Jan. 31, Wossman thumped Neville, 83-47, in a non-district, cross-city matchup.
Guard Krystian Lewis (6-2, Sr.) reported a scholarship offer from Baton Rouge Community College. Lewis had 25 points in the 61-45 win at local rival Richwood.
7. Lafayette, 19-2 (previous rank: 24) - LHSAA Power Rating Division I select No. 3
The Lions defeated New Iberia, Sam Houston and Sulphur to move to 4-0 in District 3-5A. The 35-34 win over New Iberia was played at Northside, which has served as a "home" venue for the Lions, along with the gyms at Comeaux and Acadiana High due to construction on the Lafayette High campus.
The Lions have been able to practice at an auxiliary gym on their campus, but have played all of their home games away from Congress St.
Kevon'te Landry, a 6-foot-4 junior guard and the football team's quarterback, scored in double digits vs. New Iberia as two defensive-minded squads collided. Point guard Romelo Joseph (6-2, 190), who is another two-sport star, and fellow starters Kobe Jones, Boston Sledge and Darrell Simmons are all seniors for coach Clifton Brown.
The Lions, who have held 17 opponents to 41-or-fewer points, host Southside (15-9, 2-0) on Feb. 6 and take on Lafayette Christian (20-3) on Feb. 17 in this season's second Cajundome Classic presented by Brad Boyd.
8. Liberty Magnet, 16-3 (previous rank: 2) - LHSAA Power Rating Division I select No. 2
The Patriots lost at St. Thomas Aquinas and at Isidore Newman. Howard Gaskins Jr. scored 16 points in the 55-53 loss to STA. Jaylen Peters added 10 points. Peters (6-6, 196, Sr.) also grabbed 10 rebounds with an assist, a steal and a block before fouling out. Malek Robinson totaled nine points, six rebounds, five steals and four assists.
Dedrick Welch scored a career-high 17 points with four rebounds in the 53-51 loss to Newman. Peters had 10 points with two rebounds and two steals. Chivas Lee added six points, four steals and three rebounds.
The Patriots and district rival Zachary have one thing that some other top programs such as New Iberia and Lafayette don't have - depth.
Liberty finishes out the season vs. defending Division I select state champion Catholic-Baton Rouge, Madison Prep, Woodlawn-Baton Rouge (16-12), Scotlandville and Zachary.
9. New Iberia, 21-4 (previous rank: 5) - LHSAA Power Rating Division I non-select No. 2
The Yellow Jackets bounced back from a one-point loss to Lafayette with wins over Barbe and Lafayette Christian.
6-foot-5 senior Xavier-New Orleans commit Wayne Randall-Bashay scored 14 points in the 49-35 win over Barbe. Junior guard/forward Otis Anderson added 12 points. Randall-Bashay grabbed eight rebounds with five assists, four steals and three blocks.
Anderson and senior forward Kentravion Smith combined to score 25 points in the loss to Lafayette. Anderson made 5-of-8 field goals and Smith made 5-of-7.
10. Iowa, 22-4 (previous rank: 9) - LHSAA Power Rating Division II non-select No. 2
The Yellow Jackets beat Westlake and South Beauregard and lost, 64-58, to Zachary at Madison Prep's Charger Classic.
The Yellow Jackets pounded Westlake, 72-39, to improve to 4-0 in District 3-3A. Desa'Monte Gradney scored 19 points, and Dashawn Ceaser added 13. Iowa has won four district games by an average margin of 39.5 points, according to Rodrick Anderson of The American Press. Makaylin Jackson came off the bench to hit two 3-pointers in the second quarter at Westlake.
11. Peabody Magnet, 21-4 (previous rank: 3) - LHSAA Power Rating Division II select No. 2
The Warhorses beat Grant Parish and Franklin Parish and lost to Ponchatoula. 6-foot-5 senior Justin Burns scored 25 points with 15 rebounds and five blocks in the 91-10 rout of Grant. Isaiah Jones scored 15 points, DeMichael Chew added 14, Zaydrien Sewell and Peter Lewis chipped in 13 points apiece, and Rashad Mitchell had 11.
Peabody has a district game scheduled at Neville on Feb. 2 and a non-district game at Wossman on Feb. 3 - back-to-back trips from Alexandria to Monroe.
12. George Washington Carver, 20-5 (previous rank: 17) - LHSAA Power Rating Division II select No. 4
The Rams defeated Alexandria, Booker T. Washington-New Orleans, Abramson and Frederick A. Douglass. 6-foot-10 junior Daijon Leatherman scored 17 points with 19 rebounds, three assists and a block in the 57-47 win over Alexandria at Madison Prep's Charger Classic.
13. Natchitoches Central, 21-4 (previous rank: 20) - LHSAA Power Rating Division I non-select No. 5
The Chiefs beat Haughton and Captain Shreve. Jaden Braden scored 12 points with two assists in the 54-51 win over Captain Shreve. Logan Smith had 12 points and five rebounds. Camryn Davis added 10 points with five rebounds and four steals. Jadell Demery had 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Chiefs are 7-2 in District 1-5A with losses at Captain Shreve and Southwood.
14. Scotlandville, 17-9 (previous rank: 19) - LHSAA Power Rating Division I select No. 11
The Hornets lost to Madison Prep and defeated Port Allen and Metairie Park Country Day. Junior point guard Jamal Drewery had 22 points, six assists, five rebounds and five steals in the 62-51 win over Port Allen.
Jakarin Whitfield had 11 points with five boards. LaMarkus Williams and Aaron Marshall each scored nine points. Williams (6-6, 230, Sr.) grabbed seven rebounds. Ja'Marriyon Brown added six points and six rebounds for the Hornets, who host Central-Baton Rouge on Feb. 2.
15. Central-Baton Rouge, 20-5 (previous rank: NR) - LHSAA Power Rating Division I non-select No. 6
The Wildcats have won 11 straight games, highlighted by a 64-52 win over Denham Springs on Jan. 26. Kedrick Franklin (6-5, 200, Jr.), Keithon Womack, Malachi James and Jace Conrad are among the top players on the roster. Womack had several steals in the win over Denham Springs.
Franklin was versatile, scoring from the perimeter and flushing a couple of dunks that thrilled the home crowd.
16. Captain Shreve, 21-5 (previous rank: 9) - LHSAA Power Rating Division I select No. 5
The Gators rebounded from narrow losses to Natchitoches Central and Airline to defeat Southwood, 51-31. E'Joshua McDonald had 14 points and two rebounds as Captain Shreve handed the Cowboys their first District 1-5A loss.
Marcus Lofton and Jyrin Sowell each scored 12 points. Sowell had four blocks, three rebounds and a steal. Lofton had five rebounds and a steal. Aaron Guinn had eight points, nine rebounds and three blocks.
Southwood began the game on an 11-0 run, according to Preston Edwards of Prep Hoops Louisiana.
17. Denham Springs, 25-3 (previous rank: 13) - LHSAA Power Rating Division I non-select No. 3
The Yellow Jackets lost to Central-Baton Rouge and defeated Helix Mentorship Academy (83-58) and Glen Oaks (59-41). No other details were available.
18. Jesuit, 22-3 (previous rank: 25) - LHSAA Power Rating Division I select No. 6
The Blue Jays defeated Brother Martin and Edna Karr despite playing without big man Ethan Lapeze (concussion). Jude Laforge scored 17 points with nine rebounds in the 48-40 home win over Brother Martin.
Gus Laibe had 10 points, six rebounds, three assists and two blocks, according to Ken Trahan of Crescent City Sports. Brewer Nitcher had seven points, eight rebounds, two blocks and two assists. Jesuit and Edna Karr are tied atop the Catholic League standings with 6-2 records.
19. Southwood, 19-7 (previous rank: 14) - LHSAA Power Rating Division I select No. 8
The Cowboys defeated Benton and Parkway and lost to Captain Shreve. Center Jeremiah Evans scored 27 points in the 56-43 win over Parkway. Southwood is in first place in District 1-5A with an 8-1 record.
20. Edna Karr, 18-9 (previous rank: 18) - LHSAA Power Rating Division I select No. 10
The Cougars lost to Jesuit, 45-42, and beat Holy Cross. Jyren Brooks had 14 points and 12 rebounds in the loss to Jesuit, according to Mike Strom of nola.com. Keith Jones added 13 points. Guard Tyrone Wilson missed the game while on a football recruiting visit to Grambling State.
21. Brusly, 21-1 (previous rank: 21) - LHSAA Power Rating Division II non-select No. 3
The Panthers beat Broadmoor, Belaire and Port Allen. Steven Wesley, Tyran Young, Cody Loupe, Micah Bryant and Edrick Sneal were heavy contributors in the 58-48 District 6-4A win over Broadmoor.
22. Vandebilt Catholic, 20-3 (previous rank: 22) - LHSAA Power Rating Division II select No. 3
The Terriers defeated M.L, King Charter and Lutcher. Vandebilt Catholic has a strong chance of finishing the regular season without another loss. Seven games remain with only one opponent - St. Martin's Episcopal (18-5) - that has a winning record. The Terriers trailed Lutcher by double digits early before rallying to win, 68-46. Landon Vicknair's 3-pointer ignited the rally.
23. Archbishop Shaw, 18-2 (previous rank: 23) - LHSAA Power Rating Division II select No. 6
The Eagles defeated Belle Chasse and Catholic-Baton Rouge. The 61-58 overtime win at Catholic-BR was sparked by freshman Allen Shaw's 19 points. Junior Kobe Butler led the way in the 61-51 win at Belle Chasse with 17 points. 6-foot-5 team captain Christian Creppel scored in double digits in both games.
24. Ruston, 13-8 (previous rank: 11) - LHSAA Power Rating Division I non-select No. 9
The Bearcats lost at Ouachita Parish, 62-60, ending a 10-game winning streak. As additional proof of District 2-5A's zaniness, Ouachita (14-15, 2-1) turned around and laid an egg at home vs. West Monroe (13-8, 2-1), losing by 25 points to the Rebels. Alexandria (16-8, 2-1) and Pineville (17-3, 1-2) are also 2-5A members.
Aidan Anding and Zhy'Avion Scott made early 3-pointers as Ruston defeated Parkview (Little Rock, Ark.), 63-43, in a game that isn't reflected in the power ratings (out of state opponent).
25 (tie). Pineville, 17-3 (previous rank: NR) - LHSAA Power Rating Division I select No. 4
The Rebels re-appear in the rankings following wins over Alexandria, Georgetown and St. Frederick. 6-foot-1 senior combo guard Evyn Goree is averaging 13.5 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals per game.
Goree had 20 points in the 83-58 win over St. Frederick. Javonte Thomas had 21 points. Thomas (6-6, Sr.) had a double-double in the win over Alexandria, and Kylan Edwards scored 18 points with five rebounds and five steals.
25 (tie). Calvary Baptist, 17-6 (previous rank: 25) - LHSAA Power Rating Division III select No. 5
The Cavaliers lost to Madison Prep and defeated Green Oaks and North Caddo. Calvary Baptist is a frontrunner to reach the state championship game in its division and is loaded for years to come with a roster that includes standouts in all four classifications.
Point guard Rondae Hill was named game MVP following the loss to Madison Prep at the Charger Classic. Freshman Tyrone Jamison scored 11 points with five rebounds and three assists in the 40-point blowout of North Caddo.
NEXT DOZEN
Northwest, St. Mary's, St. Augustine, Dunham, St. Thomas Aquinas, Negreet, Zwolle, Catholic-New Iberia, Brother Martin, Buckeye, French Settlement, L.B. Landry
BEWARE OF NORTHSIDE
The Vikings have a 13-13 record and are No. 15 in the Division II select power ratings, but they're a more dangerous opponent than those numbers might reflect. Coach Jason Herbstler always compiles a strenuous schedule, which makes the Vikings' record deceptive.
Northside recently knocked off district rivals David Thibodaux and Teurlings Catholic, winning by scores of 58-46 and 72-51. The Vikings lost by single digits to St. Thomas More, Lafayette, Southside, Zachary and Scotlandville.
In last year's playoffs, the No. 13 Vikings beat No. 20 Booker T. Washington-Shreveport and lost by seven points at No. 4 Vandebilt Catholic in the second round.
UNDER CONSIDERATION
Slidell, Catholic-Baton Rouge, Alexandria, Lafayette Christian, Anacoco, Crescent City, J.S. Clark, Carroll, Lakeview, Rayville, Ringgold, Franklin, Doyline, St Paul's, University Lab, Episcopal, Archbishop Hannan, Doyline, Evangel Christian, McKinley, Bossier, Southern Lab, Episcopal School of Acadiana, Avoyelles Public Charter, St. Michael, Lake Charles College Prep, David Thibodaux, Southside, St. Amant, Hahnville, Airline, Lacassine
Photo of Isidore Newman's Chris Cenac from On3.com
-- Mike Coppage | @SBLiveLA
