JOURNAL STAFF

Parkway’s Mikaylah Williams has been named the Most Outstanding Player on the Class 5A Girls Basketball All-State team selected by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.

Williams, a 6-foot-1 junior guard, was the floor leader for a Parkway squad that finished 33-3 and state runners-up in the Class 5A tournament. She helped lead the team to the school’s first state basketball championship game by averaging 22.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3. assists and 2.2 steals.

This award comes on the heels of already being named this year’s Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year.

She is ranked as the No. 1 prospect of the 2023 recruiting class by HoopGurlz and ProspectsNation.com and is a finalist of the Naismith Award as the nation’s top high school player.

Named to the second team from Shreveport-Bossier was Southwood’s Jermesha Frierson. The 5-foot-6 junior averaged 22.0 points, 5.0 assists and 5.0 rebounds in helping the Lady Cowboys to a 24-11 record and the 5A state quarterfinals.

Parkway’s Chloe Larry was an honorable mention selection.

Krystal Flowers of McKinley was named the Girls’ Coach of the Year.

Zachary’s Jalen Bolden was named the Boys’ Most Outstanding Player. Josh Carlin of Northshore was selected the Boys’ Coach of the Year.

No local players made the 10-member 5A boys All-State list, but Kyron Reed of Captain Shreve, Mar’Quarius Johnson of Southwood, Greg Manning from Benton, and two Haughton standouts – KJ Allen and Laythan Delaney, did receive honorable mention recognition.

Photo by JOHN PENROD