JOURNAL SPORTS
As the Louisiana Sports Writers Association wrapped up its 2023 basketball All-State team announcements over the weekend with Classes 4A and 5A, there was plenty of good news for local fans.
Big honors come to champions, so it wasn’t surprising to see two local stars named “Outstanding Player” in their classifications after leading their teams to state titles. It also figured that a state champion coach would be honored, and she was.
Parkway’s girls swept the Class 5A top awards as Gloria Williams was selected the state 5A “Coach of the Year” and senior guard Mikaylah Williams was a repeat choice as “Outstanding Player” in voting by a statewide panel of high school writers.
Bossier senior guard Tahj Roots was the anchor for the Bearkats’ state title team and earned Class 4A “Outstanding Player” honors.
Roots and Williams were also first-team All-State picks in their classifications. Both were earlier named as the Shreveport-Bossier Journal’s All-Metro 2022-23 Player of the Year winners.
Roots shared the Journal award with Jeremiah Evans, the 6-foot-10 junior from Southwood who averaged 24.0 points and 12.9 rebounds for the Cowboys. Evans was a second-team 5A All-State selection.
Another Lady Panther, 5-foot-9 junior guard Chloe Larry, was a second-team 5A All-State pick with a 15.0 scoring average.
On the boys’ 4A All-State team, Huntington’s 6-foot-6 senior DeCedric Webb was a second-teamer after his 17-point scoring average led the Raiders back to the state semifinals.
The girls’ 4A All-State second-team included two local standouts, Huntington freshman Kyndal Graham, who averaged 21.5 points per game, and Northwood senior Carlisa Mitchell, who produced a 17.1 scoring average.
Mikaylah Williams (6-1) averaged 19 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game while teaming with Larry to stand out on the way to a Division I Non-Select title. In the championship rout of Pontchatoula, the LSU signee scored 34 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. Parkway finished with a 30-5 record for Gloria Williams, 30-1 against in-state opposition.
En route to capturing a Non-Select Division II title, Roots averaged 19.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game for the Bearkats. He helped Bossier (24-11) make a surge in the second half of the season, closing with victories over No. 1 Wossman and No. 3 Carroll at the LHSAA Marsh Madness tournament in Lake Charles.
On the girls’ 5A honorable mention list, four local standouts were included: Marissa Schoth, Benton; Sara White, Haughton; Paige Marshall, Airline; and Morgan Young of Byrd.
Three local boys earned honorable mention All-State honors in 5A: Jyrin Sowell of Captain Shreve and the Airline duo of Colby O’glee and Trevon Jackson.
In 4A, the boys’ honorable mention All-State list included Javon Johnson of Bossier; CJ Shiflett, Evangel; Chris Carpenter, Huntington; and the Booker T. Washington combo of CJ Mason-Jones and Jay Easter.
Asia Foster of BTW was the only local girl on the 4A honorable mention All-State list.
LSWA CLASS 5A ALL-STATE CHARTS
BOYS
First Team
Player School Ht. Cl. Avg.
Braylan McNeal Ruston 6-5 Sr. 15.2
Dorian Booker Scotlandville 6-11 Sr. 22.1
Brandon Hardy Zachary 6-3 Sr. 21.9
Allen Graves Ponchatoula 6-9 Jr. 19.0
Kohen Rowbatham Northshore 6-1 Jr. 24.0
Second Team
Player School Ht. Cl. Avg.
Jonathan Bradshaw Ouachita 6-3 Sr. 15.0
Christian Walker New Iberia 6-0 Sr. 14.6
Warren Young Jr. Walker 6-2 Sr. 17.7
Dennis Hebert Catholic 6-2 Sr. 14.0
Jeremiah Evans Southwood 6-10 Jr. 24.0
OUTSTANDING PLAYER: DORIAN BOOKER, SCOTLANDVILLE
COACH OF THE YEAR: DERRICK JONES, CATHOLIC
HONORABLE MENTION: Jabbari Barry, Barbe; John Kelly, John Ehret; Turner Duncan, St. Augustine; Jyrin Sowell, Captain Shreve; Colby O’glee, Airline; Trevon Jackson, Airline; Cam Lumar, Hahnville; Jordan Davis, Ouachita; Evyn Goree, Pineville; Ja’quise Richmond, Barbe; Chris Coleman, H.L. Bourgeois; Kylan Billiot, Terrebonne; Evan Griffin, Central Lafourche; Aidan Anding, Ruston; Reese Seichshnaydre, St. Paul’s; Letavian Crockett, St. Amant; C’Zavian Teasett, Scotlandville; Howard Gaskins, Liberty.
GIRLS
First Team
Player School Ht. Cl. Avg.
Mikaylah Manley Barbe 5-8 Sr. 19.1
Mikaylah Williams Parkway 6-1 Sr. 19.0
Taylor Jackson Ponchatoula 5-9 Sr. 19.3
Chrysta Narcisse Lafayette 5-9 Sr. 22.5
Caitlin Travis Walker 5-7 Sr. 16.8
Second Team
Player School Ht. Cl. Avg.
Jasmine Matthews East St. John 5-11 Sr. 25.0
Chloe Larry Parkway 5-9 Jr. 15.0
Jaliyah McWain Ruston 5-5 Jr. 20.0
Imani Daniel John Curtis 5-8 So. 15.9
Whitney Hart Liberty 6-3 Jr. 18.2
OUTSTANDING PLAYER: MIKAYLAH WILLIAMS, PARKWAY
COACH OF THE YEAR: GLORIA WILLIAMS, PARKWAY
HONORABLE MENTION: Marissa Schoth, Benton; Makayla Gallien, Natchitoches Central; Kaysha Hurd, Alexandria; Heaven Jordan, John Curtis; Elizabeth Thompson, Ponchatoula; Chikae Desdunes, John Curtis; Kameira McDonald, Scotlandville; Jade Spikes, Ouachita; Areil Williams, Barbe; Aryana Peak, Thibodaux; Caroline Loupe, Central Lafourche; Alissa O’Dell, Zachary; Thamerin Balthazar, Alexandria; Morgan Elie, Pineville; Deniya Thornton, St. Amant; Alissa O’Dell, Zachary; Kira Johnson, Lafayette High; Sara White, Haughton; Paige Marshall, Airline; Morgan Young, Byrd; Jania Holmes, John Curtis; Baylie Carroll, Chapelle; Nya Miller, Dutchtown; Ja’Miya Vann, Walker.
LSWA CLASS 4A ALL-STATE BASKETBALL CHARTS
BOYS
First Team
Player School Ht. Cl. Avg.
Kialen Phillips Breaux Bridge 6-4 Sr. 23.0
Kameron Johnson Shaw 5-9 Sr. 23.2
Jaylon Hicks Carver 6-5 Sr. 16.0
Drew Timmons Hannan 6-5 So. 20.1
Tahj Roots Bossier 5-10 Sr. 19.7
Second team
Player School Ht. Cl. Avg.
Jordan Matthews Peabody 6-5 Jr. 15.2
Michael Mouton St. Thomas More 6-3 Jr. 15.7
Kameron Johnson Lafayette Christian 6-7 Jr. 20.0
Daijon Leatherman Carver 6-9 So. 10.0
DeCedric Webb Huntington 6-6 Sr. 17.0
OUTSTANDING PLAYER: TAHJ ROOTS, BOSSIER
COACH OF THE YEAR: NATHANIEL ROCHE, CARVER
HONORABLE MENTION: Omarion Randolph, LaGrange; Kevin Jones, Peabody; Drew Cooper, Franklin Parish; Jordan Matthews, Vandebilt Catholic; Jaden Carter, Ellender; Zion McCoy, Northside; Shea Plowden, David Thibodaux; Derrick Morris, St. Michael; Javon Johnson, Bossier; CJ Shiflett, Evangel; Chris Carpenter, Huntington; CJ Mason-Jones, B.T Washington-Shreveport; Jay Easter, Booker T. Washington-Shreveport; Daylan Robinson, Neville; Javion White, Franklin Parish; Semont Fairley, DeRidder; Marcus Mollere, Assumption; Richard Hampton, Ellender; Josiah Johnson, Vandebilt Catholic; Jamarian Johnnie, Northside; Noah Jones, Broadmoor; Kameron Ranel, Plaquemine; Vo Nicholas, L.B. Landry; Anthony Johnson, L.B. Landry; Donte Briggs, McMain; Rob Johns, Salmen; Laurence Nathan, Carver.
GIRLS
First Team
Player School Ht. Cl. Avg.
Makayla Charles Vandebilt Catholic 5-9 So. 23.0
Jamia Singleton Ellender 5-4 Sr. 14.0
Jada Richard Lafayette Christian 5-8 Jr. 28.2
AC Froehlich St. Thomas More 6-1 Sr. 18.0
Tia Anderson Brusly 5-9 Sr. 20.0
Second team
Player School Ht. Cl. Avg.
Kylei Leblanc LaGrange 6-0 Jr. 21.0
Katreal Earthly Peabody 5-9 Sr. 13.0
Kyndal Graham Huntington 5-4 Fr. 21.5
Carlisa Mitchell Northwood 5-5 Sr. 17.1
Danai Lewis De La Salle 6-1 Jr. 23.4
OUTSTANDING PLAYER: JADA RICHARD, LAFAYETTE CHRISTIAN
COACH OF THE YEAR: ERROL ROGERS, LAFAYETTE CHRISTIAN
HONORABLE MENTION: Latraneice “Moonie” McNeill, Peabody; Jade LeDay, Leesville; Petra Trumbach, Ben Franklin; Kameryn Washington, Warren Easton; Eve Alexander, Lafayette Christian; Zarriah Goldman, Franklin Parish; Joy Fisher, Neville; Abbi Troquille, Tioga; Shyann McCummings, Leesville; K’Mayia Taylor, Assumption; Ellie Lorraine, South Lafourche; Laijah Rockward, Ellender; Makensie Charles, Vandebilt Catholic; Asia Foster, B.T. Washington-Shreveport; Laila Clark, Brusly.
