JOURNAL SPORTS
“Who are the best players you’ve ever seen?”
That’s the core of this week’s Shreveport-Bossier Journal Coaches Roundtable.
And next week’s, too. We got plenty of fascinating replies from local head coaches, so this topic will continue next Thursday.
The question asked coaches to cite the best high school players they’ve seen, who are not on their current team. The question goes back to their playing days, if they want, although most replies have cited those they game-planned against or coached.
AUSTIN BROWN, Northwood: “Marjayvious Moss (a 2024 Falcons’ senior). I coached him and his understanding of the game was second to none. From a freshman corner who knew run fits based on defensive line stunts to five interceptions as a junior. He was more impressive up top than he was as a four-star athlete below the neck.
“Blake Shapen, Evangel QB: his senior year he threw three straight perfect TD’s with defensive backs draped on the receivers. Our DB’s came off the field looking for answers to improve and I had nothing for them, besides he’s a college QB and you are a future welder, etc.
“I remember in the two-minute drill he scrambled, juked a player of ours, looked back at the game clock behind him and stepped out of bounds before it went to halftime, setting up a field goal. His composure and mind in that moment, I’ve never coached against before or since.”
JUSTIN SCOGIN, Airline: “Cecil Collins (who went on to be a sensational running back, albeit briefly, at LSU, and with the Miami Dolphins) comes to mind at Leesville back in the mid-90s. He was unbelievable. Just dominated. Nobody slowed him down.”
MATTHEW SEWELL, Haughton: “Obviously Dak Prescott (QB, Haughton). We won the last 18 regular season games we played with him and won four playoff games. Then he took Mississippi State to No. 1 in the country, and won the Rookie of the Year for the Cowboys to start his long NFL career.
“CJ McWilliams (Athlete, Haughton): CJ was so good the Shreveport Times created a new position on the All-City Team (Athlete of the Year) which he won twice. He’s in the top five in all of our major receiving stats at the school and he also started seven games for us at quarterback.
“Isaiah Buggs (DL, Ruston) is most dominant defensive player I’ve seen in high school. He played at Alabama and in the NFL for the Steelers and Lions.
“Devin White (RB/LB North Webster): Watched him in the quarterfinals one night account for 487 yards against Patterson. North Webster was down 23 in the fourth quarter and won. He also played every play on defense.
“Rontavious Richmond (RB/WR Parkway): I coached him when I was the offensive coordinator at Parkway. We finished third in the district and he won District MVP. He carried us to the quarterfinals. Rontavious had the only season in LHSAA history that I can find of 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving in the same year.
“Brandon Harris (QB, Parkway): As unstoppable of a high school quarterback that I can ever remember. Brandon carried Parkway to the ‘Dome and won four road playoff games to get there.
“Richard Carthon (QB, Byrd): Quarterbacked the best 1-5A team I’ve seen since I started playing and coaching. Hands down the best high school option QB I’ve seen. He also played baseball at Tulane.
“I’m a big believer that 5A football is different but that Devin White night in the playoffs against Patterson is the most incredible individual performance I’ve ever seen.”
JOHN SELLA, Loyola: “Some of the best I’ve seen I’ve had to coach against, unfortunately. Tre‘Davious White, Terrace Marshall and Ar’Darius Washington are probably the ones that stick out the most to me.
“White was playing QB for Green Oaks and couldn’t be stopped. He could do everything and was super competitive. I was not shocked at all when he was an All-Pro in the NFL.
“I remember Marshall being real tall and skinny at Parkway. They would throw him a go ball on first, second and third down and he was going to catch at least one of them. You weren’t going to stop him on all three.
“Washington was playing free safety at Evangel. I remember him breaking up a pass on the sideline and he came from the opposite hash while the ball was in the air. I was like, ‘wow, how did he get there?’
“All three were pretty special, but not fun to go up against.”