Overcoming All Odds

Joseph Charles is a heck of a basketball player, but as good a player as he is, he is an even stronger person. After overcoming a lot of odds by making it out of Sunset, LA to play college basketball Dodge City Communuty College in Dodge City, KS, but Joe has overcome a near death experience as well in tragic accident back on October 24th of 2008. Below is a story done by Travis Webb of KATC 3 in Lafayette on the miraculous comeback of Joe. Joseph Charles is one of the hardest working players we have ever seen and came across. He has overcame so much and he will be a great asset to coach Brady Trenkle and the Dodge City Community College basketball team. After a two year stint at Dodge, expect Joe to have accomplished some great things at DCC as well as making his dream come true of being a Division 1 basketball player. The Louisiana Basketball Report wants to thank everybody who has helped Joe along his way whether it be the coaches at Carencro, Coach Steve Rachal from Acadiana Prep and Isaac Fontenot-Amedee who visited  Joe when he was in the hospital, to the Louisiana D-1 Ambassadors organization and Coach Max Ivany of the Texas D1 Ambassadors as well for helping Joe get back to an elite player or to his high school coach Roy Young at Beau Chene. Everybody was instrumental in Joe's success. Good luck at Dodge City Joe, they are getting a great kid.

Please Play the video Below to See his Story by Travis Webb KATC 3 in Lafayette, LA

Overcoming the Odds Story

Interview with Oklahoma State Signee Markel Brown

Class 4A Playoff Preview and Predictions

Trevante Drye(left) and BrianWilliams(center) of Glen Oaks and Ronald McGhee of Istrouma(right)

Markel Brown(left) of Peabody and Jalan West(right) of Bossier will lead their teams tonight

Nick Syrie of Northside will lead his team tonight against Benton

When you mention the best teams in Louisiana traditionally you seem to think about Peabody, Glen Oaks, Washington Marion all have been top teams in Louisiana in the past decade. Throw in another team in Bossier and you have the top 4 seeds in the 4A playoffs. Peabody is 1, Bossier is 2, Washington Marion is 3 and Glen Oaks is 4. Well if you think the top teams in 4A stops there, guess again. There is also Wossman at 5, Northside at 6, Ellender at 7, Istrouma at 8, Salmen at 9 and Cecilia at ten. To the casual fan some may think that Peabody and Glen Oaks are the favorites, they may very well be, but I see two other teams to seriously watch out for. How about 2 seed Bossier as the 4A state champ against last years 4A state champ Salmen with an entirely new starting line-up. That very well could be the title game. Bossier, 34-1 is on a 32 game win streak. Their lone loss, to 1A Christian Life in the opening weekend of the year which is not a bad loss at all. Salmen comes in at 28-6 and has already easily beaten Glen Oaks by 16. You might wonder how is Salmen going to get there as a 9 seed? Well the past 2 years they have won a state title and was a semi-finalist all as a 9 seed and all while Peabody was a 1 seed. The only difference, a 2nd round game with Istrouma looms in the balance at Istrouma which is a hard place to win at. Istrouma has lost the last 2 years to Top 28 participant in each of them years OP Walker by 2 and by 3 at OP Walker so don't think for one second that Istrouma would not love to return the favor of a second round road loss to the defending champ. Now let's look at some of the top players. Markel Brown from Peabody(Oklahoma State), Brian Williams(Oklahoma State) and junior Trevante Drye from Glen Oaks, Jalan West, Devonte Francis from Bossier. Keaven Fontenot from washington-Marion, Nick Syrie(junior) and Tony Montgomery from Northside, Trevon Lewis from Ellender, Jarvis Ray and Jamal Silas of OP Walker, Ronald McGhee and Darius Johnson from Istrouma, Donovan Williams of Cecilia and TJ Price of Salmen. This years talent in 4A is seriously loaded. So, let's sit back and enjoy the ride in 4A, it will be a great on once again.

First Round Playoff Predictions

Top Bracket


1. Peabody over 32. Woodlawn-SH
16. McDonogh #35 over 17. Franklin
9. Salmen over 24. Morgan City
8. Istrouma over 25. St. Louis
5. Wossman over 28. Belle Chasse
12. DeRidder over 21. Tioga
13. Minden over 20. Huntington
4. Glen Oaks over 29. Haughton

Bottom Bracket

3. Washington Marion over 30. Woodlawn-BR
14. Edna Karr over 19. Vandebilt Catholic
11. East Jefferson over 22. St. Martinville
6. Northside over 27. Benton
26. O.P. Walker over 7. Ellender
23. Helen Cox over Cecilia
15. Neville over 18. Alexandria
2. Bossier over 31. Franklinton

Class 3A Playoff Preview and Predictions

Sophomores Cleveland Thomas(left) of Northwest and Gervaughn McGhee of Redemptorist will lead their teams in the Bi-District rounds tonight

LeDon Carter(left) Richwood doing what he does  & Gary Stewart of Vidalia will lead their teams tonight

Richwood, Plaquemine, E.D. White, Vidalia, Carroll, Rayville, Abbeville. When talking about the 3A playoffs these are the teams that most would consider as the favorites, I think I would have to agree with them. Although, Richwood, the defending champion is a 7 seed, do not count out this team. A brutal schedule, the football team doing well in the playoffs and replacing a couple starters got this team to a rough start, but in traditional fashion the Rams have come alive once again in late February. Even taking second in district to 3 seed Carroll, the Rams are still my favorite to win the title. Led by 6'6" LeDon Carter, 6'5" LaDarrian Williams(Alabama State commit), junior D'Andre Martin and shooter Marceis Davis the Rams will get a shot early on to prove their worth in the playoffs. A possible quarterfinal trip to 2 seed Plaquemine lies ahead if both can get to that round. These two teams are definitely two of the better 3A teams. My other two favorites are top seeded Vidalia, 2009's runner-up who are led by as good a trio of players as there is in Louisiana with Gary Stewart, Quartrell Thomas and Torrey Dixon will have whoever travels to Vidalia very nervous to play in front of that ruthless crowd and student section known as "Sanders' Soldiers"(named after Coach Sanders, the Vidalia Head Coach.) The other team to seriously watch is Abbeville led by 6'7" Keelon Lee. Looking for sleeper picks well I got them too. Watchout for 19 seed Northwest led by sophomore standout Cleveland "Pancake" Thomas and junior Derrell Joubert a sharpshooting point guard. Another team to watch is 13 seed Redemptorist led by another sophomore standout in 6'4" Gervaughn "Gee" McGhee and 6'2" senior Deuce Coon also a football standout. If they can get past a potential 2nd round match with ED White, a top 28 appearance is very likely.

First Round Playoff Predictions

Top Bracket


1. Vidalia over 32. G.W. Carver
16. Bogalusa over 17. Avoyelles
9. Crowley over 24. Baker
8. Rayville over 25. Northeast
5. Abbeville over 28. Patterson
21. Madison over 12 Caldwell
13. Redemptorist over 20. Marksville
4. E.D. White over 29. Kaplan

Bottom Bracket

3. Carroll over 30. W.L. Cohen
19. Northwest over 14. Port Allen

11. Holy Cross over 22. Franklin
6. Green Oaks  over 27. Booker T. Washington
7. Richwood over 26. Loyola Prep
10. Amite over 23. North DeSoto
15. Iowa over 18. Rayne
2. Plaquemine over 31. John McDonogh

Class 2A Playoff Preview and Predictions

Brian Bridgewater of Episcopal(left) and Dantrell Thomas of Many(right) will look to start the playoffs with a win tonight in the Bidistrict Round

Just like Class C, 2A will have a new champion in 2010 with the 2009 champion Springhill not qualifying this year. There could possibly be a few players and a coach that could win their 6th straight title with the Reserve Christian kids and longtime coach Timmy Byrd now at Riverside Academy. Riverside, led by the nation's #9 ranked sophomore Ricardo Gathers and senior standout Cedric Jenkins, Riverside goes from a not so good team to a powerhouse in less than a year. With Riverside taking the 1 seed, last years state runner-up Many is the 4 seed and 2007 and 2008 champion St. Thomas Aquinas has the 2 seed while Many's district rival Red River is the 3 seed. STA has already beaten Riverside once this year.  With Riverside and STA the favorites, Many, Mamou, Red River, Episcopal, Dunham, Donaldsonville, Pointe Coupee Central and Evangel may all have a say in the race to the Top 28 as well. In what was clearly the toughest district in 2A, the district 9 teams of Episcopal who is led by the nations #1 ranked freshman by HoopScoop.com Brian Bridgewater, Dunham led by senior trio of Dantrail Butler, Jasper Caine and Kyle Planchard, Pointe Coupee Central with DJ Cobb and Idrakery Lewis and Donaldsonville is another team to look at from district 9. Mamou is also a team to watch with 5'8 senior Zach Baty leading his team with a almost 30 ppg average. With these teams as possible sleepers, you also need to look at the front runners. Many will be lead by seniors Dantrell Thomas, Nic Jacobs(LSU football), DJ Palmer and junior Rod Davis. Red River will look to the Cordarius' Johnson and Smith while STA will look at a some younger kids in junior Zay Jackson and sophomore Stephen Wronkowski. 

Cedric Jenkins of Riverside(left) and Cordarius Smith(right) of Red River will lead their teams tonight

First Round Predictions

1. Riverside over 32. Sterlington

17. Ville Platte over 16. Port Barre
9. Anacoco over 24. Lakeview
8. Springfield over 25. South Beauregard
5. Evangel over 28. North Caddo
12. Dunham over 21. Lakeside
20. Welsh over 13. F.A. Douglass
4. Many over 29. Pickering

Bottom Bracket

3. Red River over 30. Calvary Baptist
19. Farmerville over 14. Newman

11. Episcopal-BR over 22. St. Helena Central
6. Mamou over 27. Lusher Charter
7. Donaldsonville over 26. Pope John Paul II
10. Pointe Coupee Central over 23. Rosepine
18. Capitol over 15. Jonesboro-Hodge
2. St. Thomas Aquinas over 31. John Curtis

Class B Playoff Preview and Predictions

C.J Johnson(left) of Rapides and Marvin Frazier(right) of Zwolle will look to make another deep run

As the 2010 Class B playoffs begin, familiar Top 28 teams locked up the top 3 seeds again. Coming in as the #1 seed is Rapides High School(39-5) followed by Midland(30-3) at 2 and defending state champion Zwolle(33-9) at 3. The 4th seed Fairview(28-7) led by scoring machine guard Cody Neal. With no clear cut favorite to win the title, I personally believe that the top 4 seeds could very well be the final 4 teams standing. Rapides is led by CJ Johnson who was one of the top players for the Mustangs last year, Fairview has Neal, Zwolle has 6'7" F Marvin Frazier and Midland has Miles Prejean. As good as the top 4 teams are there are others like Centerville with TJ Kemp and Jovan Sanders that can also make a lot of noise as the 5 seed. There are also a handful of other teams outside the top 10 that need be taken seriously one of which includes the 12 seed in Houma Christian coming in at 18-4 and led by freshman Nate Frye but they will have a tough game with 21 seed Maurepas led by possible All-State player Demitri Gill who has averaged over 32 a game in district. So, this years Class B playoffs will be very interesting once again.

Predictions for the Bi-District Round

Top Bracket

1. Rapides over 32. Episcopal of Acadiana
16. Florien  over 17. Bell City
9. Castor over 24. Negreet
8. Gibsland Coleman over 25. Hathaway
5. Centerville over 28. Forest
21. Maurepas over 12 Houma Christian
13. Holden  over 20. Quitman
4. Fairview over 29. Weston

Bottom Bracket

3. Zwolle over 30. Mt. Hermon
19. Summerfield over 14 Pitkin
11. Shongaloo over 22. Monterey
6. Simsboro over 27. Grand Lake
7. Hornbeck over 26. Singer
10. Lacassine over 23. Doyline
18. Hosanna Christian over 15. Glenmora
2. Midland over 31. Simpson

Class C Playoff Preview and Predictions

Well it is that time of the year, time for the 2010 version of the LHSAA boy's basketball playoffs. One thing is for sure in the Class Playoffs and that is that there will be a new champion crowned. With Class C powerhouse Reserve Christian closing down it's high school and the players and coaches going to nearby Riverside Academy, a new champ will be crowned. You may be thinking "that is great news" but not so fast. This year's top seeded Pleasant Hill Eagles come in with a 28-6 record and the entire team back from last year's state semifinalist squad. Last year's state runner-up Athens, well they are 34-4 and the #2 seed. If those teams aren't enough to make you scratch your head, then look at the rest of the top 10 that all have single digit total losses and 20+ win seasons except 6 seed Atlanta who was a semi-finalist in 2009 as well. This year's class C playoffs will be fun to watch. So, with that said let's take look at the Louisiana Basketball Report's Class C Predictions.

Top Bracket
1. Pleasant Hill over 32. Bishop McManus
16. Calvin over 17. Starks
9. Grand Isle over 24. First Baptist
8. Dubach over 25. Cotton Valley
5. Kilbourne over 28. St. Joseph's-Plaucheville
12. Saline over 11. Elizabeth
13. Pelican over 20. Northside Christian
4. Jehovah-Jireh over 29. Phoenix

Bottom Bracket

3. Plainview over 30. Ebarb
14. Reeves over 19. Claiborne Christian
11. Spearsville over 22. Assembly Christian
6. Atlanta over 27. Johnson Bayou
7.Grace Christian over 26. Family Christian
10. Sicily Island over 23. Hicks
18. Epps over 15. Marion
2. Athens over 31. Holy Rosary

Official Class 5A Playoff Brackets

pictures courtesy of LHSAA.org

Class 5A Final and Official Playoff Brackets From The LHSAA Website

Higher Seed is Home for first round


Top Bracket

1. St. Augustine
32. Acadiana

16. Slidell
17. Thibodaux

9. Brother Martin
24. Lafayette

8. West Monroe
25. Ponchatoula

5. Hammond
28. West Jefferson

12. Central-BR
21. Southwood

13. LaGrange
20. Pineville

4. Sulphur
29. South Lafourche

Bottom Bracket

3. Ouachita
30. C.E. Byrd

14. St. Thomas More
19. Destrehan

11. Hahnville
22. Catholic-BR

6. Jesuit
27. East St. John

7. Westgate
26. Central Lafourche

10. John Ehret
23. Covington

15. Airline
18. Natchitoches Central

2. Scotlandville
31. Denham Springs

Official *Class 4A Playoff Brackets

pictures courtesy of LHSAA.org

Class 4A Official Playoff Brackets from the LHSAA

Higher Seed is Home for first round


Top Bracket

1. Peabody
32. Woodlawn-SH

16. McDonogh #35
17. Franklin

9. Salmen
24. Morgan City

8. Istrouma
25. St. Louis

5. Wossman
28. Belle Chasse

12. DeRidder
21. Tioga

13. Minden
20. Huntington

4. Glen Oaks
29. Haughton

Bottom Bracket

3. Washington Marion
30. Woodlawn-BR

14. Edna Karr
19. Vandebilt Catholic

11. East Jefferson
22. St. Martinville

6. Northside
27. Benton

7. Ellender
26. O.P. Walker

10. Cecilia
23. Helen Cox

15. Neville
18. Alexandria

2. Bossier
31. Franklinton

Great Video Feature from TheScoutVision.com featuring Christian Life Academy

Langston Galloway(left) Patrick Robinson (right) and Head Coach Carlo Maggio (below)

This is a great video feature from The Scout Vision featuring Christian Life Academy and their coach Carlo Maggio and two of their senior leaders in St. Joe's signee Langston Galloway and Northwestern State(La.) signee Patrick Robinson. This feature includes three interviews of the previous mentioned people along with some clips of shoot-around, the cheerleaders, pre-game warm-ups and highlights of Monday night's game featuring 1A Christian Life Academy vs. 2A The Dunham School.

Louisiana Basketball Report Gets love

The Cornell Basketball Blog has recently mentioned our site for giving Dominick Scelfo a little publicity for committing to the Big Red. The blog goes on to talk about Scelfo's game and describe him as this:

"Scelfo is a point guard in the Steve Nash mold. Although not the best athlete on the floor when facing other college prospects, his motor is always running, he makes his teammates around him better, but is also able to find his own shots by either penetrating into the lane or getting a shot off from the outside."- Cornell Basketball Blog

I couldn't agree more. Scelfo is very talented guard that can really run a team and make others better. He proved his value this summer teaming with LSU signee Matt Derenbecker of Coutry Day, Langston Galloway, a St. Joseph's signee and Patrick Robinson a Northwestern State signee both of whom attend Christian Life. This talent quartet along with East Ascension's Keith Flemin and Brady Hadden of Jesuit led their Mid-City Cyclones team to a 7th place finish at the AAU 17-under nationals. The first time I saw Scelfo was when he was 15 in 2007. He was a small white kid, floppy hair and a tight reversible jersey that looked as if it needed grease to take it off. I remember saying to myself that he can't possibly be any good like people are saying he is, can he? Well it turned out that within 5 minutes of watching I knew he was special. Two years later I watched him, Galloway and Robinson dominate a tournament held in Baton Rouge that included the likes of LaQuinton Ross, Andre Stringer, Jalen Courtney, Deville Smith, Demarco Cox, Johnny O'Bryan, Rashad Perkins, Cedric McAfee, Jarnell Stokes, Nate Rucker and many others. In the group mentinoned there are 3 kids signed with SEC schools, 2 players that are top 10 nationally and 2 more that are top 50 nationally. The last name, Rucker is signed to N. Illinois, and he is a stud too. Just last weekend in a exhibition game at a local middle school in Memphis, Rucker broke the backboard on a dunk(pic below of backboard). With all that said, I definitely think Cornell is getting a steal. For Scelfo to play at a high level against these guys, I see nothing but great things ahead of this young man from Jesuit HS in New Orleans. Dominick is a blue-collar type player that any coach would love to have, he is a great kid that is humble, works hard and is a winner. Congratulations Dominick on your committment to the Big Red of Cornell.

Christian Life, Riverside Ranked in Pre-Season Rivals 100 Rankings

Rivals 100 Complete Rankings
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With 3 Division 1 signees led by Langston Galloway(St. Joseph's) (pictured right) Patrick Robinson(Northwestern State) and Kaleb Knight(Grambling State) the Crusaders of coach Carlo Maggio enter the 2009-10 season the highest rated team in Louisiana for 2009 at 77. Last season Christian Life under former coach Todd Foster, now the Baton Rouge Community College coach, lost in the state semi-finals to LSU-signee Matt Derenbecker and current LSU player Eddie Ludwig which ended a string of 3 straight 1A titles for the 'Saders.  CLA has also revamped the roster with the addition of former University High star McCall Tomeny and former McKinley High starter Marlon Bell. They also return point guard Corey Self and 3-year starter Avery Prince. To start the season CLA will get heavily tested as they will be in a tournament in Shreveport on November 18th that features teams such as Riverside Academy, Richwood(last season's 3A State Champ) and Loyola,  a top team in 4A the Bossier Bearkats. Those are just 5 of the 8 teams.

With that said let's move on Riverside Academy and Coach Timmy Byrd who have also been recognized as a nationally ranked team coming in at 96. The Rebels have truly came into their own. Last year, a team that didn't even make the 2A playoffs got really good, really fast. Reserve Christian, the tiny Class C school that has been a powerhouse in Louisiana since 1999 closed down. This move landed Coach Byrd and his Class C state champions at Riverside. With this move almost all of the players followed Byrd to Riverside to make the Rebels a highly unknown team to a nationally ranked squad with load of talent. That talent is lead by senior's Cedric Jenkins (pictured above), Kyle McClue, and Ed Gallina all of whom will sign in the late signing period with division 1 schools. The anchor of this group though is the most important, that would be 6'6" 225 lb. man-child Ricardo "Rico" Gathers (pictured right) Gathers, the nation's 9th rated prospect on Rivals.com's 2012 rankings will have a lot to do with the Rebels success. Last year, this RA team that was at Reserve Christian won their 5th straight state title. This year could also end the same way but they will get tested in 2A which is a lot tougher than class C but if any team can make the jump 3 classes and still win, it will be Riverside. They are well coached, talented, disciplined and deep. They will be able to play about 10 players consistently and not lose a beat. Other teams that got mentioned for the national rankings but got caught on the outside looking in are Glen Oaks HS, St. Augustine HS and Richwood. Do not be surprised if these teams make noise as well and get in the rankings at some point during the season.

Riverside Coach Timmy Byrd(below)

With this being said, congratulations to Christian Life and Riverside on your national rankings. Let's make Louisiana proud and represent that ranking well. Stay humble and do well. Good Luck on your season.