Hicks, Jehovah-Jireh standouts headline Class C All-State basketball teams

By DANIEL GREEN
Written for the LSWA
One led her team to a second straight state championship. The other guided his team on another impressive title run.
Hicks junior Chloe Wilbanks and Jehovah-Jireh’s John-Paul Ricks, a sophomore, were selected as the Outstanding Players in Class C, as chosen by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.

Wilbanks led the Pirates to a Class C state title one year after claiming the Class B title. She averaged 18.8 points per game, while dishing out 6.5 assists and grabbing 6.1 rebounds per outing.

Ricks stepped into a leadership role for Jehovah-Jireh, averaging 24 points, eight rebounds and six assists per game, leading the team to a third consecutive Division V select title.

Plainview’s Phillip George and Epps’ Roger Stockton grabbed Coach of the Year honors. George led Plainview to its fourth straight championship game, while Stockton, a former head women’s coach at the University of Louisiana-Monroe, stepped out of retirement to guide Epps to the Class C quarterfinals.

Simpson’s Jade Losavio, who was last year’s boys Coach of the Year, also received consideration after leading his team back to the Top 28, despite losing five of his top six players from 2019.

Joining Wilbanks on the girls first team were Plainview’s Abigail Pippen (14.3 ppg, 11.6 rpg), Ebarb’s Millie Tanner (14.5 ppg, 9.4 rpg), Summerfield’s Malaysia Tate (18.9 ppg, 8.3 rpg) and Hicks’ Lauren Quinn (23.5 pog, 12.1 rpg).

Second team choices were Starks’ Abbie Clark (25.3 ppg), Reeves’ Claire Dunnehoo (17.1 ppg), Gibsland-Coleman’s Jamaya Jackson (17.1 ppg), Johnson Bayou’s Gracie Young (34 ppg) and Plainview’s Kinsley Ashworth (16.4 ppg).

Hicks’ Austin Merchant (10.3 ppg, 6 apg), Summerfield’s Derrick Royal (19 ppg, 12 rpg), Pleasant Hill’s Montonious Burroughs (22 ppg) and Hornbeck’s Cooper Smith (25 ppg, 10.4 rpg) join JCA’s Ricks on the boys first team.

NaShaun Reddick (22 ppg) of Phoenix, Epps’ Clyde Williams (21 ppg), Jehovah-Jireh’s Brandon Harton, Jr. (19 ppg, 11 rpg), Grand Isle’s Brandon McGurley (25.7 ppg) and Ebarb’s Zach Parties (26.5 ppg) comprised the boys second team.

LSWA CLASS C ALL-STATE BASKETBALL CHARTS
BOYS
First team
Name Player Ht Cl Avg
John-Paul Ricks Jehovah-Jireh 6-0 So. 24.0
Derrick Royal Summerfield 6-4 Sr. 19.0
Austin Merchant Hicks 5-9 Sr. 10.3
Montonious Burrough Pleasant Hill 5-10 Sr. 22.0
Cooper Smith Hornbeck 6-4 Sr. 25.0

Second team
Name Player Ht Cl Avg
NaShaun Reddick Phoenix 5-9 Jr. 22.0
Clyde Williams Epps 5-11 Jr. 21.0
Brandon Harton Jr. Jehovah-Jireh 6-3 Jr. 19.0
Brandon McCurley Grand Isle 5-11 Sr. 25.7
Zach Parrie Ebarb 5-10 Jr. 26.5
OUTSTANDING PLAYER: JOHN-PAUL RICKS, JEHOVAH-JIREH
COACH OF THE YEAR: ROGER STOCKTON, EPPS

Honorable mention
Wayne Huckaby, Calvin; Grady Mitcham, Hornbeck; Blaine Perkins, Plainview; Johnny Nash, Atlanta; A.J. Mercier, Family Christian; Ken Wilson Kilbourne; Deonte Livingston, Summerfield; Keegan Foreman, Northside Christian; Roderick Dominique, Jehovah-Jireh.

GIRLS
First team
Name Player Ht Cl Avg
Chloe Wilbanks Hicks 5-7 Jr. 18.8
Abigail Pippen Plainview 5-9 Jr. 14.3
Millie Tanner Ebarb 5-8 Jr. 14.8
Malaysia Tate Summerfield 5-9 So. 18.9
Lauren Quinn Hicks 5-10 So. 23.5
Second team
Name Player Ht Cl Avg
Abbie Clark Starks 5-8 Sr. 25.3
Claire Dunnehoo Reeves 5-8 Jr. 17.1
Jamaya Jackson Gibsland-Coleman 5-7 Jr. 17.1
Gracie Young Johnson Bayou 5-9 Sr. 34.0
Kinsley Ashworth Plainview 6-0 Sr. 16.4
OUTSTANDING PLAYER: CHLOE WILBANKS, HICKS
COACH OF THE YEAR: PHILLIP GEORGE, PLAINVIEW

Honorable mention
Jade Bonner, Evans; Yasmine Robinson, Summerfield; Maddi Ford, Reeves; Ro’Shonna Powell, Atlanta; Payton Bates, Calvin; Lexi Rachal, Family Christian; Rivers Day, Hicks; Maykayla Clark, Hicks.