Written for the LSWA
Encore performances by Allen Graves of Ponchatoula and Chloe Larry of Parkway headline the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s Class 5A all-state basketball teams.
The two seniors, both returning all-state selections, led their teams to LHSAA Division I nonselect titles for the second straight year.
Graves was voted the Outstanding Player for the boys squad, while Larry was selected as the Outstanding Player on the girls team.
Two coaches who won titles, Parkway’s Gloria Williams and Liberty’s Brandon White, claimed Coach of the Year honors on the 5A squad.
The 6-foot-10 Graves averaged 20.8 points, 12.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists. The Santa Clara signee also was the MVP of the Green Wave’s title-game win over Natchitoches Central.
Larry, a 5-7 guard, is a Tennessee Tech signee who averaged 19.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and four blocked shots per game. Like Graves, Larry also was voted the title-game MVP in her team’s win over Denham Springs.
In the semifinals, Larry provided one of the girls tourney’s great moments by making a 60-foot shot as the clock expired in overtime to oust top-seeded Walker.
PHS’ Williams claims the LSWA girls coaching honor for the second straight year. She led Parkway to a 26-7 record and a second consecutive title.
Meanwhile, Liberty won the school’s first LHSAA basketball title, claiming the Division I select final over St. Thomas More. The Patriots finished 25-3.
2024 LSWA CLASS 5A BASKETBALL CHARTS
BOYS
First Team
Player School Ht. Cl Avg.
Jeremiah Evans Southwood 6-10 Sr. 22.0
Aidan Anding Ruston 6-0 Jr. 14.8
Ahmad Hudson Ruston 6-7 Fr. 14.0
Howard Gaskins Jr. Liberty 6-3 Sr. 16.3
Allen Graves Ponchatoula 6-10 Sr. 20.8
Second Team
Player School Ht. Cl Avg.
Logan Smith Natchitoches Central 6-2 Sr. 18.0
Javonte Thomas Pineville 6-6 Sr. 13.0
Michael Sarver St. Paul’s 6-0 Sr. 23.6
Keith Jones Karr 6-4 Sr. 18.5
Jeremiah Lucas Bonnabel 6-3 Jr. 23.7
OUTSTANDING PLAYER: ALLEN GRAVES, PONCHATOULA
COACH OF THE YEAR: BRANDON WHITE, LIBERTY
Honorable mention
Evan Griffin, Central Lafourche; Kylan Billiot, Terrebonne; Jeremiah Puckett, Ouachita; Ke’Vonte Landry, Lafayette High; Jaden Hookfin, Slidell; Matthew Kinzeler, Fontainebleau; Bowman Lovell, Haughton; Kevin White, Airline; Malek Robinson, Liberty; Jaylen Peters, Liberty; Jermichael Millien, St. Amant; Nico Jones, Catholic; Xavier Ferguson, Zachary; Eli Pichon, Brother Martin; Turner Duncan, St. Augustine, Brewer Nitcher, Jesuit; Jyrin Sowell, Captain Shreve; Greg Manning, Benton; Chris Coleman, H.L. Bourgeois; Jaylin Johnson, Alexandria; Wayne Randall-Bashay, New Iberia; Noah Brookter, Southside; Mike Parlow, Slidell; Jamal Drewery, Scotlandville; Carleiyon, Joseph, Walker; Jordan Moore, Hahnville.
GIRLS
First Team
Player School Ht. Cl Avg.
Chikae Desdunes Curtis 5-10 So. 17.0
Chloe Larry Parkway 5-7 Sr. 19.4
Imani Daniel Curtis 5-9 Jr. 12.0
Whitney Hart Liberty 6-3 Sr. 21.0
JaMiya Vann Walker 5-8 Sr. 18.8
Second Team
Player School Ht. Cl Avg.
Dakota Howard Parkway 5-11 Jr. 14.9
Jaliyah McWain Ruston 5-3 Sr. 15.0
Alanna Benoit Mandeville 5-8 So. 19.6
Terrin Coffil Chalmette 5-8 Sr. 25.0
Amijah Price Woodlawn 5-8 Jr. 18.4
OUTSTANDING PLAYER: CHLOE LARRY, PARKWAY
COACH OF THE YEAR: GLORIA WILLIAMS, PARKWAY
Honorable mention
Skylar Branch, Haughton; Makayla Gallien, Natchitoches Central; Alyssa Chandler, Natchitoches Central; Thamerin Balthazar, Alexandria; Kira Johnson, Lafayette; Cherie Spencer, Northshore; Cass Antoine, Karr; Kaylee Dublin, Chapelle; Koi Ursin, Destrehan; Ty’Reona Sibley, Central; Kennedi Ard, Walker; Zariell Pollard, Thibodaux; He’Shia Brown, Central Lafourche; Zaccheya Jackson, Ruston; Jade Spikes, West Monroe; Markayla Williams, West Monroe; Maleigha James, Barbe; Kay’len Alexander, Southside; Shelcie LeBlanc, Carencro; Eymani Key, Southside; Asia Eaglin, Slidell; Hannah Benoit, Mandeville; Alyssa Hillard, Ponchatoula; Raegan White, Denham Springs; Rhian Comery, St. Amant.