Meet the 2023-24 Shreveport Times All-Area boys’ basketball team
Natchitoches Central finished third in District 1-5A but caught fire in the playoffs and advanced all the way to the LHSAA Non-Select Division I championship game after slipping past Ruston in the semifinal contest.
That success allowed NCHS guard Logan Smith to garner the top award on the 2024 Shreveport Times All-Area boys basketball team selected after consultation with area coaches. The team is chosen from schools in Bienville, Claiborne, DeSoto, Lincoln, Natchitoches, Red River, Sabine and Webster parishes.
2024 Shreveport All-Area Boys basketball team
Player of the Year
Logan Smith
Natchitoches Central, Sr.
Ht: 6-2 Position: Guard
Why selected: One of the key components in NCHS’ drive to the LHSAA Non-Select Division I state championship game. He averaged 18 points and seven rebounds per outing.
Coach of the Year
Kolton Sepulvado
Natchitoches Central
Why selected: Sepulvado directed his team to peak at the right time and NCHS romped through a playoff run that took them to the LHSAA title game where NCHS fell to Ponchatoula 75-60. After finishing third in District 1-5A, NCHS finished 24-8 overall.
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First team
Aidan Anding
Ruston, Jr.
Ht: 5-11 Pos: guard
Why selected: Anding averaged 15 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals for the Bearcats, who advanced to the LHSAA Non-Select D-I semifinals.
Ahmad Hudson
Ruston, Fr.
Ht: 6-7 Pos: Center
Why selected: The Bearcat big man averaged 14 points, 12 rebounds, three blocks and two assists.
Ja’Dell Demery
Natchitoches Central, So.
Ht: 6-3 Pos: Forward
Why selected: A key component of NCHS’ drive to the LHSAA D-I title game, Demery averaged 14 points and eight rebounds.
Preston Sanders
Zwolle, Jr.
Ht: 6-2 Pos: Forward
Why selected: Sanders led his team to the LHSAA Non-Select Division V state title by averaging 23.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 3.1 steals.
Jbari Adams
Ringgold, Sr.
Ht: 6-5 Pos: Wing
Why selected: The District 1-1A MVP led Ringgold to the LHSAA Division IV semifinals by averaging 19.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 3.9 blocks and 3.0 steals.
Alonzo Driver
Lakeview, Sr.
Ht: 6-1 Pos: Guard
Why selected: Driver averaged 15.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.1 steals for a team that advanced to the LHSAA Division IV title game.
Second team
Omarion Carr, Arcadia, Sr.
Andre Sowell, Lakeview, Sr.
Jermarquis Hampton, Haynesville, Jr.
Spencer Dunn, Homer, Jr.
Stephen Burks III, Lincoln Prep, Sr.
Darnell Morris, Minden, Jr.
Trevor McLendon, Many, Sr.
Honorable mention
Andre Brooks, Haynesville, So.; Rodtravious Crawley, Arcadia, Sr.; Sharmal Booker, Mansfield, Jr.; Joseph “Trey” Spann, Lincoln Prep, So.; Cameron Parker, Minden, So.; Howard Ethridge, Zwolle, Sr.
Jimmy Watson covers Louisiana sports for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at jwatson@shreveporttimes.com and follow him on Twitter @JimmyWatson6.
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Check out the 2023-24 Shreveport Times All-Area boys’ basketball team
