This past Saturday the HoopFests Tour held the Statement Session showcase at Southside H.S. in Youngstown, a suburb of Lafayette, LA. In its second year the Statement Session is fast becoming the top event to showcase Louisiana’s top talent. Below are the performers who really caught my eye.

Top Performers

Carver (N.O., LA) teammates Solomon Washington and Dorian Finister were easily the top two performers on the day as they each led their team to the event championship game, each picking up steam as the day moved along. 

Solomon Washington 6’7” F 2022 Carver

Washington was just a beast on Saturday as he willed his team to the event championship. After a rather ordinary first game where he felt out his teammates he was dominant the rest of the way. Possessing a blend of strength and high level athleticism he was a matchup problem for opposing teams. Mixing up power drives with working the offensive glass we were treated to an array of athletic finishes and dunks as he attacked the rim with abandon. After the spring and summer he had with Team Thad I’m frankly amazed that he hasn’t risen in the national rankings.

Dorian Finister 6’5” G 2022 Carver

Similar to his prep teammate, Washington, it took Finister a minute to get going, but about mid way the second half of his team’s first game he started to be more assertive. By the time bracket play started he had taken command of his team. A shifty ball handler he can play on or off the ball. He shot it well from three but also showed a nice pullup game in the midrange. As the day wore on he was the primary ball handler for his team and showed good court awareness and made solid decisions both in the open floor and in the halfcourt. The fact that Washington’s team won the event championship comes with an asterisk as well because Finister sat out most of the second half of the championship game because of cramps.  

Other Standouts:

Joe Manning 6’3” WG 2022 Bossier

In my two year’s covering the Statement Session Manning is probably my favorite player to watch, he’s a smart player who just does a little bit of everything. This year Manning had a strong day scoring the ball as he showed more ability to make plays with the ball in his hands, more impressive was the fact he did that while still displaying the all-around game and understanding of how to play without the ball. He’s added a little more range to his jumper and has also improved his ballhandling which is a big part of his improved playmaking ability.

Reginald Stoner 6’0” PG 2022 North Central

Stoner had a very strong day as the primary ballhandler and facilitator for his team. He was able to get into the paint on the drive where he scored the ball consistently on an array of creative runners. When left open from three he show the ability to knock it down consistently also. Defensively he was a pest to opposing ballhandlers and his quick hands led to a number of steals and easy baskets. 

Dionjahe Thomas 6’8” F 2022 Ellender

The Robin to Finister’s Batman on Team Mason, Thomas was another returnee from last year who came thru with another solid day at the office. An active faceup four man Thomas just goes about his business hitting the glass and finding the gaps in the opponent’s interior defense for finishes around the rim. He also stepped out for an occasional jumper and shot it well.  I also really like his mobility and how he gets up and down the court.

Deon Ware 6’4” G 2023 Hamilton Christian

My top junior performer at the event, Ware is a tall rangy long armed guard who showed lots of poise with the ball in his hands. Was really good at getting into the lane and getting the shot he wanted, showed a solid jumper from behind the three point line and in the midrange, and did a great job of playing with and off of his teammates. Long arms help make him a pesky defender.

LaBree Williams 6’7” F 2022 Calvary Baptist 

Williams was having a very good day before going down with a stiff back in the semifinal game which probably cost his team a trip to the finals. More of a face-up four, Williams likes to catch the ball on the perimeter and drive it to the rim and was very effective scoring it at the rim. He also showed a nice faceup jumper which blended nicely with his catch and drive game. While not a post presence he did show he the ability to find opening in the interior defense for scoring opportunities. He moved up and down the floor very well and went to the boards well on both ends.

LeLand Smith 6’3” G 2022 Edna Karr

One of the craftiest players in the gym, Smith just found ways to get buckets, he shot the ball well and showed a the ability to create space to get off his shots, made shots from the behind the three point line and in the midrange and while not exceedingly quick he was able to get to the rim for a handful of finishes also.