Lafayette Christian Academy Boy's Basketball Team is "Hot"!

By Ron Briscoe

Thank God, it's basketball season. This is the time of year I enjoy watching skilled and talented high school basketball players, talking with friends about players, enjoying the cool weather during the holiday season, while inside a warm packed gym with screaming, fanatic basketball fans.

Last season I had a chance to talk with LCA Head Basketball Coach Byron Stark's young talented team before the start of the season. I was impressed with several players on his team. The Ledoux twins, Kalob and Jacob, Mike Harden Jr; his son Caleb Starks, and phenomenal freshman Greg Williams Jr; are the players I had my eye on and I considered the nucleus of his team.

This talented team played well all season long and worked hard to position themselves to play in the Top 28 State high school basketball tournament and in the Class 1-A Championship game, only to lose to the "Mighty" Madison Prep Academy basketball team led by LSU and Rhode- Island signees, Brandon Sampson and Christian Thompson. Madison Prep Academy is now in Class 2-A.

When I spoke to his team last year I mention how I enjoyed watching them play. I went on to say, I truly believed that this team has what it takes to win a State Championship, if they believe they can do it, if they play hard all the time, and if they play as a team.

I begin going to Coach Starks practices to watch how the players got along with each other and how they listen to his instructions. At every practices and every game I saw this team come together. I saw the Ledoux twins play better, play harder, and smarter, as Greg Williams slowly gain confidence.

The 2015-16 Lafayette Christian Academy Boy's Basketball team is one team I will spend a lot of time watching play this season. I'm very fortunate to see one of the best high school basketball teams in my area with a host of talented and skilled players, play this season. I also can't wait to see 6'6 junior GF Galen Alexander this season if and when he becomes eligible. Alexander is one of the top five prospects from the state regardless of class.

So far, I have seen Coach Starks team play every game but two or three during the 2015-16 season. I saw them lose their first game of the season to a hardworking and gritty Scotlandville team led by super sophomore, 6'3 PG, Ja'Vonte Smart.

Yes, Ja'Vonte Smart, who plays on the USA-U16 development team. He was named the MVP of the Hamilton Christian Tournament in Lake Charles, LA, in early December, as he and Super Sophomore Greg Williams Jr went head-to-head. Smart scored 29 points and GW2 scored 26 points. It was an awesome game the kind you would like to see in a State Tournament Championship game setting.

Although, LCA didn't win the tournament. They had Kalob Ledoux and Greg Williams Jr on the All-Tournament team. McNeese State Head Basketball Coach Dave Simmons and Assistant Coach Dave Dumas were all smiles as they stood on the sidelines watching the Ledoux twins who signed with their basketball program play.

After coming home to Lafayette with the runner up trophy the Knights started preparing for their Lafayette Christian Academy Showcase Tournament. This Showcase event featured one of the best teams from Baton Rouge, LA, in University Lab High School. U-high lose Skylar Mays but they still have 6'6 PF senior, LSU signee Wayde Sims.

University Lab and LCA was the game everyone in the Acadiana area wanted to see. On a cold Friday night in mid December, the LCA Sportsplex gym was packed to the rafters with standing room only. What a game, what a finish. It came down to Kalob Ledoux heroics as he split two defenders going to the basket to score and won the game for the Knights. Kalob was named the MVP of the Tournament. Several members of the Knights team made a big contribution helping their team win this Tournament. Players like his twin brother Jacob, Greg Williams Jr. Mike Harden Jr; Terrence Jones, Caleb Starks, and Qwinton Smith all had a shinning moment in this event and helped the Knights to an 8-1 record.

Every year around the Christmas Holidays STM Coach Danny Broussard hold the STM Sunkist Shootout Holiday Tournament at the STM gym. This is one of the best Holiday Tournaments to attend to see some of the best high school teams and basketball players from the around the state and the region play.

The 33rd edition of the STM tournament had several talented teams and a host of top notched players to see. The player who I consider the best from the state of Louisiana, is 6'10 senior, PF/C rebounder, scorer, and shot-blocker, Robert Williams of North Caddo HS. Robert who committed to Texas A&M had an awesome tournament before fouling out in the Championship game against LCA.

This tournament had a whole lot of good teams and exciting players. The STM gym was filled every night the LCA team played. We saw several LCA games go right down to the wire. St. Augustine who has played in this tournament several times was back with two real good players. Carencro high school surprised everyone watching the tournament as they gave LCA a scare, but Kalob Ledoux hits a 3-point jumper with 3 seconds on the clock at the top of the key to seal the win for LCA.

Now it was down to the Championship game. This was the game everyone in the city wanted to see. I had a front row seat as North Caddo led by McDonald's All-American Candidate and Texas A&M commitment Robert "do-it-all" Williams, play. The LCA Knights led by the Ledoux twins, Greg Williams Jr; Michael Harden Jr, Caleb Starks, Qwinton White, and Terrance Jones were ready too.

What a game. Robert Williams was unstoppable in the first half but Coach Starks and his staff kept their composer and in the third quarter got the 6'10 PF Williams in foul trouble. Williams would sit on the bench for four minutes before returning to the game in the fourth quarter. Williams picked up his final foul early in the fourth quarter and had to leave the game.

LCA went on to win the game and the 2015 STM Sunkist Holiday Tournament. Kalob Ledoux was named the MVP as he did it all once again for the Knights team. He hit several big-time 3-point jump shots and he had several steals. Greg Williams Jr was named to the All-Tournament team too. LCA is now 13-1.

The Knights are preparing now to play Central Catholic on January 5th before heading to the Crescent City of New Orleans on the West Bank of the Mississippi to play in the 6th annual All-State Sugar Bowl National Prep Classic at the Alario Center Jan. 7-9.  

I was impressed with several prospects at this event like, Carencro's 6'1 combo-guard Araden Adams and 6'5 2G/F Sophomore Nick Carmouche. Both are very good players. I will be keeping an eye on them this season.

I was also impressed with Grambling, 6'1 junior, smart and crafty, combo guard Tylan Dean. I also like St. Augustine's, 6'2 junior Caleb Daniels, a strong, fundamental combo-guard with a good looking jump shot.

 I was also impressed with UNO junior commitment from Ellender Memorial HS in, 6'4 2G/F wiry athlete, Davontavean Martin. That was several of the many outstanding players, I saw play at this event.

Ron Briscoe, is a highly respected long time high school basketball scout and basketball analyst. He has 26 years as a selector with the McDonald's All-American Game, 19 years with the Naismith HS National POY and the Gatorade State POY selecting committees. College Coaches have received his must have Regional Basketball Report Newsletter for over 30 years.