New Orleans, La. –The “Sugar Bowl” generally brings to mind college football, particularly around the holidays. However, as an organization, the Allstate Sugar Bowl branches out into the New Orleans community year-round including a presence in several other sports and in all age ranges. So less than a week after Alabama topped Clemson on the field in the Super Dome, it was time to tip off the Allstate Sugar Bowl National Prep Classic on the hardwood.

This event featured a boy’s division and three separate girls’ brackets that included some of the highly regarded programs that host state Louisiana has to offer. Additionally, several men’s and women’s collegiate coaches provided a coaching clinic during the event helping to grow the game on the bench as well as on the floor.

For this year’s brackets and results, you can visit the Sugar Bowl’s website by following the link below.

http://allstatesugarbowlhoops.com/

In the top Platinum Bracket, it was New Orleans’ own John Curtis topping Kenwood Academy out of Chicago by a 57-36 final margin. The Gold Bracket was highly competitive as well with Lafayette Christian Academy defeating South Lafourche 51-43 for top honors. In the Silver Bracket Championship it was two New Orleans Catholic powers going at it with Dominican bringing home the hardware edging Mt. Carmel 36-32.

Here are some of the standout performers from this year’s tournament, as always in alphabetical order.

Megan Abrams – 2018 – 5-8 – Point Guard – Lafayette Christian Academy – Heading to Alabama next year…Athletic lead guard with size and hops…Great handle…Spins with power…Scoring prowess…Hard to contain off the bounce

Destiny Batiste – 2018 – 5-9 – Guard – Thibodaux – Bigger off guard…Has the bounce to get to the rim…Active in the passing lanes on defense…Appears to still be available 

Bria Broughton – 2018 – 6-1 – Post – Ouachita – Alcorn State signee…Active…Mobile size in the post…Shows some leadership…Can run and finish 

Traya Bruce – 2018 – 5-7 – Point Guard – South Lafourche – UNO signee…Skilled point with a good motor…Likes the floater…Good passer in transition…Crafty…Moves well without the ball

Arianna Cooks – 2018 – 5-8 – Point Guard/Guard – Salmen – Combo guard…Creates for herself…Can set up others…Plays fast…Thrives in the up and down style of play 

Alexius Horne – 2019 – 5-9 – Point Guard/Guard – McKinley – Athletic combo guard…Two-way impact player potential…Prefers the right hand finish on the drive…Can hit the three but has room to grow here…Has a feel for the game and commitment to the defensive end 

Jonaie Johnson – 2018 – 5-9 – Point Guard – Kenwood Academy – UMKC signee…Floor general mentality…Plenty of athletic tools…Back to back strong performances in semis and finals 

Dynah Jones – 2018 – 5-7 – Guard – John Curtis – Tulane signee…Scores in all ways…Very nice left handed stroke from deep or in the mid range…Gets to the rack…Smart and physical defensively…Not afraid to bang on the boards

Jerkalia Jordan – 2020 – 5-9 – Guard/Forward – John Curtis – Playing that athletic, undersized forward position at this point…Does it well though…Can face up and drive…Rebounds out of her area…Jump shot continues to expand…Aggressive mentality…Puts up numbers

Tamara Nard – 2019 – 6-3 – Post – Kenwood Academy – Active forward with legit size…Physically gifted…Has the body type to play at a high level…Can handle in the open court to a degree…Double-double threat

Kenyal Perry – 2020 – 6-7 – Post – McKinley – Tall, long athlete…Runs well…Mobile without the ball on offense…Shows some burst on the rim run at that size…Keeps the ball high to finish…Young