Josh LeBlanc - Madison Prepr

I think I remember hearing that he was never interested in staying at home.

I love how Wade has recruited all over for talent.

But, even if we just get the top 3-4 guys in Louisiana each year, plus 1 or 2 from nearby states, we would be a perennial top 25 team IMO.

I went back recently and looked at the top 5 in LA each year and it would've supplied us with tons of talent.



Top players, in order from 247 composite, each year in Louisiana and where they went:

2006:
4* PF – 6’9” 190 – Perry Stevenson – Kentucky
4* PG – 5’10” 167 – Demond Carter – Baylor
3* C – 6’8” 290 – Kentrell Gransberry – South Florida
3* SG – 6’5” 190 – Rodney Jones – Ole Miss

2007:
4* SG – 6’4” 190 – LaceDarius Dunn – Baylor
4* PF – 6’8” 245 – Elgin Bailey – Mississippi State
4* SF – 6’4” 175 – Marcus Simmons – USC
3* SG – 6’6” 200 – Chris Gradnigo – Arkansas

2008:
5* PF – 6’10” 220 – Greg Monroe – Georgetown
4* PF - 6’9” 190 – Terrance Henry – Ole Miss
4* PF – 6’6” 215 – Storm Warren – LSU
3* PF – 6’9” 180 – Brandon Moore – Arkansas


2009:
Real bad year (which is not the norm). Eddie Ludwig was the #1 player and we got him

2010:
4* SF – 6’6” 180 – Matt Derenbrecker – LSU
3* PF – 6’9” 215 – Kourtney Roberson – Texas A&M
3* SG – 6’3” 185 – Markel Brown – Oklahoma St.
3* SG – 6’3” 185 – Langston Galloway – St. John’s
3* SF – 6’5” 190 – Brian Williams – Oklahoma St.
3* PG – 6’6” 180 – Jarvis Ray - TCU

2011:
3* PF – 6’10” 200 – Jernard Jarreau – Washington
(also bad year, #2 was John Isaac)

2012:
4* PF – 6’7” 250 – Rico Gathers – Baylor
4* PG – 5’10” 175 – Javan Felix – Texas
4* SF – 6’7” 190 – Donald Thomas – No where?
3* SG – 6’3” 180 – Malik Morgan – LSU
3* SF – 6’5” 200 – Michael Qualls – Arkansas
4* PG – 5’11” 170 – Dee Wagner – Arkansas

2013:
5* SF – 6’8” 210 – Jarell Martin – LSU
4* PF – 6’9” 220 – Damian Jones – Vanderbilt
3* SF – 6’5” 215 – Brian Bridgewater – LSU

2014:
4* PG – 6’3” 175 – Dominic MaGee – Memphis
3* SG – 6’6” 215 – Jordan Cornish – UNLV
3* PF – 6’8” 205 – James Thompson – South Carolina

2015:
4* SG – 6’4” 180 – Brandon Sampson – LSU
4* SG – 6’5” 200 – Jacob Evans – Cincinnati

2016:
4* CG – 6’3” 160 – DeJon Jarreau – UMass
4* PF – 6’8” 225 – Robert Williams – Texas A&M
4* SF – 6’6” 220 – Mark Vital – Baylor
4* PG – 6’0” 165 – Lamar Peters – Mississippi St.
3* CG – 6’4” 190 – Skylar Mays – LSU

2017:
4* SG – 6’4” 175 – Josh Anderson – Western Kentucky
4* CG – 6’6” 220 – Brandon Rachal – LSU
4* SF – 6’6” 215 – Galen Alexander – LSU

2018:
4* CG – 6’4” 185 – Javonte Smart – LSU
4* PG – 6’2” 180 – Jared Butler – Alabama
4* PF – 6’7” 213 – Josh LeBlanc – Georgetown
3* SG – 6’3” 190 – Greg Williams – St. John’s

He was thought to be an LSU lean. I think Wade decided to go for bigger recruits like Days and Williams.

Leblanc and Days are two completely different prospects. I think they would have taken both and would have just waited to see what happens with Williams. The thing about leblanc is he is somewhat like Williams with a ton of athleticism and a high motor. Leblanc is also almost guaranteed to play 4 years, so he would not have been a bad get at all

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If he can't find anyone, then I wouldn't be shocked to see him use the scholarship bring in a major-conf. transfer like he did with Bigby-Williams. That way will have some talent and perhaps experience waiting in the wings for 19-20 after multiple key pieces likely leave following the 18-19 season.

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As much as I don't like how many transfers there are on a yearly basis in college basketball, I like the strategy of recruiting players in the transfer market. I feel like the redshirt year is underused to help guys develop, but with the transfers, you can get a guy with playing experience and then let him sit for a year to work on his game. It can be very beneficial.

Gonzaga uses the redshirt year very effectively for their regular recruits and for transfers.

yes, but he chose Georgetown. It may have worked out because Emmitt Williams is a beast. LeBlanc may be a solid player but I don't think he's elite like Williams.

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I went back recently and looked at the top 5 in LA each year and it would've supplied us with tons of talent.

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This list is irrelevant without listing who they actually signed. They may have signed great players from other states Recruiting is not a precise art. Some you sign pan out, some don't.

You also have to consider the roster makeup in a given year, positions of need, number of scholarships available.

Some kids just want to go out of state, some just did not want to go to LSU.

A small few may have made a difference , but there were few superstars missed out on other than Greg Monroe.

By the way Kentrell Gransberry signed with LSU in 2005 and left after an early season exhibition game due to being disgruntled with his playing time. He thought he should played more over Big Baby Davis, Tyrus Thomas and Magmnum Rolle and Darnell Lazare. These guys went to the Final Four. Kentrell went to JUCO.

IDK where LSU stands with this guy, Marlon Taylor, but I really hope he goes LSU. And I strongly suggest anyone who enjoys watching athletic players on the court, need to check this guy out. Kind of reminds me of a souped-up Vernel Singleton. And Vernel was already souped-up to begin with. Taylor is a slasher and finisher at the rim, can shoot from the outside, but that's not his best attributes. Can handle the ball well enough to drive to the basket and can pass well enough to dish off to an open man. LINK

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Louisiana basketball is like Massachusetts football. Meh.

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That's completely wrong, Louisiana puts out a good bit of talent in basketball, especially recently. Now its not up there with the Florida's and California's but it's definitely not meh.