Exceptional Athletes – Class of 2029 Freshman Year (Part 2)

We are delighted to acknowledge the numerous talented young female athletes who are excelling in basketball across the parishes of Louisiana. The class of 2029 is particularly commendable as they complete their freshman year of high school. Many of these players are preparing for AAU travel ball this summer, while others are diligently refining their skills and focusing on player development. We would like to highlight a few athletes who truly distinguished themselves during the 2025-2026 basketball season. Please scroll down to view each player's evaluation, starting with [player_tooltip player_id='1307741' first='Laila' last='Rousell'] (westLake), Libby Pickett (Many), Jaidyn Smith (Castor), Jaidyn Smith (Castor), Parys Gillins (Minden) and McKinsey Clark (Castor).   Did you miss my most recent article? You can access it via the Link   <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2026/03/exceptional-athletes-class-of-2029-freshman-year/">Exceptional Athletes - Class of 2029 Freshman Year | Prep Girls Hoops</a> (Part 1)   <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2026/03/notable-players-in-the-class-c-and-b-march-madness-tournament/">Notable Players In the Class C and B March Madness Tournament | Prep Girls Hoops</a>   <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2025/12/freshmen-friday-top-standouts/">Freshmen Friday - Top Standouts | Prep Girls Hoops</a>   You are welcome to follow me on Instagram or X at @Coachlathan for additional content or upcoming announcements.    [player_tooltip player_id='1307741' first='Laila' last='Rousell'] is establishing a remarkable reputation on the basketball court as a freshman. Laila is an exceptionally gifted and talented athlete. She possesses an excellent post-game and can be highly effective if given the opportunity to display her impressive footwork and spin moves under the rim, playing with physicality and through contact. Laila demonstrates a strong basketball IQ and is capable of handling the ball when necessary. Although she is a proficient offensive player, her game truly excels in protecting the post and the rim, where she does an outstanding job of blocking shots. During the 2025-2026 season, Laila achieved statistics of 15.0 Points, 8.3 Rebounds, 4.3 Blocks, and 2.1 Steals, earning her recognition as First Team All-District.     Libby Pickett, a shooting guard for the Many High School Lady Tigers, is recognized for her exceptional defensive abilities, particularly her skill in dispossessing opponents. She consistently fulfills her assignments, maintaining pressure on ball handlers and demonstrating remarkable effort and dedication to her team. During the 2025-2026 season, Ms. Pickett achieved a personal best of five steals in two distinct games, against Hicks and Florien High Schools.In addition to her defensive strengths, Ms. Pickett is also an impactful offensive player, capable of scoring effectively in transition at the rim or successfully executing three-point shots with her unique shooting technique. Her promising ball-handling skills suggest her potential to evolve into a significant offensive asset for the team with ongoing development. Ms. Pickett's valuable contributions were acknowledged through her selection to the All-District 3-2A All-Defensive Team for the 2025-2026 season.     Jaidyn Smith, who plays as Center for the Lady Tigers of Castor High School, wears jersey #14. For the 2025-2026 season, Jaidyn's statistics include 12.4 points per game, 9.2 rebounds per game, 2.2 assists per game, 1.6 steals per game, and 0.7 blocks per game. Jaidyn was also recognized as part of the All-District 1-B First Team for the 2025-2026 basketball season. Jaidyn is an exceptional all-around basketball player on the court; her height of 5'10" and physique enable her to dominate the painted area. Jaidyn is an excellent rebounder and master of boxing out. She presents a formidable presence under the rim, skillfully blocking shots and forcing turnovers through her talent and focused on-ball play. Offensively, she demonstrates the ability to handle the ball when necessary, set effective screens, and make decisive cuts to the rim. She primarily scores within the paint by posting up, finishing strongly, playing through contested shots, and drawing fouls. Additionally, she possesses a reliable mid-range shot and is a proficient passer and communicator on the floor.     Parys Gillins playing as a power forward / center for the Crimson Tide of Minden High School. Parys is currently wearing the jersey #10. Parys made the All-District 1-4A Girls Second Team 2025-2026. Parys is another great post player for the class of 2029. Parys is a very skilled rebounder that fights for the ball and plays very physical she has no fear in the paint. Parys protects the paint with great quickness and skills and filling the gaps and help defense. Parys is also a good shot blocker. Parys get most to all her points from the painted area from good passes from her teammates or grabbing the offences rebound and cashing in them second chance points or shooting free throws. In one game alone she scored 31 points grabbed 16 rebounds 1 steal and 1 block.     McKinsey Clark, who wears jersey number 00, is the point guard for the Lady Tigers of Castor High School. McKinsey was recognized for her exceptional performance by being named to the All-District 1-B Second Team for the 2025-2026 season. She is considered an elite point guard, known for her excellent ball-handling skills and her ability to lead and communicate effectively on the court. During the 2025-2026 season, McKinsey's statistics included 11.3 points per game, 4.4 rebounds per game, 2.2 assists per game, and 2.6 steals per game. She also successfully made 68 three-point shots during the 2025-2026 season, coming within 10 shots of setting a new school record. Her impressive statistics clearly demonstrate her dedication and competitive spirit on both offense and defense.

We are delighted to acknowledge the numerous talented young female athletes who are excelling in basketball across the parishes of Louisiana. The class of 2029 is particularly commendable as they complete their freshman year of high school. Many of these players are preparing for AAU travel ball this summer, while others are diligently refining their skills and focusing on player development. We would like to highlight a few athletes who truly distinguished themselves during the 2025-2026 basketball season. Please scroll down to view each player's evaluation, starting with Laila Rousell Laila Rousell 6'3" | PF/SF Westlake | 2029 State LA (westLake), Libby Pickett (Many), Jaidyn Smith (Castor), Jaidyn Smith (Castor), Parys Gillins (Minden) and McKinsey Clark (Castor).