SHAZZ PRESTON
(WR St James)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 2022
2020 & 2019 STATS:
1,883 Receiving Yards
113 Catches
18 TDs
16.7 Per Catch
1 Punt Return TD
26 Appearances
by LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
@LonnPhillips
After a big midweek visit to Baton Rouge and LSU HQ, St. James' #1 offensive threat / the best wide out in the Great State of Louisiana / the country's top receiver Shazz Preston has plenty to mull over.
There is no doubt in any analyst's mind, at least any who are worth a damn, that Preston is an uber alles talent, possessing radiating speed, fearless instincts, underrated physicality, strong catcher's hands, llustrious route running, but what really sends Shazz over the top?
He comes from a football family, his father Louisiana Bootleggers assistant Shawn Sr told us he was a fullback in college, while we all know about Shawn Jr's powerful exploits at Mississippi State.
Much like his older brother, Shazz is highly prized by every power 5 big boy who can wield a title ring (even if it's UGA's from 1980) as well as a multi-million dollar state of the art facility. From Saban's hairpiece to Dabo's after midnight codpiece, or USC's attractive So Cal fantasia, Preston can take his pick from the best in the country.
However, there's only one place he can truly call home: Louisiana State University. Wide Receivers Coach Mickey Joseph has been recruiting Shazz longer than anyone else.
Joseph offered the St. James WR during the summer of 2019, after a standout performance during the last LSU Tigers camp before the pandemic: only Arkansas, Shawn Jr's Miss State, A&M and Colorado issued offers before June 21st 2019.
His rise wasn't as rapid as it was definitive: for instance, throughout St James' 2019 title run, something became very clear: despite his tender age, the future #7 produces moments which broke opponents.
Standing 6'0 190, there's an element to Preston's game that screams out a blasphemous comparison to Rummel High-era Ja'Marr Chase, from Shazz's chameleonic abilities making him impossible to cover, his acrobatic aerial dominion or high octane yards after catch flare.
At this age, Sir Preston has the resume to back up that lofty comparison:
Shazz Preston was a key member of St James' undefeated 2019 squad, pulling off 1,018 receiving yards, including a filthy 12 catch showcase in the semifinal vs Union Parish.
He continued his exploits within the cavernous confines of the Superdome, St James taking on Trevor Etienne's Jennings for the 3A State Championship. As a younger receiver, Shazz still stood out, sealing the blowout win by way of an epic 63 yard touchdown.
In stylish 15-0 fashion, Preston & current LSU Tiger DE Saivion Jones, the stunning Shemar Smith, and underrated star DBs J'Kory Ester and Joel Cooper became the first St James team to hoist a state title in forty years.
Though he was only a sophomore at the time, Preston's contributions were invaluable, as his Head Coach Robert Valdez pointed out when talking to us for an in depth 2020 interview.
Rightfully so: over the past two seasons, St James' senior prodigy is a big play machine, registering a catch of 37 yards or more in every game throughout 2019....and he didn't stop there:
Last year's semifinal run was led by Preston's 9 scores for 865 yards, producing five 100+ yard receiving performances, six games of 5+ catches, and averaging over 12.2 yards per catch on eight occasions (averaging over 18 yards in six more appearances).
So...how can LSU keep him home?
First, we show him love.
✔: Mickey Joseph has been on him for over 2 years now.
Second, we get him on campus.
✔: Just happened and it was a successful visit.
Third???
We don't interfere in the 5 star Odyssey-rated receiver's process.
Shazz is keeping his options open and I expect LSU to be chill and let him do his thing, like every other 2022 or 2023 high ranked recruit:
These kids are enjoying their first ever recruiting tour, getting the red carpet treatment at a long list of power 5 pillars...Clemson, Ohio State, Alabama....but no program has executed their organized good times like LSU's recruiting staff.
I'm hearing the Tigers' offensive staff pulled out all the stops for the St James #7, although it didn't stop him from exploring Sarkisian's Texas on the 18th or USC the weekend prior.
LSU's pursuit of Preston will be a long battle to keep his boundless potential home, hoping to vanquish Pete Golding's attempts at harvesting yet another Louisiana defecting Bama WR, aka Devonta Smith.
With Jake Johnson, AJ Johnson, Aaron Anderson and DeColdest Crawford making up the other principal pass catchers of the 2022 class, the pick up of Shazz Preston would take Mickey Joseph's WR room above and beyond, once again becoming the #1 freshman receiving corps in America.
By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
@LonnPhillips
Copyright 2021 Uninterrupted Writings Inc
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