Notes on 8 eye-catchers from LSU’s annual HS 7v7 tournament

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>More than 40 teams made their way to Baton Rouge for this year's edition of LSU's annual high school 7-on-7 tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And a long list of talented prospects — both familiar faces and more under-the-radar athlete — helped highlight the day with eye-catching performances.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at some of the standouts from the action.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1237773' first='Trandin' last='Benjamin'] — 5-10, 175 DB — Westgate (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first of a couple Tigers to make this list, Benjamin is a instinctive playmaker with good ball skills whose impact was felt throughout the day from a critical interception in Westgate's first game of pool play all the way to a breakup in the end zone in the division title game on which he finished strong to jar away the would-be touchdown. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1238188' first='Roderick' last='Bingham'] — 6-1, 160 DB — Plaquemine (2026) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Louisiana (Lafayette) commitment was among the top performers for the Green Devils in their run to a division title game where he snatched an interception on a play on which he showed made a good read, changed directions quickly and made a tough, leaping catch through contact. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1348424' first='Vashaun' last='Coulon'] — 5-11, 160 QB/ATH — St. Augustine (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1323402' first='Miguel' last='Whitley'] — 6-0, 170 WR — St. Augustine (2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Purple Knights were deep with playmakers on their way to the title in the tournament's highest division, but Coulon and Whitley helped put the finishing touches on the memorable day with a clutch, go-ahead touchdown in the final minutes that was equally impressive in both its execution and its poise in the moment.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1601952' first='Syre' last='Gilmore'] — 5-10, 175 DB — St. Augustine (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The rising senior safety was among the standouts on the St. Augustine defense, including nearly intercepting a pass near the goal line in the Division-I championship on a play on which he flashed his instincts and his burst.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='401932' first='Aiden' last='Hall'] — 6-2, 185 DB — Edna Karr (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Even with a short-handed roster for a variety of reasons, the Cougars won their division. And a stingy defensive effort, including several interceptions, led by LSU-committed safety [player_tooltip player_id='401932' first='Aiden' last='Hall'] was a major factor in the team's success. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1701822' first='Tyrell' last='Johnson'] — 6-1, 170 DB — Willow School (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lions won their division with highlight-reel plays on both sides of the ball, including a diving interception and another big pass breakup in the title game by the speedy rising senior safety. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1191955' first='Kani' last='King-Young'] — 5-8, 185 RB — St. James (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As always rising senior wide receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='401966' first='Jakias' last='Villanueva']</strong> was a leading target among a deep cast of targets for rising sophomore quarterback<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1291430' first='Ja'Juan' last='Jackson'] </strong>in the Wildcats' offense. But in the matchup Prep Redzone Louisiana caught, his fellow 2026 prospect was also particularly effective making catches underneath and finding the end zone twice. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1250307' first='Jackilon' last='Roberson'] — 5-11, 165 WR — Westgate (2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The second Westgate standout spotlighted here, the rising junior was one of the slew of targets for 2028 quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1372217' first='Noah' last='Antoine'] who helped keep the Tigers moving up and down the fields on offense. In one of the biggest highlights of the day, Roberson had a long breakaway score in the opening game on which he out-ran the defense for a huge gain after the catch and a touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->