Ruston's Braylan McNeal earns All-Region basketball honors at BPCC

Former Ruston Bearcat Braylan McNeal picked up right where he left off from leading the Ruston basketball program to the state tournament in his senior season to his first collegiate season at Bossier Parish Community College.

McNeal made Region XIV All-Conference on Sunday, earning high praise from coaches across one of the most competitive junior college leagues in the country.

The former Bearcat played in 24 games, making 22 starts, and led BPCC in nearly every category in his true freshman season.

McNeal led the Cavaliers in scoring (15.6 points per game, rebounds (10.2), and blocks (1.7), free-throw attempts per game (5.5) and freethrow percentage (75%).

“This past season has had its ups and downs for me because I started slow and then picked up and got used to basketball at the college level,” McNeal said. “As time went on, I had to miss six to seven games due to injuries, but for the most part, a great season like any other. It was my first college season and I was just getting used to it, so I feel like it went well.

I feel that my game has improved the most because I have become more aggressive, and my physical strength has improved.”

McNeal capped off his freshman season in the top 5 in Region XIV (14 teams) in total rebounds and rebounds per game (244, 10.2) and blocked shots (41).

He also scored double figures in 19 of his 24 games and registered 13 double-doubles. McNeal also finished his freshman season ranking top 10 in school history in rebounds per game, blocked shots, and total rebounds.

J.A. Anglin, head coach at BPCC, said McNeal put together one of the most impressive freshman seasons he’s seen.

“He became so consistent for us. He had 13 double-doubles and was one of the best rebounders in the country,” Anglin said. “I think the most impressive thing to me about it is he got hurt when we came back from Christmas and he had to miss seven games. And we really missed him when he wasn’t out there. But he still ends up leading us in scoring, rebounds, steals per game, blocks per game, free-throw percentage and attempts. He definitely established himself in the league as one of the better players.”

BPCC finished 12-19 overall and lost in the first round of the Region XIV Tournament to Kilgore College, but Anglin said McNeal’s impressive start to his collegiate career will only bode well for the program moving forward.

With no one on the 2023-24 roster above a sophomore classification, Anglin said players like McNeal make him optimistic for next season.

“He’s got the intangibles, and he knows how to make everybody around him better. It’s not just the points. He dishes the ball out a lot and looks for his teammates,” Anglin said. “From a production standpoint, he’s up there with any freshman I’ve had in my four years. And it’s kind of like his personality. He’s just quiet and does his work. He doesn’t say a whole lot, but he just goes out there and gets it done.”