LAKE CHARLES — Curtis McAllister became a starter on the Country Day basketball team late in the season because of the impact he could make on the defensive end of the floor.
He quickly began to make the same kind of impact with the basketball in his hands on the offensive side too.
McAllister, the son of former Saints legend Deuce McAllister, showed his quickness and skill on both ends of the floor as he scored 17 points with nine rebounds, three assists and two steals as the third-ranked Cajuns defeated No. 1 Calvary Baptist 59-56 in the LHSAA Division III select state championship at Burton Coliseum.
He played well enough to be selected as the LHSAA outstanding player for the championship game.
“He’s a heck of a freshman,” Country Day coach Mike McGuire said of the 6-foot-3 guard.
McAllister generated most of his offensive production with what he did as the front person of the Cajuns’ full-court pressure defense.
“When he gets to the top of that press with his length and quickness and anticipation, I don’t know how many deflections he had, but you saw it with your own eyes,” McGuire said. “He just touches balls and grabs balls and goes downhill and it starts to rattle those other players. (Calvary has) three outstanding guards — as good as any guards we’ve seen. And he doesn’t back down.”
McAllister scored 11 points to help Country Day to a 25-16 lead in the first half. He scored several points in transition off turnovers forced by the Country Day pressure defense. He blocked one shot near the perimeter and took the ball toward the hoop for a contested layup.
“The press, that helped me a lot, to speed up and just play aggressive and getting downhill,” McAllister said. “I’d say that was the best part of my game, and once I was doing that, I’d say I was pretty good.”
sprh.countryday.vs.calvary-11.jpg
Country Day’s Curtis McAllister goes after the loose ball during the LHSAA Division III Select State Basketball Championship game at The Burton Complex in Lake Charles, La. on Friday, March 14, 2025. (Rick Hickman) Kirk Meche
McAllister, who scored another big basket that broke a tie with about a minute remaining, moved into the starting lineup late in the season as Country Day started to rely more on its full-court pressure defense. His offensive game grew from there — enough for him to score the basket that put Country Day ahead for good in the final minute of a semifinal win against Dunham on Feb. 11.
McAllister figures to have a bright future in more than one sport. He played wideout and defensive back on the Country Day football team — but one that struggled to a 4-7 record last season.
New head coach Ben Powell said after Country Day hired him in February that the team will “start from a four-wide environment and probably throw the football,” potentially creating chances for McAllister to make an impact there.
But for now, the greatest team success for McAllister in high school has come on the hardwood.
“I wanted to play hard for those seniors,” McAllister said.