This is an opinion piece.

It doesn’t seem that long ago that Bucky McMillan and Robi Coker were competing for – and winning – state basketball titles at Legacy Arena in Birmingham.

Coker won four Class 3A boys titles at Plainview from 2018-2023 before spending the last two years coaching the Fort Payne boys.

McMillan won five state titles at Mountain Brook, compiling a 333-74 record in 12 seasons with the Spartans. His high school resume also included a pair of runner-up finishes, seven final four appearances and 10 regional appearances.

How things have changed in a seemingly short amount of time.

McMillan – buoyed by 99 wins, four 20-win seasons and an NCAA Tournament berth at Samford after his departure from Mountain Brook – is now the new head basketball coach at Texas A&M. He’s still just 41 years old.

Coker is returning to the college game as an assistant under new McNeese State head coach Bill Armstrong. He and Armstrong served as assistants together previously on the Ole Miss staff of Andy Kennedy.

Neither McMillan nor Coker have forgotten their high school roots.

McMillan was a guest on the Paul Finebaum Show earlier this week.

“We had a lot of fun,” he said of his time at Mountain Brook. “It was an awesome community. We had a lot of support. We built something truly special, and the people of that community have gotten me to this point. In this spot we are in right now, I’m sure we will have a lot of the Birmingham faithful from Mountain Brook and Samford supporting us all the way through.”

McMillan not only turned Mountain Brook into a consistent winner during his time there, but he also turned Spartan basketball into a cool trend. Hundreds of Mountain Brook fans filled Legacy Arena in neon shirts annually to support “Bucky Ball.” That has continued under current coach Tyler Davis.

At the same time, Coker was building Plainview into one of the state’s premier small school basketball powers. The Crossville high school graduate led his team to back-to-back state titles in both 2018 and 2019 and 2022 and 2023.

“At Plainview, we had a group of men who bought in to working hard, putting the team first and who didn’t care who got the credit,” Coker told AL.com’s Mike Perrin earlier this month. “They figured out how to get it done. The culture was contagious, and we got it rolling. It got to be the standard. It was fun to be a part of it.”

Coker didn’t have quite the success at Fort Payne, but that was likely because he was only there two seasons. He still led the Wildcats to a 46-13 record and a pair of sub-regional appearances.

“We are deeply invested in this community,” he said of Fort Payne. “We’ve had a blast over the last 24 months. There were some tears around the Coker house, but we’re spinning it as a positive. Everywhere we’ve been we’ve developed lasting relationships. The more we move, the more friends we make. We’re looking forward to investing in that community.”

Coker and McMillan will continue to win because that is who they are. While I sometimes wish they were still coaching in AHSAA’s final fours, their success is an indication of the quality of basketball coaches we have in high school in this state. That goes not just for boys basketball but girls basketball as well.

I could run down a long list of quality high school coaches who are also quality people, but I would leave too many out. You will just have to trust me when I tell you that high school basketball in Alabama is in good hands.

To Coker and McMillan, good luck on the next level.

We’ll be cheering for you from Alabama.

Prattville basketball opening

Speaking of high school basketball coaches in the state, Prattville High School is searching for a new one.

The school announced earlier this week that Jason Fisher had resigned.

“We’re very appreciative of the hard work and effort put into the Prattville High School Boys’ Basketball program by coach Jason Fisher,” Athletic Director Blake Boren said. “There is no doubt Jason poured into the young men in this program and our community during his tenure here.”

A release said Prattville will begin an immediate search for a new coach.

Mr./Miss Basketball

The Alabama Sports Writers Association will put the final touches on the 2024-2025 basketball season next week at the annual Player of the Year Banquet sponsored by ALFA Insurance and the Alabama High School Athletic Directors and Coaches Association.

Forty-eight of the top players in Alabama will be honored Thursday, April 17, at the Montgomery Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center. The ASWA will announce its girls and boys players of the year in the AISA and all seven classes of the AHSAA.

The Association also will announce its top awards for the sport, Mr. and Miss Basketball.

Sand Rock High fined, forfeits games

The AHSAA announced earlier this week that the Sand Rock varsity baseball team has been fined and placed on probation for playing an ineligible student in violation of the AHSAA Outside Participation Rule.

As a result, Sand Rock must forfeit all the games won in which the student played, and he will be assessed restitution for the contests he played in while ineligible.

Prayer Request

The Spanish Fort community is praying for student-athlete Rob McFadden. The senior wrestler and National Merit Finalist was injured in a serious accident last weekend. The community came together Thursday night for a prayer vigil.

Spanish Fort football coach Chase Smith said McFadden has a full academic ride to the University of Alabama.

“We are praying and hoping,” Smith said. “We are optimistic.”

Will you join the family and Toro community in praying for Rob?

I certainly have. Prayer works.

Thought for the Week

The most meaningful thought we can have every day and especially as we approach Holy Week is this …

“So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished.’ And bowing His head, He gave up his spirit.” – John 19:30.

Indeed, Jesus finished the story for you and I.

Ben Thomas is the high school managing producer at AL.com. He has been named one of the 50 legends of the Alabama Sports Writers Association. Follow him on twitter at @BenThomasPreps or email him at [email protected].