Girls Power 10: See the state’s top basketball teams heading into the season
The preseason AL.com Power 10 girls basketball poll ranks the top teams in the state regardless of classification.
The high school basketball season officially beginning on Thursday for AHSAA teams and the season will end with the state finals in Birmingham Feb. 27-March 4.
RELATED: Boys Power 10
See the top 10 girls teams below.
Prattville Christian’s Hannah Jones tries to get past Susan Moore’s Cali Smallwood during the AHSAA Class 3A girls championship at BJCC’s Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Friday, March 4, 2022. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
10. PRATTVILLE CHRISTIAN
Class: 4A
Last season’s record: 36-1
Opener: Nov. 8 vs. Trinity
The skinny: The Panthers won the past two Class 3A titles, but move up to Class 4A this season, playing in Area 5 with BTW-Magnet, Dallas County and Wilcox Central. They’ll cross with Area 6 competitors Bibb County, Holt, Montevallo and West Blockton to reach the regional.
Four starters return for Prattville Christian, including a strong inside presence with 6-2 senior Hannah Jones, a Memphis volleyball commit, who averaged 17 points and 12 rebounds, along with 5-11 senior CoCo Thomas (11 points, 12 rebounds a game). Guards returning are junior Avery Rogers and eighth-grader Kayden Carr.
Deshler’s Chloe Siegel shoots a 3-pointer against St. James’ Katie Brightwell during the AHSAA Class 4A girls championship at BJCC’s Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Friday, March 4, 2022. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
9. DESHLER
Class: 4A
Last season’s record: 34-1
Opener: Nov. 12 vs. Cullman at Fairview
The skinny: Deshler ended last season on an 18-game winning streak, capturing its eighth title in school history — seven under Jana Killen — and first since 2016. The Tigers will have to contend with Class 4A, Area 16 teams Central-Florence, Rogers and Wilson, and cross over with Area 15 teams Randolph, St. John Paul II, West Limestone and Westminster Christian to reach the regional.
Hot-shooting guard and senior Chloe Siegel— she set the national record with 18 3-pointers in a game last season — leads the Tigers while junior Raegan Rickard handles point guard and eighth-grader Reece Davis is also a shooter. Malea Graves, Haley Goodloe and Cooper Thompson will play a role.
Mortimer Jordan’s Jaylen Pleasant works the ball around the perimeter during AHSAA Class 6A Northwest Regional action at Wallace State in Hanceville, Friday, Feb. 18, 2022. (Vasha Hunt | preps.al.com)Vasha Hunt
8. MORTIMER JORDAN
Class: 6A
Last season’s record: 27-6
Opener: Nov. 3 vs. Oak Mountain
The skinny: The Blue Devils lost in the regional final to Class 6A state champion Hazel Green last season. They compete in Area 12 this season that also includes Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley. The subregional pairing will be against Area 14 of Cullman, Decatur and Hartselle.
Mortimer Jordan returns seniors Jaylen Pleasant, who should break 1,000 career points this season, and fifth-year starter Sarah Kanaday (1,339 career points). Senior Haley Russell and junior Keyarra Scottland will also be key.
Bob Jones’ Janiyah Bone works around Oak Mountain’s Raegan Whitaker during AHSAA Class 7A Northwest Regional action at Wallace State in Hanceville, Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022. (Vasha Hunt | preps.al.com)Vasha Hunt
7. BOB JONES
Class: 7A
Last season’s record: 27-4
Opener: Nov. 5 vs. New Hope at Hazel Green Tipoff Tournament
The skinny: The Patriots reached the regional championship before falling to eventual state champion Hoover. Area 8 this season is Austin, Bob Jones, Florence and James Clemens, crossing with Area 5 that includes Power 10 Hoover and Vestavia Hills in the regional tournament.
Bob Jones is young, but expect juniors Janiyah Bone and Zamyra Goode and freshman Ja’Kyah Smith to lead the group.
Hewitt-Trussville’s Jordan Hunter controls the ball against Sparkman during AHSAA Class 7A Northeast Regional action at Jacksonville State on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
6. HEWITT-TRUSSVILLE (25-7)
Class: 7A
Last season’s record: 25-7
Opener: Nov. 3 vs. Gadsden City
The skinny: The Huskies fell in the regional championship to Vestavia Hills, failing to reach the Final 4 after making it to the title game in 2019 and 2021. The area includes Chelsea, Oak Mountain and Spain Park while the regional includes Area 7 and Power 10 Sparkman.
Junior point guard Jordan Hunter — she’s the daughter of head coach Tonya and assistant Cedric — is an Auburn commit while senior April Hooks is committed to Alabama State and Audre Benson has offers from Alabama State and Central Arkansas.
Vestavia Hills’ Anna Towry goes to the basket against Hoover during the AHSAA Class 7A Girls championship at BJCC’s Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Friday, March 4, 2022. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
5. VESTAVIA HILLS
Class: 7A
Last season’s record: 33-3
Opener: Nov. 3 vs. Pell City
The skinny: Vestavia Hills’ only losses last season were to Hoover, twice, and once to Hewitt-Trussville, but beat the Huskies in three other games. The Rebels are part of Area 5, as is Hoover, and the regional will include Area 8 with Power 10 Bob Jones.
The Rebels return a good nucleus in trying to follow up on last season’s runnerup finish to Hoover in the Class 7A title game, marking the first appearance in the championship since 1997. Senior Anna Towry heads a group that also includes sophomores Sarah Gordon and Jill Gaylard.
Sparkman’s Kennedy Langham goes to the basket against Hewitt-Trussville’s D’Yona Jones during AHSAA Class 7A Northeast Regional action at Jacksonville State on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
4. SPARKMAN
Class: 7A
Last season’s record: 26-5
Opener: Nov. 5 vs. Mortimer Jordan and Central-Phenix City at Hazel Green Tipoff Tournament
The skinny: The Senators lost to Hewitt-Trussville in regional first round action last season after winning the area. This season’s Area 7 includes Albertville, Grissom and Huntsville and crossing over with Area 6 that includes Power 10 Hewitt-Trussville in regional action.
Senior Samford commit Kennedy Langham leads the Spartans along with juniors Abethany James and Jalei O’Neal while senior transfer from Bob Jones 6-2 post player Jada Burks will make an impact.
Auburn’s Syriah Daniels shoots against Vestavia Hills’ Jill Gaylard during an AHSAA Class 7A semifinal game at BJCC’s Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, Mar. 3, 2022. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
3. AUBURN
Class: 7A
Last season’s record: 20-8
Opener: Nov. 8 vs. Brewbaker Tech
The skinny: Auburn has earned a spot in the Class 7A Final 4 each of the past two seasons and three of the past four so expect a similar result this season. They’ll face Central-Phenix City, Opelika and Smiths Station in Area 4 play and cross against Area 2 with Daphne, Fairhope and Foley in the regional.
Junior 6-foot guard Syriah Daniels — daughter of former Auburn Tigers stars Marquis Daniels and Shana Askew — averaged 19 points a game last season and has more than 10 Division 1 offers, including Auburn. Averaging 10 points and 9 rebounds last season, 6-4 freshman Kelsi Andrews already has more than 15 Division 1 offers.
Hoover’s Reniya Kelly shoots against Davidson’s lyana Johnson during an AHSAA Class 7A semifinal game at BJCC’s Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, Mar. 3, 2022. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
2. HOOVER
Class: 7A
Last season’s record: 34-3
Opener: Nov. 12 vs. Sparkman at Sweet Homelife Tipoff Challenge at Mortimer Jordan
The skinny: The Bucs dominated the class last season, winning their fourth Class 7A championship in six years by beating Vestavia Hills 73-64 for the eighth overall program title. Wins included Power 10 Vestavia Hills, twice, Hewitt-Trussville and Sparkman.
Hoover is tall, talented and deep. Seniors Reniya Kelly (North Carolina commit), 6-1 Alanah Pooler, 6-2 Kristen McMillan (Central Arkansas commit), Layla Etchison and Kennedi McCray combine with junior Kamryn Lee and 6-3 freshman Khloe Ford to create a formidable lineup.
Hazel Green’s Leah Brooks grabs rebound from Oxford’s Kaylen Kenney during the AHSAA Class 6A Girls championship at BJCC’s Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Friday, March 4, 2022. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
1. HAZEL GREEN
Class: 6A
Last season’s record: 35-0
Opener: Nov. 4 vs. Central-Phenix City at Hazel Green Tipoff Tournament
The skinny: Hazel Green has won five straight Class 6A titles and enters the season with a 59-game winning streak, last losing to Ensworth, Tenn., during the 2020-2021 season. Wins last season included Class 7A champion Hoover along with Power 10 Hewitt-Trussville and Sparkman.
It’s a stellar junior class, led by Alabama commit Leah Brooks along with Amiya Redus, Sydney Steward and Zyriah Price, who has multiple Division I offers. Senior Nyla Collier is a Montevallo commit.
TEAMS TO WATCH (Alphabetical)
Arab, Central-Phenix City, Chelsea, Cold Springs, Daphne, Davidson, Decatur Heritage, Foley, Good Hope, Guntersville, Huffman, Jackson, Lauderdale County, Lee-Huntsville, LeFlore, Loachapoka, Marion County, McGill-Toolen, Midfield, Mountain Brook, New Hope, Oxford, Pell City, Pisgah, Plainview, Pleasant Grove, Ramsay, Selma, Skyline, Spring Garden, St. James, St. Luke’s, St. Paul’s, Susan Moore, Trinity, UMS-Wright.