ASWA girls basketball Player of the Year finalists named
Finalists for girls basketball class player of the year were today named by the Alabama Sports Writers Association.
The top three in each of eight classes are eligible for class Player of the Year while Miss Basketball is chosen from the players of the year. All finalists are first-team selections to the ASWA girls all-state team.
RELATED: ASWA girls all-state basketball team
There are nine repeat Player of the Year finalists with three of those earning Player of the Year last season.
Gatorade state Player of the Year winner Reniya Kelly of Class 7A champion Hoover was the 2022 class Player of the Year as was Olivia Vandergriff of Class 5A Guntersville and Timya Thurman of Class 1A Linden.
This year’s other finalists repeating from last season are Chloe Siegel of Class 4A Deshler, Jorda Crook of Class 3A Ohatchee, Cali Smallwood of Class 3A Susan Moore, Ace Austin of Class 1A champion Spring Garden and AISA’s Lindsey Brown of Edgewood and Grace Davis of Clarke Prep.
Boys and girls class Player of the Year winners, Super All-State teams along with Mr. Basketball and Miss Basketball will be announced at a luncheon — sponsored by the Alabama High School Athletic Directors & Coaches Association — on April 6 in Montgomery. The awards are sponsored by Alfa Insurance.
ASWA GIRLS PLAYER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
CLASS 7A GIRLS
Auburn’s Syriah Daniels scores on a layup during a 7A central regional playoff game in Birmingham, Ala., Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023. (Vasha Hunt | preps.al.com)Vasha Hunt
Syriah Daniels, Auburn
Reniya Kelly, Hoover
Jabria Lindsey, Central-Phenix City
CLASS 6A GIRLS
Theodore’s Jazmyn Bigham takes a shot during a 6A regional playoff game in Montgomery, Ala., Friday, Feb. 17, 2023. (Vasha Hunt | preps.al.com)Vasha Hunt
Jazmyn Bigham, Theodore
Leah Brooks, Hazel Green
Takya Norman, Carver-Montgomery
CLASS 5A GIRLS
Pleasant Grove’s Tamya Smith (1) shoots during an AHSAA 5A championship game at BJCC’s Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Sat, Mar. 4, 2023. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
Julie Nekolna, Holtville
Tamya Smith, Pleasant Grove
Olivia Vandergriff, Guntersville
CLASS 4A GIRLS
Prattville Christian’s Hannah Jones (23) reaches for a loose ball during an AHSAA 4A championship game at BJCC’s Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Friday, Mar. 3, 2023. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
Hannah Jones, Prattville Christian
Naomi Jones, Jackson
Chloe Siegel, Deshler
CLASS 3A GIRLS
Trinity’s Emma Kate Smith passes the ball against Clements’ Jakayla Farrar during the AHSAA Class 3A girls championship at BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Friday, March 3, 2023. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
Jorda Crook, Ohatchee
Cali Smallwood, Susan Moore
Emma Kate Smith, Trinity
CLASS 2A GIRLS
Mars Hill Bible’s Belle Hill looks for an opening against Cold Springs during the AHSAA Class 2A girls championship at BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Friday, March 3, 2023. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
Belle Hill, Mars Hill Bible
Briley Merrill, Ranburne
Macey Roper, Pleasant Valley
CLASS 1A GIRLS
Elba’s A’lyric Whitfield (10) brings the ball down court against Marion County’s Alecia Shack (12) during an AHSAA 1A semifinal game at BJCC’s Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Monday, Feb. 27, 2023. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
Ace Austin, Spring Garden
Timya Thurman, Linden
A’Lyric Whitfield, Elba
AISA GIRLS
Lindsey Brown, Edgewood
Grace Davis, Clarke Prep
Takayla Davis, Glenwood