AU commit Labaron Philon among ASWA player of year finalists
Baker junior Labaron Philon is one of just four repeat finalists for player of the year is his classification in 2023.
The Alabama Sports Writers Association announced three finalists today in each of the seven AHSAA classifications and the AISA. The winners – long with Mr. Basketball – will be announced at the annual Player of the Year Banquet on April 6 in Montgomery.
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The banquet is sponsored by ALFA Insurance and the Alabama High School Athletic Directors and Coaches Association.
Philon is the only 2022 winner with a chance to repeat in 2023. He was the 7A player of the year as a sophomore and is a finalist this year in the same class along with Central-Phenix City’s Jacoby Hill and Vestavia Hills’ Win Miller.
The other repeat finalists are Jacksonville’s John Broom in Class 4A, Piedmont’s Alex Odam in Class 3A and Charles Henderson’s Austin Cross, an AISA finalist in 2022 and a Class 5A finalist a year later.
Here is the complete list of 2023 finalists:
CLASS 7A
Central-Phenix City’s Jacoby Hill works the ball down the court during an AHSAA Class 7A championship game at BJCC’s Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Saturday, Mar. 4, 2023. (Vasha Hunt | [email protected])
Jacoby Hill, Central-Phenix City
Win Miller, Vestavia Hills
Labaron Philon, Baker
CLASS 6A

Mountain Brook’s Ty Davis passes against Buckhorn’s Caleb Holt during an AHSAA 6A championship game at BJCC’s Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Sat, Mar. 4, 2023. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
Ty Davis, Mountain Brook
Caleb Holt, Buckhorn
Caleb White, Pinson Valley
CLASS 5A

Valley’s Cam’Ron Dooley shoots a free throw during an AHSAA Class 5A championship game at BJCC’s Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Saturday, Mar. 4, 2023. (Vasha Hunt | [email protected])
Austin Cross, Charles Henderson
Cam-Ron Dooley, Valley
Brandon Fussell, Guntersville
CLASS 4A

Westminster Christian’s Chase McCarty (21) shoots against Jacksonville during an AHSAA 4A championship game at BJCC’s Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Friday, Mar. 3, 2023. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
KJ Anderson, Deshler
John Broom, Jacksonville
Chase McCarty, Westminster-Huntsville
CLASS 3A

Cottage Hill’s Tyler Thomas looks to pass the ball during a prep boys basketball game, Friday, February 3, 2023, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson | al.com)Scott Donaldson/al.com
Alex Odam, Piedmont
Luke Smith, Plainview
Tyler Thomas, Cottage Hill
CLASS 2A

Aliceville’s Jatavius Colvin pushes his way against St. Luke’s Mike Myles during an AHSAA 2A championship game at BJCC’s Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Friday, Mar. 3, 2023. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
Jatavius Colvin, Aliceville
Jacob StClair, Sand Rock
Chandler Sullivan, North Sand Mountain
CLASS 1A

Convenant Christian’s Trey Kellogg (14) drives to the basket against Oakwood Academy’s Will Lewis (24) during an AHSAA 1A championship game at BJCC’s Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Thurs, Mar. 2, 2023. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
Thomas Curlee, Faith-Anniston
Trey Kellogg, Covenant Christian
Jaden Nixon, Autaugaville
AISA
Lukas Holman, Glenwood
Joseph Horne, Lee-Scott
Jacob Wilson, Macon-East