Auburn commit Labaron Philon named Gatorade Player of the Year

For the third straight year, a Mobile-area basketball star has been named Gatorade’s Alabama Player of the year.

Baker junior and Auburn commit Labaron Philon was announced today as the 2022-2023 winner. He follows former McGill-Toolen standout Barry Dunning Jr., who won the last two Gatorade awards.

Philon, a 6-foot-4 point guard, scored more than 1,000 points this season in leading the Hornets to the South Regional title game.

“Obviously, he just had the best season in Baker High history,” Hornets coach David Armstrong said. “It was impressive by any stretch. He scored 1,000 points in a season, which is what many people work for in their careers. He did it in one year.

“Labaron carried us when he needed to carry us and helped our other guys be better on the nights, they needed to be better. He’s a great leader. I can’t wait to see what he does next year.”

Earlier this week, Philon was named the MaxPreps Alabama Player of the Year. He is also expected to be a contender for the Alabama Sports Writers Association Mr. Basketball Award, which will be announced April 6. He is the reigning ASWA Class 7A Player of the Year.

Philon averaged 35 points, six rebounds and four assists for the Hornets. He committed to Auburn over Alabama, Kansas and others on Feb. 16.

“I think at that level, he’ll be similar to what he is at the high school level,” Armstrong said. “He won’t have to be dominant all the time with the ball because he will be playing with some great shooters. Auburn needs a guy like him right now. I think he’ll make a system like that run at a high level.”

Philon is ranked as the nation’s No. 29 recruit in the Class of 2024 by ESPN.com. He concluded his junior year with 2,357 points in his prep basketball career.

“He is a prolific scoring guard who loves to get out and attack the basket,” said Paul Biancardi, National Recruiting Director for ESPN, in a Gatorade release. “His speed with the ball in the open floor allows him to get by defenders. Philon’s 3-point shot has developed over the past six months, too, and his offensive game is best at a faster pace when he can transition defense into offense. He is dedicated to improving and has been a sterling example of a great teammate.”

The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which leverages experts including coaches, scouts, media and others as sources to help evaluate and determine the state winners in each sport.

In addition to Philon and Dunning, other past Gatorade Alabama Players of the Year JD Davison of Calhoun and Trendon Watford of Mountain Brook.