Alabama’s 2025 boys’ and girls’ all-star teams reported to Mobile Thursday to begin preparations for Saturday’s 35th Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic.

Alabama’s teams both come into the all-star clash to be played at the University of South Alabama’s Mitchell Center for the second time in the series. The first game was played there in 2023.

Both Alabama squads are holding slim edges over their Mississippi counterparts. The Alabama boys lead the series 18-16 while the Alabama girls hold a 20-14 edge – riding a seven-game winning streak dating back to 2018.

The Mississippi squads also reported to Mobile Thursday. All four teams underwent practices Thursday afternoon and plan two practices each Friday.

The games, to be televised live over the AHSAA TV Network and video live streamed over the NFHS Network with WOTM TV’s Herbie Strickland serving as executive producer, will tip with the girls’ game at noon Saturday. The boys’ game will follow at approximately 2 p.m.

Alabama’s girls, coached by Ricky Austin of Spring Garden and Emily Flanigan of Sparkman, will be trying to extend its seven-game winning streak over Mississippi with a strong lineup including three seniors who earned MVP honors in last week’s 125th AHSAA State Basketball Championships – Ace Austin Class 1A state champion Spring Garden, Saniya Jackson of Class 6A state champion Park Crossing, and Kaitlyn Gipson of Class 7A state champion Hoover. Also on the Alabama girls’ squad is Ava McSwain of Good Hope, who earned Class 4A MVP in 2024 after leading the Raiders to the state title. Her team reached the finals again last week but fell to Trinity Presbyterian of Montgomery – who has Maddie Smith on the squad at guard – also a past state tournament MVP.

Alabama replaced one player on its’ 12-girl roster. Hewitt-Trussville forward Ashlyn Howard took the spot of Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa’s Jereah Branch, who decided not to play.

Alabama’s girls own a 20-14 edge thanks to the current streak. Alabama won last year’s game played in Mississippi 65-59.

“I was very impressed with the whole group in our first workout because I thought they shot the ball really well,” Austin said Thursday night. “In our shooting drills our numbers were really good compared to some other all-star teams I have been associated with. I was really impressed with Jenna McClendon of Prattville Christian really got up and down the court well and was strong in the post area. I hadn’t seen her since she was in the 10th grade. Seeing her strength was a pleasant sight. (Auburn guard) Brooke Hallman also showed a lot of bounce in her step at guard. Overall, I was really pleased.”

Alabama boys’ coaches Charles Burkett of Central-Phenix City and Kirk Norris of Georgiana replaced a couple of players originally selected. Burkett’s own guard Jacoby Hill stepped down earlier in the week. Brantley’s Jayden Parks, who had 44 points – including 16 points in the final 2:11 in the Bulldogs’ Class 1A state championship 67-65 loss to R.C. Hatch last week, filled that spot Thursday. Huntsville’s Brayden Rivers, a 6-foot-7 guard heading to North Carolina-Ashville, moved onto the team as well.

Alabama lost a close one to Mississippi last year 78-77. The series was first played in 1991 at the University of North Alabama in Florence. The games have been played at several locations during the first 34 years including Florence, Pelham Civic Center, A.E. Wood Coliseum at Mississippi College, Holmes CC in Goodman (MS), Jackson State University (MS), the Montgomery Cramton Bowl Multiplex, Dunn-Oliver Acadome on the campus of Alabama State University, and Saturday’s site, the Mitchell Center at USA.

Headlining Alabama’s boys’ roster are 6-foot-9 Tennessee signee Dewayne Brown and 6-5 UAB signee Salim London of Hoover. Both have earned Class 7A state tournament MVP honors during their careers – which closed with three straight state titles. This year’s team finished 35-0 –the first undefeated 7A team in AHSAA history – and leave the Bucs of Coach Scott Ware with a 45-game winning streak dating back to the 2024 season.

Brown closed out his career drawing rave comments by some who said could be the best big man from Alabama since the 1970s and 1980s – when Leon Douglas was at Colbert County, Wendell Hudson was at Parker, Mule King was at Jackson-Olin, Bobby Lee Hurt was at Butler, and Charles Barkley was at Leeds.

Burkett was also pleased with Alabama’s boys. “It was about as well as expected. A lot of the players have been off for a while and were just getting their legs back. All and all it was a good day. The two 7A champions (Brown and London) just got through playing and they’re still in game form. Emmanuel Clarton (Sumter Central), Jacobe Whitted (McAdory) and J.D. Gossett (Huntsville) had some good moments. I think we’ll see a lot more from all our guys tomorrow.”

London is a big guard who has the reputation of playing his best in the biggest games.

Tickets may be purchased online at GoFan.

— AHSAA Staff

ALABAMA 2025 GIRLS- ALL-STAR BASKETBALL TEAM

Number, Name, School, Pos, Ht, Coach, College

No. 1, Ace Austin, Spring Garden, PG, 5-7, Ricky Austin, Alabama

No. 2, Ava McSwain, Good Hope, SG, 5-9, Justin Aby, UAH

No. 3, Saniya Jackson, Park Crossing, PG, 5-7, Freeah Smith, Undecided

No. 11, Ashlyn Howard, Hewitt-Trussville, F, 6-2, Tonya Hunter, UAB

No. 12, Kaitlyn Gipson, Hoover, PG, 5-5, Krystle Johnson, Undecided

No. 13, Jenna McClendon, Prattville Christian, PF/C, 6-4, Jason Roberson, Middle Tennessee

No. 15, Maddie Smith, Trinity, PG, 5-8, Blake Smith, Hillsdale College

No. 23, Haley Trotter, Chelsea, PF, 6-0, Jason Harlow, Shelton State

No. 25, Brooke Hallman, Auburn, SG, 5-8, Courtney Pritchett, North Alabama

No. 30, Kaylee Yarbrough, New Hope, PG/SG, 5-9, Matt Nelson, Samford

No. 33, Brett Douglas, Hazel Green, PF, 6-0, Tim Miller, Faulkner

No. 34, Sarah Gordon, Vestavia Hills, SG, 5-11, John David Smelser, Pennsylvania

ALABAMA COACHES

Ricky Austin, Spring Garden, Head Coach

Emily Flanigan, Sparkman, Asst. Coach

Tammy West, Cold Springs, Admin. Coach

2025 ALABAMA BOYS- BASKETBALL ROSTER

Name, School, Pos, Ht, Coach, College

No. 0, Jayden Parks, Brantley, G, 6-0. Andre Parks, Undecided

No. 1, Brayden Rivers, G, 6-7, Christian Schweers, UNC Asheville

No. 2, Nasir Cheatham, Georgiana, G/F, 6-4, Kirk Norris, Undecided

No. 3, Braylon Patton, Hueytown, PG, 6-1, Branham Daniels, North Alabama

No. 4, Salim London, Hoover, G, 6-7, Scott Ware, UAB

No. 5, J.D. Gossett, Huntsville, G, 6-5, Christian Schweers, Lipscomb

No. 10, Jayden Williams, Ramsey, G, 6-6, Denton Johnson, Georgia Southern

No. 12, Jacobe Whitted, McAdory, F, 6-7, James Poindexter, Tennessee Tech

No. 13, Desmond Williams, Baker, G, 6-3, David Armstrong, South Alabama

No. 23, Emmanuel Clarton, Sumter Central, G, 6-6, Jazmin Mitchell, Troy

No. 24, Kaden Rickard, Bob Jones, G, 6-6, Bryant Starkey, Murray State

No. 55, Dewayne Brown, Hoover, F, 6-9, Scott Ware, Tennessee

ALABAMA COACHES

Charles Burkett, Central Phenix City, Head Coach

Kirk Norris, Georgianna, Asst. Coach

Dru Powell, Saraland, Admin. Coach