Meet the state’s best HS basketball players for 2023
Who were the five best girls and boys high school basketball players for 2023?
The Alabama Sports Writers Association announced its Super All-State (or Super 5) in each category at the annual Player of the Year Banquet on Thursday in Montgomery. The event was sponsored by ALFA Insurance and the Alabama High School Athletic Directors and Coaches Association.
RELATED: Labaron Philon named Mr. Basketball
RELATED: Reniya Kelly named Miss Basketball
The Super All-State teams were headlined by Miss Basketball Reniya Kelly of Hoover and Mr. Basketball Labaron Philon of Baker.
Here are both Super 5s, which represent the best players in the state for this season regardless of position or classification.
GIRLS SUPER ALL-STATE
Angie Lancaster VP of Marketing Administration for Alfa representative, Reniya Kelly of Hoover and AHSAA Assistant DirectorBrandon Dean during the Mr. and Miss Basketball Alabama Sports Writers Association awards banquet at the Renaissance Montgomery Convention Center in Montgomery, Ala., Thursday, April 6, 2023. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
Reniya Kelly, G, Hoover (Senior)
The North Carolina signee is Hoover’s third Miss Basketball. She also was named Class 7A Player of the Year. She averaged 15.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, five assists and 2.4 steals per game for the 35-1 state champion Bucs.
Kelly was the MVP of the state tournament and of Alabama’s win in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star game. She’s the career leader in points for Hoover with 2,272 (12.8 average). The Bucs are 168-10 with four state titles during her five years in the program.
Hazel Green’s Leah Brooks shoots against Huffman’s Tamiria Jones during an AHSAA 6A championship game at BJCC’s Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Sat, Mar. 4, 2023. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
Leah Brooks, G, Hazel Green (Junior)
Brooks, an Alabama commitment, was named the Class 6A Player of the Year. She averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds in leading the Trojans to an AHSAA-record sixth straight state basketball title. The junior already has more than 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in her career.
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, G, Auburn (Junior)
Daniels averaged 26.5 points and 10 rebounds a game for the Tigers. She shot 63 percent from the field and had 55 steals. She is committed to Auburn.
Spring Garden’s Ace Austin focuses on her free throw during an AHSAA Class 1A championship game at BJCC’s Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, Mar. 2, 2023. (Vasha Hunt | [email protected])
Ace Austin, G, Spring Garden (Sophomore)
Austin averaged 19.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 7.9 assists and 4.9 steals for the Class 1A state champion Panthers (36-1). It was the Panthers’ eighth state title overall and first since 2020. She was MVP of the Class 1A state tournament. In the championship win over Marion County, she had 33 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals. She is the Class 1A Player of the Year.
Angie Lancaster VP of Marketing Administration for Alfa representative, Jorda Crook of Ohatchee and AHSAA Assistant DirectorBrandon Dean during the Mr. and Miss Basketball Alabama Sports Writers Association awards banquet at the Renaissance Montgomery Convention Center in Montgomery, Ala., Thursday, April 6, 2023. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
Jorda Crook, F, Ohatchee (Senior)
The Class 3A Player of the Year carried her team to the regional final, averaging 38 points and 15.7 rebounds per game. She shot 65 percent from the field and 61 percent from the free throw line for a 27-4 team.
BOYS SUPER ALL-STATE
Angie Lancaster VP of Marketing Administration for Alfa representative, Labaron Philon of Baker and AHSAA Assistant DirectorBrandon Dean during the Mr. and Miss Basketball Alabama Sports Writers Association awards banquet at the Renaissance Montgomery Convention Center in Montgomery, Ala., Thursday, April 6, 2023. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
Labaron Philon, G, Baker (Junior)
The Auburn commit was named Mr. Basketball. He also was named Class 7A Player of the Year for the second straight season. He averaged 34.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and four assists per game in helping Baker to the South Regional final. He finished the season with 1,075 points.
Buckhorn’s Caleb Holt and Buckhorn’s Jeremiah Wilson celebrate during the AHSAA 6A championship game at BJCC’s Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Sat, Mar. 4, 2023. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
Caleb Holt, F, Buckhorn (Freshman)
The Class 6A Player of the Year averaged 16.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game for the state champion Bucks. Holt was the MVP of the Class 6A state tournament, scoring a combined 65 points and grabbing 32 rebounds in wins over McGill-Toolen and Mountain Brook.
Alabama’s John Broom of Jacksonville guards Mississippi’s Kylen “Dimp” Pernell of Horn Lake in the first half of the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Basketball Classic on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at the Mitchell Center in Mobile, Ala. (Mike Kittrell | [email protected])
John Broom, G, Jacksonville (Senior)
The South Alabama signee led Jacksonville to its second straight state title and was named Class 4A Player of the Year. He averaged 20.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists for the Golden Eagles. He was the MVP of the Class 4A state tournament and played in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game.
Westminster Christian’s Chase McCarty (21) drives to the basket against Montgomery Catholic’s Joshua Palmer (1) during an AHSAA 4A semifinal game at BJCC’s Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Tues, Feb. 28, 2023. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
Chase McCarty, F, Westminster Christian (Junior)
McCarty averaged 23.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in leading Westminster to the state title game. He scored in double figures in every game he played in.
Vestavia Hills’ Win Miller (0) passes the ball against Hoover at Hoover high school in Hoover, Ala., Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2023. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
Win Miller, G, Vestavia Hills (Senior)
A Belmont signee, Miller averaged 21.6 points, four rebounds and 3.2 assists for Vestavia Hills and is the school’s all-time leading scorer with 2,011 points.
ASWA 2023 BASKETBALL AWARDS
MISS BASKETBALL
Reniya Kelly, Hoover
MR. BASKETBALL
Labaron Philon, Baker
CLASS PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
GIRLS
7A: Reniya Kelly, Hoover
6A: Leah Brooks, Hazel Green
5A: Olivia Vandergriff, Guntersville
4A: Chloe Siegel, Deshler
3A: Jorda Crook, Ohatchee
2A: Belle Hill, Mars Hill Bible
1A: Ace Austin, Spring Garden
AISA: Grace Davis, Clarke Prep
BOYS
7A: Labaron Philon, Baker
6A: Caleb Holt, Buckhorn
5A: Austin Cross, Charles Henderson
4A: John Broom, Jacksonville
3A: Alex Odam, Piedmont
2A: Jacob StClair, Sand Rock
1A: Jaden Nixon, Autaugaville
AISA: Jacob Wilson, Macon-East
Sparkman coach Jarvis Wilson coaches his players during an AHSAA Class 7A semifinal game at BJCC’s Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, Mar. 2, 2023. (Vasha Hunt | [email protected])
COACHES OF THE YEAR
GIRLS
7A: Jarvis Wilson, Sparkman
6A: Lin Slater, Huffman
5A: Brad Kitchens, Arab
4A: Terrie Nelson, Priceville
3A: Shane Childress, Clements
2A: Flori Sweatt, Mars Hill Bible
1A: Ricky Austin, Spring Garden
AISA: Darryl Free, Edgewood
BOYS
7A: Scott Ware, Hoover
6A: Patrick Harding, Buckhorn
5A: Marshon Harper, Valley
4A: Tres Buzan, Jacksonville
3A: Courtney Jones, Midfield
2A: Christopher Walker, Aliceville
1A: Melvin Allen, Oakwood Academy
AISA: Dusty Perdue, Glenwood