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Bad Bunny reinvigorates salsa, packing studios and clubs with newcomers

By Kiara Alfonseca | Edited by Patricia Guadalupe

Bad Bunny – or, at least, a photo of him – watches over the streams of salsa newcomers packing into a warmly lit dance studio at Salsa In Queens. It’s a fitting name for a dance school in Queens, New York.

The studio has seen an uptick in interest for their salsa class offerings since Bad Bunny’s latest album, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, was released in January. The album’s references to salsa classics of the ‘70s and its homage to his Puerto Rican heritage have led to a renewed wave of recognition for the Afro-Caribbean dance styling.

Salsa In Queens, which has been in business for eight years now, also noticed a recent rise in students with Hispanic roots looking to reconnect with their heritage from around the time the album dropped.

“I’ve heard plenty of students that either grew up or were born here, but are of Hispanic descent, and have felt separated from their culture enough that they want to do something about it now,” founder and lead instructor Jean Franco Vergaray told palabra.

They’ve seen so many new Latino clients that they’ve even begun hosting bilingual dance classes to cater to the growing interest from non-English speaking community members looking to take a class.

“I was very receptive to Bad Bunny’s new album because it was a great canvas to open this salsa world to a group of people that probably were standing at an arm’s length,” said Vergaray, adding, “They knew (salsa) existed, they heard of it, but they were never interested enough to even look that way directly.”

Bad Bunny’s latest album is filled to the brim with political and personal messages about his heritage and the issues plaguing the island. Though the album is in part a call to action against gentrification and colonialism, the musical history lesson also memorializes Bad Bunny’s roots and the impact of those who came before him.

“The whole album functions as this warning that the influx of Americans and the kind of hyper-gentrification of this island, that the culture and land of the island itself are at risk,” said Petra Rivera-Rideau, a professor of American Studies at Wellesley College who created the Bad Bunny Syllabus, an online document that explores the historical symbolism and references within Bad Bunny’s artistry and the cultural significance of how he engages social politics within his music.

Bad Bunny told Billboard Magazine that he hopes the album can facilitate connections between different generations; it’s a goal seen in the references to island music genres such as bomba y plena and música jíbara, along with classic salsa songs, and comforting references to life back home in Puerto Rico.

When the album came out, Rivera-Rideau experienced these bonds forming in her own family.

“From the perspective of my children, it’s like a cool thing by this rapper that they love to listen to. And then, from the perspective of my father, a song that pulled from these very traditional musical elements, it fostered that conversation where he could explain it to my kids,” she said.

These themes hit home not just for Puerto Ricans, but those from across Latin America.

Brianna Ochoa is the Ecuadorian owner and instructor of Bri’LaFlor Dance Studio in Dover, New Jersey, and she made what she calls an unexpected but welcome mistake when she first advertised her Bad Bunny-themed salsa class on social media with the hopes of enticing a few new students.

In just one day, the post earned thousands of views online, and 150 people had signed up for the class, though her studio can really only comfortably fit 85. Her regular students couldn’t even sign up through the online portal: “I couldn’t recognize one name on the whole list,” she said.

“Everyone was connecting with each other,” Ochoa added. “They were all there to take a class, but it felt like a club. Everyone was bumping and dancing before anything even started.”

So, she did what she had to do: plan more classes.

For Vergaray, his classes aren’t just about the technicalities of the dance, but about that social community which is inherent to the traditions of salsa.

It’s evident in the way strangers-turned-classmates spill out of the studio during the class break, opening up to one another about their motivations for taking the class or the trouble they’re having with their footwork.

“The most rewarding part, when I look at the studio and the impact that we’ve made, is the micro cluster of communities that start to form,” says Vergaray.

Fans continue to pack album listening parties and themed DJ sets around the country as Bad Bunny prepares for his summer concert dates in Puerto Rico and a fall world tour that will take him to Australia, Spain, the Netherlands, and Tokyo, among other cities.

Salsa feels like it’s everywhere now. For Jacob Lugo, a Puerto Rican salsa instructor in New York City, it’s a welcome sight (and sound).

“When I’m eating at a restaurant, when I’m sitting outside and people are playing music somewhere – there’s salsa,” Lugo said. “It’s bigger than just music. It’s bringing us back to our roots.”

He continued, “For me, it’s always going to go back to connecting with people. It’s very common in the Latin scene that we just play music, where you could dance with each other. You don’t have to dance by yourself all the time. You can actually connect with someone and share a song together, share a memory together through that music.”

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NBA Draft: Alabama, Auburn produce their first first-round picks

The NBA will hold its 79th draft on Wednesday and Thursday. Thirty first-round picks will be made starting at 7 p.m. CDT Wednesday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NBA teams have drafted 49 players from Alabama high schools and colleges in the first round, and AL.com is counting down to the 2025 draft with a decade-by-decade look at the state’s first-rounders, including the 1970s:

Either the NBA discovered Alabama or Alabama discovered the NBA in the 1970s.

In the first 25 NBA drafts, two players from Alabama high schools and colleges were chosen in the first round. But in 1972, two more prospects with Alabama basketball roots went in the first round, and by the end of the 1970s, six more had followed.

The first-round selections in the 1970s who had played at Alabama high schools and colleges included:

1972: Bud Stallworth (Morgan County Training School), No. 7 by the Seattle Supersonics

The small forward from Hartselle starred at Kansas, where he averaged 25.3 points per game and won the Big Eight Player of the Year Award for the 1971-72 season. A year earlier, the Jayhawks had reached the Final Four of the NCAA tournament. After averaging 6.3 points per game in both of his seasons with Seattle, Stallworth was chosen by the New Orleans Jazz in the NBA expansion draft. The 6-foot-5 forward played three seasons with New Orleans before a back injury from an automobile accident ended his career prematurely. In 313 NBA regular-season games, Stallworth averaged 7.7 points and 2.8 rebounds.

1972: Travis Grant (Barbour County Training School), No. 13 by the Los Angeles Lakers

Grant led Kentucky State to NAIA tournament championships in 1970, 1971 and 1972 as he scored 4,045 points for the Thorobreds – 378 more than LSU’s Pete Maravich had scored at LSU to set the NCAA scoring record. Grant’s record for the most points in college basketball stood until 1990. “Machine Gun” didn’t do much for the Lakers. But the 6-foot-7 forward averaged 25.2 points for the ABA’s San Diego Conquistadors in the 1974-75 season. In 36 NBA regular-season games, Grant averaged 3.6 points, 1.5 rebounds and 0.2 assists. In 165 ABA regular-season games, Grant averaged 16.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists.

1975: Joe Meriweather (Central High School in Phenix City), No. 11 by the Houston Rockets

In four seasons at Southern Illinois, the 6-foot-10 center averaged 19.7 points and 12.9 rebounds per game. Meriweather earned All-Rookie recognition in 1975-76, when he averaged 10.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocked shots in 81 games. But after one season, Houston sent Meriweather to the Atlanta Hawks in a deal that brought the top pick in 1976 NBA Draft to the Rockets, who used it on Maryland guard John Lucas. Meriweather spent 10 seasons in the NBA as a noted shot-blocker, with a high average of 2.2 per game for the New Orleans Jazz in the 1977-78 season. In 670 NBA regular-season games, Meriweather averaged 8.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks.

1975: Tom Boswell (Carver High School in Montgomery), No. 17 by the Boston Celtics

After averaging 18.0 points and 13.0 rebounds in two seasons at South Carolina State, Boswell averaged 16.5 points and 8.7 rebounds in 27 games for South Carolina before departing for the NBA. The 6-foot-9 power forward was a member of an NBA championship team as a rookie and appeared in six NBA seasons. In 366 NBA regular-season games, Boswell averaged 7.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists. He averaged 17.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game for the Denver Nuggets in the 1979 playoffs.

1976: Leon Douglas (Colbert County High School, Alabama), No. 4 by the Detroit Pistons

Douglas averaged 20.7 points and 13.1 rebounds per game in 1974-75 for the first Alabama team to reach the NCAA tournament and 20.6 points and 12.4 rebounds per game for the first Crimson Tide squad to post an NCAA tournament victory in 1975-76. That was his springboard to become the first Alabama player drafted in the first round. Douglas provided muscle as a 6-foot-10 center for the Pistons and Kansas City Kings in seven NBA seasons before spending another nine seasons playing overseas. In 456 NBA regular-season games, Douglas averaged 7.9 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists.

1978: Mike Mitchell (Auburn), No. 15 by the Cleveland Cavaliers

The 6-foot-7 forward averaged 20.4 points and 9.6 rebounds across four seasons for Auburn. After scoring at a 24.9-point clip in his senior season for the Tigers, Mitchell became the first player from Auburn chosen in the first round of the NBA Draft. In his second through eighth NBA seasons, Mitchell averaged 22.3 points per game with the Cavs and San Antonio Spurs. In 1981, he scored 14 points in the NBA All-Star Game. In 759 NBA regular-season games, Mitchell averaged 19.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists. After his NBA career, Mitchell played another 11 seasons overseas.

1979: Reggie King (Jackson-Olin High School in Birmingham, Alabama), No. 18 by Kansas City Kings

After averaging 18.4 points and 10.8 rebounds per game in four seasons for Alabama, “Mule” played four seasons for the Kings and two for the Seattle Supersonics. The 6-foot-6 forward reached career highs with averages of 14.9 points and 9.7 rebounds per game in 1980-81 for Kansas City, then averaged 21.3 points and 9.9 rebounds as the Kings reached the Western Conference Finals. In 438 NBA regular-season games, King averaged 8.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists.

1979: Wiley Peck (Lee High School in Montgomery), No. 19 by the San Antonio Spurs

The 6-foot-7 forward averaged 14.5 points and 11.3 rebounds for Mississippi State as a senior to get into the first round. In 52 NBA regular-season games, Peck averaged 3.5 points and 3.5 rebounds. After his rookie season with the Spurs, Peck went to the Dallas Mavericks in the expansion draft, was then traded to the Phoenix Suns and never played in the NBA again.

By the final draft of the 1970s, the first round featured 22 picks. Next week’s first round will have 30 selections.

Four other players with Alabama basketball roots went with selections in the 1970s that would be in the first round of the 2025 draft.

In 1971, the Cincinnati Royals picked Auburn guard John Mengelt at No. 21.

In 1973, the Chicago Bulls picked Alabama forward Wendell Hudson from Parker High School in Birmingham at No. 30.

In 1974, the Atlanta Hawks picked Gardner-Webb forward John Drew from J.F. Shields High School in Beatrice at No. 25.

In 1979, the Phoenix Suns picked Nevada guard Johnny High from Jones Valley High School in Birmingham at No. 24.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.

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Washington Mystics vs Atlanta Dream free livestream: How to watch, date, time

The 2025 WNBA season continues with a strong slate of games heading into the weekend. First up on the docket is the young Washington Mystics taking on the Atlanta Dream on Friday night. The Dream currently have the fourth-best record in the league at 8-4, jumping out to a hot start.

The Mystics are young and feisty. Despite their 5-7 record, the rookies have shined. Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen and Lucy Olsen have all played their roles well early into their careers.

Atlanta’s coming off of a narrow loss to the New York Liberty, 86-81. The Mystics, however, won their last matchup earlier in the week against the Chicago Sky.

Fans looking to tune into the Mystics vs Dream game can do so on Fubo, who’s offering a free trial to new subscribers.

Here’s everything you need to know before the Mystics and Dream tipoff:

When: Friday, June 20, 2025

Where: Gateway Center Arena, Atlanta, GA

Time: 7 p.m. E.T.

Fans looking to tune into the Mystics vs Dream game can do so on Fubo, who’s offering a free trial to new subscribers.

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Alabama housing market surges back in May

May was a very merry month for Alabama’s housing market.

The Alabama Association of Realtors’ monthly report showed both home sales and other values surged over the previous month and year, while listings hit a five-year high.

Last month, Alabama’s 6,214 home sales registered a healthy 7.3% increase from April, and a 6.5% increase year-over-year.

The median home price in May was $230,130, a 2.3% bump compared to the previous month and 6.7% over 2024, meaning $14,510 higher.

But the real action was in the overall picture. The total value of homes closed was $1.7 billion in May, which represented a not-too-shabby 10.4% increase over April and a monumental 26.9% rise over the same period in 2024.

Realtors economist Evan Moore said the signs show Alabama’s housing market may be hitting its stride for those on the hunt.

“Buyers continue to enjoy an increased number of listings in the state while sellers saw an increase in the median sales price in May, but market conditions will likely continue to favor buyers over the next few months as listings are at their highest level in more than five years,” he said.

Homes in Alabama remained on the market one day longer in May as compared to April, at an average of 58 days.

Economists predict that figure to hold in the near future under the current financial conditions.

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Heat advisory in place for West Central Alabama for Saturday

The National Weather Service released a heat advisory at 11:34 a.m. on Friday valid for Saturday between noon and 7 p.m. for Marion, Lamar, Fayette, Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Sumter, Greene and Hale counties.

The weather service describes, “Heat index values in excess of 105 degrees expected.”

“Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses,” adds the weather service.

Heat wave safety tips: Stay safe with these recommendations from the weather service

• Stay hydrated: Remember to drink plenty of fluids.
• Find cool shelter: Opt for an air-conditioned room to stay comfortable.
• Avoid sun exposure: Stay out of the sun, and make sure to check up on relatives and neighbors.
• Child and pet safety: Do not leave young children and pets unattended in vehicles when car interiors can reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.
• Caution outdoors: When working or spending time outside, take extra precautions.
• Time your activities wisely: If possible, reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening when the heat is less intense.
• Recognize heat-related issues: Familiarize yourself with warning signs and how tp recognize the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
• Stay cool with clothing: Wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing.

Additional tips for outdoor workers:

• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas for outdoor workers.
• If someone is overwhelmed by the heat, swiftly relocate them to a cool, shaded location.
• In emergency situations, dial 911 for immediate assistance.

These NWS heat safety directives are essential for safeguarding your well-being when facing high temperatures. Stay well-informed and take the necessary precautions to shield yourself and others from the potential hazards of extreme heat.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.

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Trump’s effort to ‘whitewash history’ at national parks is backfiring

A new Trump administration policy urging national park visitors to flag “negative” information about America at the sites is backfiring.

Instead of reporting the disparaging information on signage throughout the parks, visitors are criticizing the policy, according to Government Executive.

Of the nearly first 200 responses the National Parks Service received about the new policy “no single submission pointed to any such examples” of the negative information, the outlet reported.

“Instead, in the nearly 200 submissions NPS received in the first days since the solicitations were posted, visitors implored the administration not to erase U.S. history and praised agency staff for improving their experiences,” according to Government Executive.

The Trump administration policy is a follow-up to a March executive order titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.”

“It is the policy of my Administration to restore Federal sites dedicated to history, including parks and museums, to solemn and uplifting public monuments that remind Americans of our extraordinary heritage, consistent progress toward becoming a more perfect Union, and unmatched record of advancing liberty, prosperity, and human flourishing,” the order states.

“Museums in our Nation’s capital should be places where individuals go to learn — not to be subjected to ideological indoctrination or divisive narratives that distort our shared history.”

The order directed Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to implement the order.

NPS units are “required to post signage that will encourage public feedback via QR code and other methods that are viable,” NPR reported.

One such sign, is posted at Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield in Missouri, the site of the second major battle of the Civil War, the outlet reported.

Visitors there were encouraged to report “any signs or other information that are negative about either past or living Americans or that fail to emphasize the beauty, grandeur, and abundance of landscapes and other natural features.”

Newsweek reported the administration also removed mentions of transgender people from the Stonewall National Monument website, despite a transgender woman being the person initiating the riot.

Visitors at national sites across the country are not complying with the directive, according to Government Executive.

A visitor to Yosemite National Park wrote: “The executive order to asking for feedback is s—,” according to Government Executive.

“Parks already do an amazing job telling stories that contain hard truths and everyone is entitled to the truth to make better decisions in our lives,” the visitor wrote. “So what if people feel bad?”

“It seems like a clear attempt to whitewash history,” said Dennis Arguelles with the National Parks Conservation Association told CBS News.

“To erase narratives from the past that they feel don’t fit the narratives that they want to see portrayed, and probably most dangerously, omit aspects of our history that are really important for us to understand and learn from.”

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‘Hee Haw’ actor, star of ‘Fried Green Tomatoes,’ dead at 78: ‘Will be greatly missed’

Gailard Sartain, known for his roles in “Hee Haw” and “Friend Green Tomatoes,” died at the age of 78.

The Tulsa World first reported the news.

Teresa Knox, CEO of The Church Studio in Tulsa, told TMZ Gailard passed away this week after his health declined, but no official cause of death was given.

Sartain, who joined “Hee Haw” in 1972, had more than 60 roles in TV and film, including “The Outsiders,” “The Buddy Holly Story,” “Mississippi Burning” and “Ernest Goes to Jail.”

News On 6 reports the Outsiders House Museum called Sartain “a proud Okie and one-of-a-kind talent,” adding, “He’ll be dearly missed and always remembered. Stay gold, Gailard.”

TMZ reports the Church Studio — where Sartain’s wife Mary Jo volunteered — called Gailard “an extraordinary actor, artist, and comedian.”

“I knew he wasn’t in good health and hadn’t been for a while,” Victoria Hallman, who played Miss Honeydew on the TV show, told TMZ.

Earlier this year, Lulu Roman, the brash Hee Haw comedian turned inspirational gospel singer, died at 78 in Bellingham, Washington.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.

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New LMN drama ‘Shattered Vows’ tells story of accused wife murdering husband: How you can watch free

The brand new drama Shattered Vows premieres on the Lifetime Movie Network Friday, June 20 at 8/7c.

Those interested in tuning in for the latest drama to hit the LMN network can stream Shattered Vows through Philo (free trial), DirecTV (free trial) or Sling (50% off first month).

What is Shattered Vows about?

Starring Christie Leverette, Kabby Borders, Rae DeRosa, Will Holland and James Bodo, Shattered Vows details a honeymoon that goes tragically wrong when new groom, Brendan, falls off a hotel balcony, leaving his bride, Sarah, devastated.

When the autopsy points to murder, Brendan’s sister, Rachel, pushes the authorities to hold her new sister-in-law accountable, but mysterious dies soon after.

With evidence stacked against her, Sarah must quickly prove her innocence or risk a lifetime separated from her stepdaughter.

How to watch Shattered Vows without cable

Those interested in catching the Shattered Vows premiere can stream the movie through Philo, DirecTV or Sling.

Out of the three streaming platforms, Philo is the most affordable at just $28 a month after its 7-day free trial concludes.

What is Philo?

Philo is considered one of the most affordable streaming platforms on the market. Known as an entertainment-focused streaming service, Philo offers its subscribers access to over 70 top-rated TV channels such as TLC, MTV, BET, AMC, CMT, Investigation Discovery and more.

New users can enjoy Philo’s 7-day free trial and continue to stream top channels, hit TV shows and movies on-demand for just $28 a month once the free trial expires.

Those looking to customize their flow of content even further on Philo can consider including add-ons such as MGM+, STARZ, and AMC+ in their subscription.

What is DirecTV?

DirecTV is a top streaming service perfect for those looking to access a plethora of live TV channels and enjoy helpful features. The base package starts at just $86.99 a month after its 5-day free trial and includes popular TV channels such as HGTV, ESPN, Bravo, CMT, CNBC, BET, CNN and more.

DirecTV has also recently introduced a lineup of genre packs, which allows subscribers to choose their favorite viewing options based on what genre they watch the most. With genre packs, users can get the channels and content they want without filler channel overload. Packs start at just $34.99 a month.

Those interested in comparing all DirecTV’s channel packages and the new genre packs can check them out here.

What is Sling?

Sling is another streaming service to consider if you want to access top rated TV channels such as the Lifetime Movie Network. Though no free trial is available to new subscribers, those who commit to a paid plan get half off the first month and one month free of AMC+.

Both the Sling Orange plan and the Sling Blue plan are normally $45.99 a month, but with the current promotion, Sling users will pay just $23 a month for the first month.

For those who wish to access channels from both the Sling Blue and Sling Orange plans can do so by signing up for the Orange + Blue plan, which combines the best of both plans for just $60.99 a month ($30.50 for the first month).

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AJ McCarron on how white QBs connect with Alabama teammates: ‘You have to have some swagger’

AJ McCarron suggests there are two things a white quarterback needs in order to be successful, and Alabama’s Ty Simpson has them.

“As a white quarterback on a team that is predominantly black, you have to have some swagger and be able to relate to your Black teammates,” McCarron said on “The Dynasty” broadcast. “Honest truth.”

The former Alabama star added it makes things tougher if you can’t relate to your teams off the field.

“If you go out and you’re not performing to the best of your ability, it’s just the way it is,” McCarron, who won two national titles in Tuscaloosa, said. “Dudes will turn against you.”

He pointed out his childhood experience in Mobile was to his advantage in that regard.

“How I grew up is different that (former Alabama quarterback Greg (McElroy),” McCarron said, adding that isn’t a shot at McElroy. “Greg didn’t grow up probably around a ton of Black people in Katy, Texas. In Mobile, we’re probably 50-50. Where I grew up, it was 70-30, so I was able to relate to dudes even at an early age where (former Alabama and NFL linebacker) Rolando McClain took me under his wing.”

In addition to relating to teammates, quarterbacks have to ball.

“If you’re scared of competition, you shouldn’t have taken your ass to Alabama,” McCarron said. “But you have to build a rapport with every dude on your team and be able to relate to those guys, then be able to go out and perform.

“That’s what’s going to set you apart from everyone else. If you don’t have relationships off the field, when s–t goes bad, it’s going to be tough on you and dudes are gonna push you to the side and not trust you anymore.”

Good news for Alabama fans, though, as McCarron said Simpson has what it takes to be under center for the Tide.

“Ty’s one of those guys,” he said. “I promise you. Ty has some swagger. He doesn’t show it as much. You’ll see him at times. He’s dancing. He’s got handshakes. He’s got that swagger about him, and a ltitle bit of, which I love, cockiness inside the white lines that you need to be successful to play the quarterback position and the quarterback position at Alabama.”

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.

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Recruiting update: Parker 4-star set to announce choice on Saturday, more news

Parker 4-star recruit Vodney Cleveland is expected to announce his college decision at 3 p.m. on Saturday via social media.

The 6-foot-4, 308-pound DL has 30-plus offers, including Alabama — he previously committed to the Crimson Tide last season — and Auburn along with every other SEC school.

Most recruiting sites predict Cleveland to pick Texas.

Another 4-star recruit, Jackson’s EJ Crowell, will announce his choice on Thursday.

Crowell has offers from most SEC schools, including Alabama and Auburn along with Ohio State, Miami, Oregon, Penn State and more for the 5-11, 215-pound RB.

He’s predicted to choose Alabama.

COMMITMENTS

Troy recently picked up a trio of instate commitments, including Auburn 3-star recruit Trinton Pritchett, Gulf Shores’ Nicholas Hampton and Carver-Montgomery’s Kendarius Reynolds.

The 6-6, 280-pound Pritchett chose Troy over offers from Michigan State, North Carolina, Central Florida and Marshall.

A 6-3, 185-pound WR, Hampton had offers from UAB, South Alabama, Tulane, Arkansas State and more.

Offers for Reynolds also came from UAB, Arkansas State, Southern Miss, North Alabama and more for the 6-3, 185-pound ATH.

Parker’s Kentrell Davis announced his commitment to Georgia Tech on social media.

The 6-3, 190-pound 3-star WR also had offers from SEC schools Kentucky, Missouri and Vanderbilt along with Washington, West Virginia, Oregon, UAB and more.

RELATED: St. Michael’s Brody Jones commits

In volleyball, McGill-Toolen setter Alice Wood committed to Kansas State.

The junior helped the Dirty Dozen to their third straight Class 7A title last season and was selected to the AL.com Super All-State team and named the Coastal Region Setter MVP.

OFFERS

Oak Mountain 4-star recruit Jayden Aparicio-Bailey continues to impress college coaches, earning an offer from Michigan.

The 6-2, 180-pound DB also has offers from most SEC shools, including Alabama and Auburn with Clemson, Oregon and USC among the others pursuing the star.

Briarwood 6-6, 323-pound sophomore OL Adrian Derico received his first offer from Mississippi State.

Buckhorn DL Ian Harrell picked up an offer from Rice for the 6-2, 280-pound senior.

Jackson DB Keegan Chapman announced an offer from Austin Peay.

The 5-11, 160-pound speedy senior — he won the Class 4A 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash — also has offers from North Carolina, Samford and North Alabama.

South Alabama offered several instate junior prospects, including Dothan’s Ai’King Hall, Mary G. Montgomery’s Kamron Smith, Pike Road’s Bryson Brooks and Center Point’s Jaylyn Rainey. All are juniors except for Rainey, who’s a senior.

A 6-1, 180-pound DB, Hall also has offers UAB and Troy while 6-foot, 205-pound Smith has offers from UAB and Alabama State among others.

It’s the first D1 offer for the 6-3, 280-pound Brooks.

The 6-3, 300-pound OL/DL Rainey also has offers from Arkansas State, Austin Peay and North Alabama.

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