Alabama News

Mountain Brook High star Caleb Barnett has been selected in the 2025 MLB Draft, picked by the Chicago Cubs with pick No. 571 overall in the 19th round.

A two-way player for the Spartans last season, he is the second player from an Alabama high school to be drafted; Hewitt-Trussville star Steele Hall was selected with the No. 9 overall pick by the Reds.

Despite being drafted on Monday, Barnett confirmed to AL.com that it his is intention to play for the University of Alabama; he committed to the Crimson Tide in June of 2022.

Last season with Mountain Brook, he batted .355 with five home runs, nine doubles, 28 RBIs and 40 runs scored to lead the Spartans to a Class 6A quarterfinal appearance.

On the mound, he posted a 5-2 record with a 1.61 ERA, striking out 85 batters across 56.2 innings. He was a first team all-state pick at designated hitter in Class 6A and selected to the Birmingham News 2025 Terrific 22 Baseball Team.

The Cubs selected three players with Alabama ties, including Crimson Tide pitcher Kade Snell and Troy pitcher Noah Edders.

Lane Kiffin doubled down Monday on comments he made earlier Monday at SEC Media Days, suggesting he wasn’t trolling Auburn coach Hugh Freeze earlier this summer.

Kiffin was explaining to Finebaum how the SEC Network analyst always seems to put him on the hot seat.

“I had you for half a second going to Auburn,” Finebaum said, adding to the hilarious exchange. “By the way, I don’t feel bad about what I said about you based on what you said about Hugh Freeze recently.”

Last week, Kiffin posted on X and directed those post to Freeze.

“First of all, I haven’t said one bad thing about High Freeze,” Kiffin countered. “I said something about he’s doing great in golf. His handicap is way down. That’s awesome, man.”

He then explained what he says was taken out of context.

“I’m a Hugh Freeze fan, then people say I posted a fishing picture at Hugh Freeze. They think I’m talking about golf. No, I’m not. It’s because if you know the history … he posted a picture of a 2-pound bass and was flexing at me. I was like, ‘Wait a second here.’ I sent a pic of a 50-pound fish in saltwater.”

Kiffin’s comment echoed what he told the gathered media Monday at SEC Media Days in Atlanta.

Freeze’s golfing earned criticism during June after Auburn’s 2026 recruiting class suffered a handful of decommitments. From June 1 to June 24, a period in which Auburn saw three players decommit, Freeze logged 10 rounds of golf, according to the USGA’s GHIN database.

He addressed that criticism on David Pollack’s “See Ball Get Ball” podcast last week, downplaying the effect it has had on recruiting.

Meanwhile, the Ole Miss coach’s unscheduled appearance on “The Paul Finebaum Show” didn’t disappoint as he and Finebaum broke down their at-times dysfunctional friendship.

The Home Run Derby is the must-see event of MLB All-Star Week, and you can wager on the dinger fest with our exclusive bet365 welcome offer. Claim the bet365 bonus code ALBET365 to bet $5 on any player and receive $150 in bonuses – win or lose.

User experience is a priority at bet365, and new customers can defer the $150 bonus offer and instead choose the first-bet safety net. If your first wager of up to $1,000 loses, bet365 matches the amount bet with bonuses.

bet365 bonus code ALBET365 at a glance

bet365 bonus code ALBET365: How to get instant $150 bonus for the Home Run Derby

Bet365 is already wildly popular in the U.K., and its recent deal with Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever (they play the Sun tomorrow) will only grow the sportsbook’s footprint in the U.S.

Earlier this month, the Fever announced bet365 as the team’s official sportsbook partner for the 2025 season.

With two drastically different welcome offers, bet365 appeals to bettors of all experience levels and bankrolls. Signing up and claiming your preferred offer takes just a few minutes if you follow these steps:

1. Download the bet365 app, which is available through our bet365 bonus code banners and links.
2. Open the app and tap the “New Customers” tab to begin account registration. If you use our links, the bet365 bonus code ALBET365 auto-fills.
3. Submit a deposit of at least $10.
4. Bet $5 on any event and get a $150 bonus (win or lose) if you choose the bet-and-get promo.
5. Receive up to $1,000 in bonuses if you activate the first-bet safety net and lose your initial wager.

Bonus bets are non-withdrawable and must be used within seven days. Tap a bet365 bonus code banner or link for complete terms and conditions.

bet365 existing user promos

Your bonus funds will eventually dry up, but you can always return to bet365 and find additional promos for existing users. Here are some of the best offers for today’s top events:

• 100% Parlay Boost: Place a parlay on any sporting event and raise your potential payout with a profit boost token. The size of the profit boost depends on the number of legs in the parlay, and the max is a 100% boost.
• WNBA Early Payout: Bet the moneyline in a WNBA matchup, and score an early payout if your team grabs an 18-point lead at any point in the game.

How to use the bet365 bonus code ALBET365 for the Home Run Derby and NBA Summer League

Best bet: Oneil Cruz to win the Home Run Derby and Spurs -4

The terms of bet365’s $150 bonus offer are flexible. You just need to bet $5, and the bonus is yours whether the wager wins or loses. I recommend capitalizing on the opportunity by placing a parlay with a big potential payout.

My first pick is Pirates’ slugger Oneil Cruz to win the Home Run Derby. He leads the majors in average bat speed and average exit velocity. Cruz struggles with offspeed pitches, but that’s not a concern tonight when the pitcher is lobbing meatballs.

Next, I’m taking the Spurs -4 against the Jazz. San Antonio is 2-0 in Summer League play, and no team has a higher scoring differential (+24). Meanwhile, Utah is 0-2 and allows the third-most points per game.

The parlay carries +648 odds, and a $5 bet returns $32.40. I typically avoid parlays, but since the $150 bonus is guaranteed, it’s worth taking a swing at a big cash payout.

Learn more about our gaming editorial staff.

If you or a loved one has questions or needs to talk to a professional about gambling, call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit 1800gambler.net for more information.

Jacksonville State pitcher Joe Scarborough has been selected by the New York Mets with the 583rd overall pick of the 2025 MLB draft.

Scarborough going in the 19th round will mark the second draftee for Jax State, joining fellow pitcher Jackson Phipps who was drafted to the Athletics.

This marks the first time Jax State has had multiple draftees since 2019, according to a spokesperson within the team; he is also the first player from Jax State to be drafted by the Mets since 2019.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound righty finished with a 6.62 ERA and a 4-2 record in 2025 with Jax State. He struck out 14 batters while walking 20 across 17.2 innings pitched out of the bullpen.

He pitched a season-high 2.1 innings against Kennesaw State, allowing an earned run while walking one batter and and striking out one in the April matchup.

Before his one season in Jacksonville, he spent two seasons at East Mississippi Community College in Scooba, Mississippi, where he was a two-way player.

He had a 5.63 ERA as a sophomore with the JUCO program across 16 innings; he struck out 19 batters while walking 10 and batted .245 with nine home runs.

Jacksonville State pitcher Jackson Phipps was selected in the 16th round of the 2025 MLB draft on Monday, going to the Athletics with the No. 470 overall pick.

He is the first Jax State player drafted by the Athletics since 1983 when Scott Whaley was picked in the 15th round, according to a Jax State spokesperson.

In his lone season at Jax State, the 6-foot-4, 225-pound lefty claimed all-Conference USA honors as he served as the Gamecocks’ Friday starter.

He finished with a 3.33 ERA and a 4-2 record in 15 starts, walking 43 batters and striking out 83. Phipps allowed a .177 opponent batting average across 75.2 innings pitched.

During the Conference USA baseball tournament against Dallas Baptist, he threw eight innings of one-run ball while striking out 12 batters. Jax State advanced to the CUSA tournament championship game.

A native of Dallas, Ga., and graduate of East Paulding High School, he spent four seasons at South Carolina and made 21 appearances; he missed the 2022 season with injury and also did not play in 2024.

He is the second pitcher drafted from Jax State in three seasons; Birmingham native Jake Peppers was drafted by the White Sox in the 2023 season and is now in High-A Winston-Salem.

The shortest offseason in sports belongs to the NBA, as things move very quickly following the end of the season. The Oklahoma City Thunder just won the NBA Finals, with the draft taking place just three days later.

Another major milestone of the NBA offseason will be this weekend, as the Summer League will take place. A showcase for younger players to earn a place on the regular season roster, the Summer League is essential for any major NBA fan.

To continue off of this last week’s slate of exciting games, the crosstown rivals in Los Angeles will go up against each other. The Lakers have been talked about a ton this summer due to Bronny James’ development. After going up against No.1 pick Cooper Flagg last week, James had 14 points in 24 minutes over the weekend against the Pelicans.

Fans looking to watch the Lakers vs Clippers game can do so on Fubo, who’s offering a free trial to new subscribers.

Here’s everything you need to know before the Lakers and Clippers tipoff:

When: Monday, July 14, 2025

Where: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV

Time: 10:30 p.m. ET

Fans looking to watch the Lakers vs Clippers game can do so on Fubo, who’s offering a free trial to new subscribers.

If you’re looking to hit a home run with your bets on tonight’s Home Run Derby, then our DraftKings promo code (no code required) is a fastball that you can easily knock out of the park. Just place any $5 bet and this DraftKings welcome offer will award you with $150 in bonus bets.

DraftKings promo code at a glance

DraftKings promo code: How to claim the offer for the Home Run Derby or NBA Summer League

Several of the best online sportsbooks are offering “bet and get” deals like this DraftKings sign-up bonus, but DraftKings’ offer stands out because you do not have to win your bet to get the bonus bets. That makes it one of the best sportsbook promos available for tonight’s Home Run Derby or the NBA Summer League action.

You can claim this offer faster than one round of the Derby. It takes only a few minutes by following these steps:

1. Click one of our DraftKings promo code links or one of the “Get Bonus” buttons on this page.
2. From the DraftKings promo page, click “Sign Up” and follow the prompts to enter your personal information and create your account. You will not need to enter a DraftKings promo code if you use our link to sign up.
3. Make a $5+ deposit.
4. Bet $5+ on the 2025 Home Run Derby, the NBA Summer League, or any other sports action tonight.
5. Collect six $25 bonus bets totaling $150.
6. Use your bonus bets before they expire seven days (168 hours) after you receive them.

DraftKings existing user promos

After you have claimed the DraftKings Sportsbook sign-up bonus for new users, there are still more promos available to existing users.

These promos offer perks like bonus bets or profit boosts and apply to the most popular sporting events going on at any time, such as the Home Run Derby tonight.

Here are a few DraftKings existing user promos available right now:

• MLB HR Derby profit boost: Opt in to this promotion to get some additional profits if you win a bet on the Home Run Derby. Minimum odds (-250) and maximum bet limits apply, and the boost percentage varies for each bet, so log in and add a bet to your betslip to get more details.
• MLS Season Pass Bet and Get: You can get a free one-year subscription to MLS Season Pass on Apple TV when you bet $5 on any soccer match. After placing your bet, you will receive a promo code via e-mail to set up a new subscription and claim the offer. Your subscription will require valid payment information and will auto-renew at the regular price unless you cancel.

How to use the DraftKings promo code for the Home Run Derby and NBA Summer League

One of the best things about this DraftKings new user promo is that you can place any bet you want to claim the $150 in bonus bets.

Whether you want to back Home Run Derby favorite Cal Raleigh at +300 or the field’s biggest longshot Junior Caminero at +1200, as long as you bet $5+ you will earn the bonus.

Of course, ideally you will win your bet AND claim the bonus bets. To do that, my best bet for the Home Run Derby is the Rays’ Junior Caminero to make the semifinals at +160.

There’s a lot to like about Caminero’s chances tonight. He has easy power to all fields with 100th percentile bat speed. He is also just 21 years old and should have no problem with the endurance challenges the Derby presents.

Caminero also has an advantage with his pitcher being Tomas Francisco, who helped Randy Arozarena finish 2nd in the Derby two years ago. The current Derby format prioritizes quality pitching, and Francisco’s consistency and experience could help Caminero get into a rhythm.

I also like betting on Caminero to make the finals (+500) or to win the whole thing, but the semifinals bet is the safer bet that still offers excellent value.

Learn more about our gaming editorial staff.

If you or a loved one has questions or needs to talk to a professional about gambling, call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit 1800gambler.net for more information.

With the 36th selection in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Sunday, the Minnesota Twins selected Alabama pitcher Riley Quick.

On Monday, the Twins got another Crimson Tide pitcher, this time with the 479th selection, where they took Jonathan Stevens in the 16th round.

But while Quick posted an 8-3 record in 14 starts in the 2025 season, Stevens did not pitch for Alabama this season, just as he did not in his first season with the Crimson Tide in 2024.

Also like Quick, Stevens is a former Alabama high school star. Quick played at Hewitt-Trussville while Stevens prepped at Briarwood Christian in Birmingham.

Stevens entered the transfer portal after Alabama’s 2025 season ended.

Stevens became the fourth player picked from the 2025 Alabama team in this year’s draft. In addition to Quick, the Chicago Cubs chose outfielder Kade Snell at No. 151 and the New York Yankees selected outfielder Richie Bonomolo Jr. at No. 224.

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

If there was one interview you needed to see during Day 1 of SEC Media Days, it was Lane Kiffin’s unscheduled appearance on “The Paul Finebaum Show.”

The SEC Network analyst and Ole Miss coach have history, to say the least.

The self-described “Odd Couple” will be remembered for years to come for their quick wit, explosive comments, headline-generating conversations, then laughing about it the next day.

On a day when the chances of Nick Saban returning to coaching was the talk of Atlanta, the SEC’s on-air dynamic didn’t disappoint.

“You didn’t ask at all,” Kiffin deadpanned when introduced as a guest Finebaum was told would be unavailable. “I was like a late portal addition to your roster.”

And, we’re off!

Finebaum and Kiffin have always been linked. Kiffin joked for years that the SEC Network analyst got him fired at USC. He had Kiffin tied to the Auburn job. That’s just for starters.

Under all of that is a level of respect, a friendship that has grown through the trending headlines of the SEC.

“They really think we don’t get along,” Kiffin said. “They say all the time, ‘That Finebaum, man, way to stick it to him. He’s always trying to get you.’ I’m like, ‘Wait. I like Paul. I think Paul likes me.’”

Cue the “Odd Couple” theme.

Perhaps there is no better way to accurately depict the awkward yet hilarious chemistry the two have. Check out the video below or try to follow with the transcript below.

LK: They just said you’re going on Finebaum. I said you got to give the people what they want. And I think the people like seeing us.

PF: Yeah, you’re a highly successful football coach and I’m a struggling sports guy.

LK: You’re highly successful. You stay at the same job. I have to keep moving. I keep getting fired. I have to get new ones. …

I’ll be on the hot seat one way before we start playing. Only way I’ll be on the hot seat next month will be if you decide to do one of your things because everyone listens to you as the voice of college football. You’re like, ‘I don’t know, man. This Lane Kiffin can’t even win a big game, can’t get it done. There needs to be a change in Oxford, if he doesn’t get to the Final Four.

PF: I think I did say that one year.

LK: And they believe it, too. Paul Finebaum said, “You should be in the semifinals.”

PF: Well, if we’re being honest, you should have been there last year. You had a good team.

LK: I had a really good team.

PF: … But you also had to coach the good team.

LK: I know.

PF: I know you don’t believe this, but I am a fan of yours.

LK: I had you for a week. Against Georgia, you said something good. I actually have it. I play the recording in the mornings sometimes. You’re like, “Lane Kiffin has arrived. He’s finally won a game that matters.” But then it went to my head, and we screwed up in Gainesville because of that. …

Then in like Week 10, you’re always like, he’s taking this job. Then the players and fans are mad, so can we not do that this year?

PF: I was at a place, and I won’t say where and the fans were chanting, “We want Lane.” I don’t manufacture jobs for Lane Kiffin. Now, they changed their mind after you lost.

LK: Yeah, they did.

PF: I never thought you’d stay at Ole Miss.

LK: Proved you wrong.

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.

A young teen boy was among three people killed in Montgomery shootings between Thursday and Saturday.

Police officials on Monday identified the victims as Brantley McNabb, 15, Malik Benson, 27, and Dekeith Whatley, 26.

Officers and fire medics were dispatched at 2:41 p.m. Thursday to a report of someone shot in the1100 block of Air Base Boulevard.

Brantley was pronounced dead on the scene.

Benson and Whatley were killed in linked shootings Saturday afternoon.

First responders were dispatched at 3:55 p.m. to a report of people shot in the 400 block of North California Street and the 2700 block of Upper Wetumpka Road.

Officers were told the shootings were likely related.

Officers found Benson dead on California Street.

The second victim -Whatley – was found wounded on Upper Wetumpka Road. He, too, was pronounced dead.

Circumstances surrounding the deadly shooting have not been released.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 334-215-Stop, Montgomery detectives at 334-625-2831 or the Secret Witness tip line at 334-625-4000.