The deepest basketball state in the country had three of its head coaches recognized on Tuesday.

The state of Alabama had three men’s basketball coaches named finalists for the annual Hugh Durham Award, which is presented by CollegeInsider.com to the top Mid-Major Division I coach in men’s basketball.

Those from the state included Jacksonville State coach Ray Harper, North Alabama coach Tony Pujol and South Alabama coach Richie Riley.

The state of Alabama is one of two states with three coaches on the list, with Virginia also having three recognized.

Harper’s Jax State squad sits in a tie for first in Conference USA, with a victory against Kennesaw State on Saturday clinching a share of the regular-season championship.

The Gamecocks are 20-10 overall and 12-5 in conference play, marking the fifth 20-win season for Jax State under Harper.

Pujol’s North Alabama team is in the midst of the program’s best season since transitioning to Division I, claiming a share of the ASUN Conference regular-season title; the championship marks UNA’s first in any sport since the move to Division I.

His Lions (23-9, 14-4) advanced to the ASUN Conference tourney semifinals with a 90-64 rout of Austin Peay in the program’s first home postseason game since 2017 and first since moving to Division I.

Riley’s South Alabama team will serve as the top season in the Sun Belt Conference tournament after finishing the regular season 21-10 overall and 13-5 in league play.

The 21-win mark is the most for South Alabama since 2008 and the highest mark under Riley, who was recently named this season’s Sun Belt Conference Joe Gottfried Coach of the Year in men’s basketball.