West Alabama Standouts: Part 1

These are some players from the Western part of Alabama who are playing at a high level at the midpoint of the season. This part of Alabama is a very slept on area in the state that produces loads of overlooked talent. Martavious Russell, SG (Sipsey Valley) Russell has been on a tear since the beginning of the season leading his team to a 18-4 record and a top 10 ranking in the class of 4A. Although he has a talented team around him, opponents have tried to key in on him to slow him down throughout the game. And sometimes it worked, but at this point in the season he has finally figured out how to slow down and use his abilities to his advantage. With top tier athleticism and an improved handle, he has been very hard to contain. With his team being very weak at the PG spot, he had no choice but to take upon that responsibility and it has helped him improve his court vision, while also giving him the experience he needs to handle full court pressure and double teams. Russell has added the mid-range component to his game, and also have improved his one on one moves in ISO situations. At the rate he is playing, don't be surprised to see Sipsey Valley fighting for for a Final Four spot in Birmingham at the end of the season. Bryson Hall, SF/PF (Tuscaloosa County) Standing at 6'8", the lefty already has the body of a collegiate athlete. He literally does everything on the floor. Loves to push the ball in the open court off of the defensive rebound. Has a great handle for a player his size, which allows him to play point guard for his team at times. Can shoot the 3 but needs to become more consistent in that area. Great vision and at his height seeing over defenses is not a problem. Very good at sealing for offensive rebounds and easy buckets under the basket. At his age it is very rare to see players use their body in the manner he does on the offensive end...very Zach Randolph-ish. The 2021 forward is leading his team in a tough class 7A. His team currently sits at 16-7 on the season. Look for Hall to be a top 5 prospect in the state of Alabama going into his senior season. Kendrick Turnipseed, CG (Sumter Central) The senior guard is the leader of the top 5 ranked Sumter Central High School(4A). There's not many things he cant do at the guard position. Excels in the open court. Very streaky 3pt shooter. Very strong attacking the basket. His ability to change directions in the open court while at almost top speed makes him a nightmare for any defender. Has the stamina to press on defense and play at a high level on offense. Very solid breakdown moves on offense. His offensive repertoire is built on the foundation of him being fundamentally sound. Tough player to stop because he rarely makes mistakes or turn the ball over. If he is not scoring he will always find a way to impact the game and lead his team to a victory. With both Sumter Central and Sipsey Valley being in the same class(4A) but different areas, hopefully a much anticipated regional match-up awaits us in the future. Jamyas Davis, F (Sipsey Valley) The 2022 forward is a key piece for his team and is finally finding his way into a comfortable role. He has improved significantly since the beginning of the season, and at the same time he has grown an inch, which is scary. A beast on the glass, he is always in double digits in the rebound column. Starting to learn how to use his body in different ways to get easy buckets. A magician in ISO situations and is great at recognizing the right play to make in double team situations. Still needs to improve his jumper but he seems to be making strides. Very young and still has yet to grow into his frame. Look for this rare talent to become a top prospect in the future. Tavion Goode, SG (Central Tuscaloosa) Maybe the most underrated and overlooked player in this area, leading a very talented Central High School squad to number one in Area 5 of class 5A. Goode has the full package at the SG position. He stands at 6'4" but will probably grow a little more before his high school career is done. Very athletic and can jump off one or two feet which makes him very dangerous when attacking the basket and finishing around the rim. Has a nice 3pt shot but still needs to work on his mid-range jumper and floater. Has a great motor. Look for him to lead his team on a deep run in the playoffs and don't be surprised if you see them in the Final Four at the season's end. Jamarion Ryans, PG (Hale County) Has the potential to become the best guard prospect in the state of Alabama by his senior year. The class of 2022 guard is a killer on the court. He is in attack mode the whole game. Has superb handles. Uses an array of moves to keep his defenders off balance. A good 3pt shooter and also has a nice pull-up jumper. Has a veteran-like floater game in the paint. Needs to work on his change of speed and controlling the pace of the game. He is leading his short-handed team to victory off of sheer will and determination. Coming off of a game-winner in his last game, his confidence will for sure reach another level so look for him to have some huge scoring games in the coming weeks. Keep a close eye on him for the rest of his high school career and don't let the fact that he attends a small school stop you from going to see this kid. Attends the same high school that produced current University of Alabama SF Herb Jones, who was also a hidden gem coming out of high school at this point in his high school career. Bryan "Blue" Bennett, F (Demopolis) One of the most athletic players from this area. Watching him play is like waiting for a highlight reel to happen. He is always playing above the rim whether it is on offense or defense. He tries to block every shot he can and gobbles up all the rebounds. Seems to have improved his ball-handling but still needs to work on his one on one moves. Has a quick first step. Showing more confidence in taking and making the mid-range jumper. Needs to add more muscle to his frame. Will be interesting to see how his game develops going into his senior season. Definitely a player worth taking a look at.