Prep Hoops' Thanksgiving Awards

This week in high school and on the collegiate level, hoop fans have had a lot to be thankful for, and that is a lot of hoops and today a lot of food. On Monday, I was at the Mountain Brook’s Spartan Turkey Jam Classic, on Tuesday, I was at the Vestavia Hill’s Sneaky Pete’s Rebel Classic, and on Wednesday, I was at Spain Park’s Jag Classic. All three served up some very good holiday hoops. In the spirit of Thanksgiving awards, I want to give out Prep Hoops’ Thanksgiving Hoop Awards. Today whether you are watching NFL, NBA, or collegiate ball, there will be all kinds of Thanksgiving awards given out. The awards that I am giving out are given to the players that I was able to see on specific days this week and not based on the entirety of their work at the particular classic in which they participated. So with that disclaimer, here goes… The Prep Hoops’ Thanksgiving ’Sniper’ Award: <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/PH-TG-Jalen-Hudson.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1334835 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/PH-TG-Jalen-Hudson-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a>Jalen Hudson (5’11/Shooting Guard/2022)   School: Clay Chalkville HS Instagram: glory_boi_ Twitter: @N/A Tourney: Mountain Brook’s Spartan Turkey Jam I saw a lot of guys over the three days that could get it done from behind the arc, but Jalen was the most impressive as he knocked down 6 treys in a tough loss against Charles Henderson HS. The 6 treys put him ahead of all the competition, and that is why he is awarded the Prep Hoops’ Thanksgiving ’Sniper’ award. He finished with 22pts against Charles Henderson.   The Prep Hoops’ Thanksgiving ’Elite-Scorer’ Award: <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/PH-TG-Antonio-Kite.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1334839 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/PH-TG-Antonio-Kite-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="725169" first="Antonio" last="Kite"] (6’1/Guard/2022)   School: Anniston HS Instagram: N/A Twitter: @N/A Tourney: Spain Park’s Jag Classic The Alabama Football commit was absolutely fantastic in scoring the rock. He has the ultimate green light, and he shot in volume and scored in volume. He can get it done at all levels and can get it done in a variety of ways. If he was not going to be on the gridiron at the next level, he would have definitely been on the hardwood. No one got it done on the offensive end like Antonio, and that is why he is awarded the Prep Hoops’ Thanksgiving ’Elite-Scorer’ Award. He finished with 31pts against Scottsboro HS. The Prep Hoops’ Thanksgiving ’Floor-General’ Award: <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/PH-TG-Carter-Metz.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1334840 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/PH-TG-Carter-Metz-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a>Carter Metz (6’1/Point Guard/2022)   School: Dobyns-Bennett High School (TN) Instagram: cmetzz_ Twitter: @cartermetz6 Tourney: Spain Park’s Jag Classic Dobyns-Bennett is located in TN, outside of the Prep Hoops AL coverage area, but their players were included in the awards nominations with Dobyns playing in AL. Carter was one of the most poised and under-control PGs that I saw all week. He took care of the ball and found a nice balance between facilitating and scoring. I was highly impressed with his high IQ and his limited turnovers with the amount of time the ball was in his hand throughout the game. He was definitely the coach on the floor, and that is why he is awarded the Prep Hoops’ Thanksgiving ’Floor-General Award. Carter finished with 21pts against Bay HS (FL) The Prep Hoops’ Thanksgiving ’Under The Radar’ Award: <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/PH-TG-Josh-Harrington.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1334846 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/PH-TG-Josh-Harrington-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a>Josh Harrington (5’9/Point Guard/2022)   School: Spain Park HS Instagram: N/A Twitter: @N/A Tourney: Spain Park Jag Classic This was about my third time seeing Spain Park play this year, and Josh continues to impress me with his ability to lead the Jags. His confidence is growing, and Spain park would not be the contender that they are if not for the play of Josh. He does things that show and things that do not show up on the stat sheet that impacts his team’s success. He is a winner who makes winning plays, and even though he is small, he could find a place at the next level if the right fit comes along. His play on Wednesday is why he is awarded the Prep Hoops’ Thanksgiving ’Under the Radar’ Award. Josh finished with 6pts against Homewood HS. The Prep Hoops’ Thanksgiving ’Highest-Ceiling’ Award: <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/PH-TG-Jamariion-Palm.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1334847 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/PH-TG-Jamariion-Palm-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a>Jamariion Palm (6’9/Forward/2025)   School: Dothan HS Instagram: thereal._.jd Twitter: @N/A Tourney: Vestavia Hills Sneaky Pete’s Rebel Classic A freshman standing at 6’9 is not a common sight in Alabama HS basketball, which is why all eyes were on Jamariion. There has been a lot of pre-season buzz around him, and I could not wait to get my eyes on him, and he did not disappoint. The things that he can do with the ball at his size are absolutely amazing and seems unfair. He can score at all levels and utilizes both left and right equally well. More is going to be written about him, but the excitement surrounding him and the attention that is coming his way is the reason he has been awarded the Prep Hoops’ Thanksgiving ’Highest-Ceiling’ Award. JD finished with 22pts against McAdory. The Prep Hoops’ Thanksgiving ’Glass-Cleaner’ Award: <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/PH-TG-Colin-Turney.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1334849 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/PH-TG-Colin-Turney-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="965768" first="Colin" last="Turner"] (6’9/Post/2022)   School: Spain Park HS Instagram: N/A Twitter: @N/A Tourney: Spain Parks Jag Classic I have always said that defensive possessions are not complete until the defensive board is secured. Colin helped Spain Park complete some tremendous defensive possessions by pulling down the board. I do not have the numbers on just how many boards Colin had, but he was extremely dominant on the boards and limited Homewood to one shot attempt and very low production on the offensive end. Because of his play on the glass, he is awarded the Prep Hoops’ Thanksgiving ’Glass-Cleaner’ Award. Colin could have easily been the recipient of the award following this one, and honestly, the following two players could easily share both this award and the next one. Colin finished with 14pts against Homewood. The Prep Hoops’ Thanksgiving ’Man In The Middle’ Award: <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/PH-TG-Marquavias-Knox.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1334850 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/PH-TG-Marquavias-Knox-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a>Marquavias ’Tay’ Knox (6’7/Center/2022)   School: Charles Henderson HS Instagram: Itsss.tay6k Twitter: @ITay6k Tourney: Mountain Brooks Spartan Turkey Jam After my first write-up on Tay, I got many questions about how good Tay was, and I suggested to many that they come out and see him in action. After watching him play, their questions about his game were answered. He was just as electrifying at the Spartan Turkey Jam as he was when I saw him at the Park Crossing Classic. He had a monstrous dunk, controlled the glass, contested and changed shots, and showed more on the offensive end of the court. His play at the Spartan Turkey Jam is why he is awarded the Prep Hoops’ Thanksgiving ’Man In The Middle’ Award. Tay finished with 14pts against Clay-Chalkville. A lot more coverage is coming from these three events I attended. Unlike many thanksgiving meals that have leftovers, there are no more awards left, but there is a lot of hoops coverage coming your way. Stay tuned…