Class 6A NE Region Overview

The class 6A NE Regional is loaded with four tough teams and a slew of talent. The regional is set to start today, with Homewood taking on #3-Huffman (2/17 @ 10:30am) and Oxford taking on #1-Mountain Brook (2/17 @ 1:30pm). I have covered all four teams throughout the regular season, so let’s take a look at the match-ups.   The 10:30am game will have Homewood, who has been hot the latter part of the year, heading into the playoffs taking on a very talented Huffman squad. Look for Homewood to try and make this into a physical half-court match-up, as it will be hard for the Patriots to contend with the athleticism that Huffman brings to the floor. For Homewood to have a shot, they will have to control the interior and handle the pressure that the Vikings guards will bring on the defensive end of the floor. Look for Huffman to push the tempo and use their athleticism to force Homewood to play uptempo throughout the contest. The Vikings will be able to match up with the physical play that Homewood may try to bring, but the key will be if the Vikings can stay disciplined on the defensive end of the court when forced to sit down and guard in the half-court.   Homewood will not back down from the Vikings as they are extremely confident coming off a victory over #1-Mountain Brook and winning the area championship. I think that Huffman’s athleticism will be too much for Homewood. Look for Huffman to get the win, pulling away late.   Players To Watch:   <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/PH-Peyton-Wiggins.png"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1284052 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/PH-Peyton-Wiggins-300x300.png" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a>Peyton Wiggins 6’1/Point Guard   Instagram: peytonpnutwigg13 Twitter: @Wiggins_peyton Huffman High School   Not often do you see a freshman as a player to watch heading into a #Sweet16 match-up, but this young man, AKA Peanut, has emerged as one of the best freshmen in the state this year. He was part of our early 2025 watch list and has emerged as a true floor general for the Vikings. The question is can he continue to play beyond his years at this time of the year, or will his youth show up at an inopportune time.   <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/PH-Michael-Johnson.png"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1376664 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/PH-Michael-Johnson-300x300.png" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="1129573" first="Michael" last="Johnson"] (6’8/Center/2022)   School: Huffman HS Instagram: N/A Twitter: N/A   If Michael can claim the paint as his domain throughout this contest, it will be tough for Homewood to win this game. Huffman doesn’t look for Michael to be the primary source for points, so what he can add offensively will be a bonus, but if he can dominate the glass and contest and alter shots, his impact will be imprinted in this contest. Huffman is loaded across the board, but look for MJ to be the difference-maker, with plays that don’t necessarily appear on the stat sheet.   <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/02/PH-Jake-Dorough.png"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1388606 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/02/PH-Jake-Dorough-300x300.png" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a>Jake Dorough (6’0/Combo Guard/2025)   School: Homewood HS Instagram: jake.dorough11 Twitter: doroughjake11   Jake has been a marksman from behind the arc this year, and he has proven that he can stroke it from deep. He will have to be able to knock down the trey ball to open up lanes and keep the athletic Vikings defenders honest and away from being able to create havoc out of the help position. The trey ball is always a weapon, and if Jake can find his touch, it could cause some challenges for the Vikings.   <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/02/PH-Christian-Thompson.png"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1388607 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/02/PH-Christian-Thompson-300x300.png" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a>Christian Thompson (6’7/Center/2022)   School: Homewood HS Instagram: _christianthompson_04 Twitter: @stringbean519   Christian will have to not only play big, but he will have to win the match-up with the Viking’s bigs. He cannot play evenly with them and expect his squad to win. He will have to be the best player on the floor, which he has been on several occasions this year. If Homewood is going to pull the upset, Christian is going to have to be a major impact on the offensive end of the floor.   In the 1:30pm match-up, the defending state champions and #1-ranked Mountain Brook Spartans look to continue their journey to the BJCC. However, standing in their way is Oxford. By now, everyone is aware of what to expect when it comes to the Spartans and what it takes to beat them. The question is will Oxford be able to put together a full 32-minutes to match what the Spartans will bring. I have seen Oxford this year scoring in bunches, and I have seen them win in a low-scoring sloppy game. If Mountain Brook is making their trey balls, Oxford will have to produce points.   Oxford has the personnel to compete with the Spartans, but many say this is the Spartans’ time of the year. Can Oxford pull the upset? It is possible, but I believe the loss to Homewood in the area championship woke the Spartans up. Look for the Spartans to be victorious in a tight one early.   <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/PH-Kyler-Wright.png"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1356330 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/PH-Kyler-Wright-300x300.png" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="1379212" first="Kyler" last="Wright"] (6’0/Combo Guard/2022)   School: Oxford HS Instagram: Kylerbw Twitter: @Kylerbw3   When you look at the teams that have beat the Spartans in recent years, every team had superb guard play in the contest. This is why even though Rylan is the primary source of scoring for Oxford, it will be the play of Kyler that will determine whether or not Oxford can pull the upset. The #39-ranked player in our 2022 rankings will have to play a brilliant game, take care of the basketball, and not be forced into live-ball turnovers. He will have to be more vocal than he ever has because the miscues on defense often start the Spartans on-slaught that breaks the will of their opponents. Kyler will have to help keep his squad extremely disciplined and alert throughout the contest.   <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/PH-Rylan-Houck.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1327036 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/PH-Rylan-Houck-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="1066038" first="Rylan" last="Houck"] (6’5/Small Forward/2022)   School: Oxford HS Instagram: Rylanhouck Twitter: @Rylanhouck   The #12-ranked player in the 2022 class will have to do what he has become known for, and that is scoring the rock. There is not much to write about for this game when it comes to Rylan. If his team is going to pull the upset, he will have to have a massive impact in the scoring column; it is that simple.     <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/PH-Kyle-Layton.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1324687 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/PH-Kyle-Layton-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="957937" first="Kyle" last="Layton"] (6’0 / Combo Guard / 2023)   School: Mountain Brook HS Instagram: kyle_layton_ Twitter: @kb_layton   The #11-ranked player in our 2023 rankings has been a steady source of scoring for the Spartans. The energy that he brings is contagious, and he is the player that gets the ball rolling early for the Spartans. It could be a long night for Oxford if he sees the ball go in early. Watch Kyle early, and you will see what type of game to expect from the Spartans.     <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/PH-Ty-Davis.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1324686 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/PH-Ty-Davis-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="1091949" first="Ty" last="Davis"] (6’3/Combo Guard/2024)   School: Mountain Brook HS Instagram: tydfor3 Twitter: @tydavis_3   Ty is probably the best shooter in the Class 6A NE Regional. Known early as just a shooter, he has raised his game and now has many tools in his toolbox. Now, he can hurt a team in so many different ways than just from behind the arc. He is a playmaker and gets his teammates open shots as defenses focus a lot of energy on him. It could be a long night for Oxford if he is knocking down the trey ball.   I expect it to be a Huffman vs. Mountain Brook battle in the #Elite8 but let’s see if Oxford or Homewood has something to say about my predictions.   You have heard from me…now let me know what you think: Who do you think will emerge from this region? Cast your vote here:   https://poll.fm/11047628