2022-2023 Team Preview: Pinson Valley Indians

Pinson Valley Indians   Class 6A Area 12   Head Coach: Darrell Barber   Last Season Record: 24-8   Instagram: pinsonvalleyboyshoops   Twitter: @pinsonhoops   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/10/PH-Caleb-White-C.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/10/PH-Caleb-White-C-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1626332" width="256" height="256"/></a></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='1091947' first='Caleb' last='White'] (5'11/PG/'24)   School: Pinson Valley   Instagram: Caleb.glizzzy   Twitter: @calebglizzzy   Caleb is our #3-ranked player in the 2024 class and is one of the top-tier guards in the state, regardless of class. He is one of the most prolific and potent scorers in the state. He is extremely explosive with the ball in his hands and can score at all three levels. Has the ability to play in tight spots and is a terror coming downhill. He has shown that he has translatable skills, as he is one of the hottest players in the state when it comes to potential collegiate prospects. As the season begins and Coach Barber takes his team to compete on the national stage, look for Caleb's stock to continue to rise. Even though he has emerged into an elite-level player in the state, he still has a lot of tools to unlock and unleash out of his toolbox. He is a threat when he is in the off-guard spot but is just as much of a threat when he switches over to the lead guard position. He finds people and has a good vision when he is in the facilitating role. During the 256 vs. 205 Challenge media days, when asked what he can do outside of scoring that will impact his team, Caleb replied, "Leadership, I can be the leader on and off the court." If Pinson Valley is going to accomplish the goal of winning the state championship, look for Caleb to be the driver of the bus.     <blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-primary-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size">Has the ability to play in tight spots and is a terror coming downhill.<cite>Terry J. Drake</cite></blockquote>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/10/PH-Terry-Coner-Jr.-C-1.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/10/PH-Terry-Coner-Jr.-C-1-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1626344" width="256" height="256"/></a></figure>   Terry Coner Jr. (6'0/Point Guard/'23)   School: Pinson Valley HS   Instagram: iamt3rryconer_   Twitter: @Terryconerjr1   Terry, the #14-ranked player in the 2023 class, is known as 'The Wizard' because he handles the rock at an elite skill level with what appears to be magic at times. He enters his senior season and has developed into a player who understands how to get everyone involved and still get his when suitable. He has matured into a leader and is the calming force for the Indians when things aren't going as expected. TC is a load to deal with as he has a sneaky good quickness, preternatural scoring know-how, ingenious passing, and rapid processing speed, which are several reasons why he is known as the wizard. He operates within a well-determined balance between facilitating and scoring. He can score at all levels and does it with finesse. You will never know if Pinson is winning or losing if you base it off of TC's face and body language, as he is a steady force for the Indians and one of the players the team can look to for guidance.   <blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-primary-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size">He has matured into a leader and is the calming force for the Indians when things aren't going as expected.<cite>Terry J. Drake</cite></blockquote>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/10/PH-Clyde-Walters-C.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/10/PH-Clyde-Walters-C-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1626356" width="256" height="256"/></a></figure>   Clyde Walters (6'6/G |F/2026)   School: Pinson Valley HS   Instagram: c.dubb4   Twitter: N/A   Not many incoming freshmen are getting the attention that Clyde is, as he already holds offers from Bama and Troy. I have talked to Coach Barber in personal conversations and interviewed him during the 256 vs. 205 Challenge media days, and you can hear his excitement when he starts talking about Clyde, a player with size and length that can play and defend the 1-5. Clyde has good positional size coupled with his skill set that will create a lot of mismatches this upcoming season, and look for him to be encouraged by Coach Barber and his teammates to take advantage of when there. He is a good open-court athlete who can play above the rim, as well as a heady player with good basketball instincts and feel for the game. He moves well off the ball, comes off screens well, and understands how to find space for his shot. Look for him to have a breakout season and be the piece of the Indians' puzzle that many teams will struggle to try and figure out how to suppress his impact on the game. When asked at the 256 vs. 205 Challenge how he feels being the youngest on the team, he replied, "I love it; I am embracing the older guys pushing me to be the best I can be"    <blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-primary-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size">Not many incoming freshmen are getting the attention that Clyde is, as he already holds offers from Bama and Troy.<cite>Terry J. Drake</cite></blockquote>   <blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">When asked about two players that will be key pieces of the puzzle for his team this season that was not listed in the top 3 above, he quickly mentioned the following two players:</blockquote>   [player_tooltip player_id='1398735' first='Austin' last='Coner'] (G/2025) and Ray McCants (G/2025). Austin, our #15 ranked player in the 2025 class, has improved tremendously per Coach Barber, and, as hinted, AC will be the biggest surprise on his squad as the season unfolds. Austin can get it down offensively in many ways at both the lead-guard and off-guard positions. During June, Austin spent a lot of time on the floor with the first 5. Ray Ray McCants, our #11 ranked player in the 2025 class, is one of the best shooters in the class and will stretch defenses because you can't help off him. Ray is also gaining more confidence to be able to put the ball on the floor, as he has been showing in several camps he has participated in over the past two months.   Coach Barber leads his team that is loaded with talent into the 2022-2023 season and, in many people's eyes across the state, is the #1-team regardless of classification. The Indians have a slew of guys that can play different positions and probably has the best set of guards in the entire state. When asked about the high expectations that are being placed on his team, Coach Barber replied, "No expectation is higher than the ones I set for myself and my team." The Indians have lost the past two seasons to Scottsboro, and I truly believe that this is a year many, as their motto says, will fear the spear. Coach Barber believes that if his team can Play Hard, Play Free, Play Together, and stay healthy throughout the season, he has a team that can get the job done.

Pinson Valley Indians