#HuntsvilleCityClassic: Day 1 Immediate Takeaways

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">The 40th annual #HuntsvilleCityClassic is nothing less than a basketball lovers' dream as high-level teams with elite-level talent have gathered in Huntsville for three power-packed days of basketball. Day one was a treat, and here are my immediate takeaways…</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":1718640,"width":256,"height":256,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/PH-LaBaron-Philon-C.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/PH-LaBaron-Philon-C.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1718640" width="256" height="256" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1091946' first='LaBaron' last='Philon']</strong>&nbsp;(6'4/CG/'24/Baker HS)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Instagram: b1rron</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Twitter: @LabaronPhilon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">In a gym packed to near capacity with only standing room, LaBaron brought a hush over the gym within the first four minutes of the first quarter. I put out an article prior to the classic beginning on players worth the admission. I included LaBaron, and a lady sitting in the stands shouted after a blistering and efficient 17pt first-half performance, "This kid alone is worth the admission." I was sharing with those around me that we might need to enjoy this caliber talent while we can as it is starting to look like he may be another of the high-level talents across the country that may start looking at the Prep School route. He is a polished talent with a mature game that made it look extremely easy on day one. His play alone made me look down the list of teams and think that LaBaron could lead his Baker squad to the classic championship. He is just that good. He finished with 26pts in the win over Hazel Green.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/TDrakeBasktball/status/1607877774907260929","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/TDrakeBasktball/status/1607877774907260929 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":1495530,"width":256,"height":256,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/06/PH-Chase-McCarty-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/06/PH-Chase-McCarty-C.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1495530" width="256" height="256" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1091939' first='Chase' last='McCarty']</strong>&nbsp;(6'6/SG/Westminster Christian Academy)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Instagram: Chase___mccarty</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Twitter: @Chasemccarty21</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">The only disappointing thing about the 35pt performance that Chase poured in on day 1 is that it was done in the auxiliary gym due to icy weather pushing the start of the classic back a few hours. Generally, on the first day, all games are played in the main gym, so I wasn't able to fully see the entire scoring masterpiece that Chase put on display. I have put a lot of ink on Chase in the past, and more will be coming as he is just a 2024 kid, our #2-ranked player in his class. There is nothing offensively when it comes to scoring that Chase cannot do. His toolbox is loaded, and every time he steps on the court, he is pulling out all the tools. Unfortunately, Columbia drew Chase and his Westminster squad in the first round of the classic.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":1718643,"width":256,"height":256,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/PH-J.D.-Gossett-C.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/PH-J.D.-Gossett-C.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1718643" width="256" height="256" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>J.D. Gossett</strong>&nbsp;(6'4/PG/2025/Huntsville HS)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Instagram: jd_gossett5</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Twitter: @JD_Gossett5</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Coach Schweers has been high on JD going on two years now. Last year a lot of my focus was given to Ja'mari Arnold and Caleb Harison, and this year along with those guys, with the addition of [player_tooltip player_id='1398759' first='Simon' last='Walker'], my attention has been on those three. However, on day 1 of the classic, I could not help but pay attention to JD. Now don't get me wrong, I have put ink on JD before, but this time JD had a statement game that he is a piece to the Huntsville success puzzle. He has good positional size as a listed PG, in which he showed he can play the 1-3. He is a downhill attacking guard that brings a lot of energy and effort to the court. He is a crafty finisher in the paint and at the cup and is an excellent finisher in transition. On many teams, he would be a top 3 scoring option, but on the Panther squad, realistically, he is the 4th scoring option, that on any given night can be one of the top 3 options. As good of a scorer as he is, he is a heady player with a great understanding of the game and has a good feel for Coach Schweers' system. With the tools and skills he has, look for JD to emerge over the next couple of years as a prospect that cannot be denied attention from the next level.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:quote {"textColor":"primary","fontSize":"medium"} --> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-primary-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size"><!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach Schweers has been high on JD going on two years now. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --><cite>Terry J. Drake</cite></blockquote> <!-- /wp:quote --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":1495539,"width":256,"height":256,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/06/PH-Caleb-Holt-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/06/PH-Caleb-Holt-C.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1495539" width="256" height="256" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Caleb Holt&nbsp;</strong>(6'5/Shooting Guard/2026/Buckhorn HS)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Instagram: iamcalebholt</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Twitter: @iamcalebholt</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">The classic provided a stage for some of the elite players in our state to showcase their talent. I say it often, we have some of the best talent in the country in our state. None other than Caleb Holt, who led his Buckhorn squad against Sparkman. He was pressing early and never found a rhythm in the first half, but as the old saying goes, a tale of two halves. After a frustrating first half after seeing an 0-7 performance from the field, Caleb got it going in the second half and got his team in a position late to get the lead. Some calls that he was not getting as he was getting hammered in the first half, he started getting them in the second half. He shifted his game in the 2nd half and was more adamant about getting into the paint and finishing, which he did and got the results he had been looking for all day. He couldn't seal the deal of leading his squad to a come-from-behind win, but he clearly made the case of why he will be the #1-ranked player in the 2026 class when we drop our first set of 2026 rankings.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":1718644,"width":256,"height":256,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/PH-Cameron-Jones-C.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/PH-Cameron-Jones-C.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1718644" width="256" height="256" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2262472' first='Cameron' last='Jones']</strong>&nbsp;(6'1/PG/'23/Sparkman HS)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Twitter: @The_CamJones</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Cam is a solid PG that balances scoring and facilitating. He finds himself in this day one article because of how he led the Sparkman team in their win over Buckhorn. He controlled the tempo, and when Buckhorn was making a run, he took care of the ball and either made timely buckets or made timely plays getting the ball into his playmakers' hands where they could be successful. Even though he, along with [player_tooltip player_id='1386132' first='Karmelo' last='Montgomery'], led Sparkman with 11pts a piece, it was Cameron's late game play that impressed me the most. When I look back over my notes, truthfully, he played that way the entire game. As I mentioned before, this Sparkman team has a lot of talent, and with the play that Cameron provided from the lead guard spot on day one, I am convinced that this is a team that has talent but is underachieving. Cam proved that the lead guard spot is in good hands as he is fully capable of orchestrating Sparkman's offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":1718645,"width":256,"height":256,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/PH-TJ-Allen-C.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/PH-TJ-Allen-C.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1718645" width="256" height="256" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>TJ Allen</strong>&nbsp;(5'11/SG/'24/Oxford HS)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Instagram: tj.allennn</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Twitter: TJallen33</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">With a lot of attention being put on the young 'fella' Jaylen Alexander, TJ took advantage of the stage and showed that he is a player that can fill up the state sheet. He finished with 21pts, with 12 coming from behind the arc. He is a multi-level scorer who can knock down the trey ball but likes putting it on the floor and creating off the bounce. He is aggressive off the bounce and puts a lot of pressure on the defense, forcing quick rotations. As a result of his quick first step, if any defender is late with their rotation, TJ is exploiting it. TJ is a very creative offensive player who can get his own offense and create plays for others. Oxford has a very nice backcourt tandem with TJ and Jaylen Alexander, and they could cause some problems down the stretch.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":1714483,"width":256,"height":256,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/PH-Bryant-James-C.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/PH-Bryant-James-C.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1714483" width="256" height="256" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1398642' first='Bryant' last='James']</strong>&nbsp;6'0/Combo Guard/' 25/Haleyville HS)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: bryantj_13</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Twitter: @bryant_james10</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Bryant has been producing very high over the past month since his older brother went down with an ankle injury. Even though Drake has returned, Bryant has not stepped on the brakes yet. With freezing temps outside, Bryant came out smoking on the inside. With the bucket seeming like it was the size of the ocean, Bryant dropped 22pts in the first half, with 18 coming from behind the arc. He was moving really well and had a great bounce to his game on day one, and he is really developing as one of the best players in the state, regardless of classification. He is very poised and does not waste movements, as everything he does is calculated and precise, leading to his scoring opportunities. He finished the contest with 25pts, but by the time the second half rolled around, the damage had been done, and his older brother Drake took over the game at that point.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/TDrakeBasktball/status/1607909964835602432","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/TDrakeBasktball/status/1607909964835602432 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->