Class 5A Championship Game Standout Players
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The class 5A championship game was played at a high level, but in the end, Valley HS captured the Blue Map. Several players made their impact, and here are a few… 5A State Champions: Valley HS Jamarious Martin Jamarious Martin…
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Continue ReadingThe class 5A championship game was played at a high level, but in the end, Valley HS captured the Blue Map. Several players made their impact, and here are a few…
5A State Champions: Valley HS
Jamarious Martin Jamarious Martin 5'9" | PG Valley HS | 2023 State AL (5’10/PG/’23/Valley HS)
Jamarious had a tough outing shooting the rock, but he showed his ability to put pressure off the bounce on the defense from the lead guard spot. He controlled the pace of the game and was instrumental in keeping Valley afloat while Cam’Ron Dooley sat with foul trouble. He was difficult to contain off the bounce and stayed attacking, trying to create for himself and his teammates. Despite the struggles shooting, he did not allow that to affect his overall game, and he found other ways to help his team achieve their goal.
He finished with the following stat line: 10pts (3-14 [1-6 3-Ptr])
Brandon Thomas Brandon Thomas 6'4" | PF Valley | 2024 State AL (6’6/F/’24/Valley HS)
BT didn’t put up huge numbers as he had throughout the year, but his presence was significant on both ends of the floor, including on the glass. He is a game-changing rebounder who had some huge boards and kept Charles Henderson from multiple shot attempts during a possession. BT was hands down his team’s best rebounder and shot-blocker. His athleticism and his size make him a dominant factor in the paint. There is no doubt about how much value he holds to the success of the Rams, as his presence completely disrupted the flow of Charles Henderson’s offense at times and was a huge reason the guard play for Valley could operate without the threat of a lot of resistance in the paint.
He finished with the following stat line: 6pts (3-8); 12-rebs; 4-Blks
Ian Crim-Davis (6’0/G/’24/Valley HS)
The Final 4 was the first time I had heard about and laid eyes on Ian, and he was a very good supplemental piece to the Valley squad. In a typical game, he may not have gotten the offensive opportunities that were afforded him due to Cam’Ron getting in foul trouble in the first half and then taking over the scoring responsibilities in the 2nd half. Ian is a tough one on one scorer and has a very good middle game. His point production proved highly beneficial in the win. The most impressive part of Ian’s game was his on-ball pressure defense against Charles Henderson’s prolific guard, Jywon Boyd Jywon Boyd 5'11" | PG Charles Henderson | 2024 State AL . Ian is another key piece to the Valley squad that will be coming back looking to run it back.
He finished with the following stat line: 13pts (5-9 [1-4 3-Ptr])
Cam’Ron Dooley (6’5/G|F/’24/Valley HS)
Cam is an absolute scoring machine. He got in early foul trouble and sat a good deal in the 1st half. I, along with others on media row, began wondering if he would be able to get a rhythm in the second half. It didn’t take long for him to answer our questions as he got it going early and did not look back as he led his team to an undefeated season and the 5A State Championship. Cam has solidified himself as one of the premier talents in the state and will be looking to lead his team to back-to-back titles next year. He’s got great size for a guard, and his game is dripping with athleticism. His ball handling, play-making, ability to score off the bounce, his efficiency, along with other key attributes, solidified him as the best player on the floor in the championship game.
He finished with the following stat line: 19pts (5-10 [1-3 3-Ptr]); 9-Rebs
Charles Henderson HS
Jywon Boyd Jywon Boyd 5'11" | PG Charles Henderson | 2024 State AL (5’11/PG/’24/Charles Henderson HS)
The final four was my first time laying eyes on Jywon, and I was very impressed with his game. He is a score-first PG that can also facilitate the offense. Make no mistake about it; the strength of his game is scoring the rock, and he can get it done from behind the arc and off the bounce. He is a difficult cover off the bounce and is a downhill attacking guard that can get to his spots on the floor. His squad didn’t get it done this year, but his scoring ability and propensity for play-making will no doubt help lead his team in pursuit of the blue map next season.
He finished with the following stat line: 14pts (5-10 [3-4 3-Ptr])
Bray Jones (6’1/G/’24/Charles Henderson HS)
Bray is a combo guard that helped with initiating Charles Henderson’s offense. With Jywon being a primary focal point of the Valley defensive game plan, Bray was able to keep his squad in rhythm when Jwon was unable to be the facilitator. Being surrounded by playmakers, Bray offered something different for his squad, and it was just what they needed as it helped Charles Henderson keep the game close.
He finished with the following stat line: 3pts (1-4 [1-2 3-Ptr])
Austin Cross Austin Cross 6'3" | CG Charles Henderson | 2023 State AL (6’3/SG/’23/Charles Henderson HS)
Austin came into the final known for his scoring prowess from beyond the arc; unfortunately, he couldn’t get it going on the biggest stage of the year in the biggest game of the year. Despite his shooting woes, his team still trusted him to take shots down the stretch that was needed. That says a lot about Austin and the belief that his coaches and teammates have in him, and his ability to make big shots. One game does not define a season, and Austin’s off shooting night definitely does not define a lethal shooter like him.
He finished with the following stat line: 13pts (4-17 [2-10 3-Ptr])
Jayden Spearman (6’2/G|F/’23/Charles Henderson HS)
Jayden provided everything that a senior would in the last game of his high school career. He only scored 10pts, as he shot the ball ok, but his point production was done in some key moments in the game that helped Charles Henderson put pressure on Valley and had many starting to believe that Charles Henderson could possibly upset Valley. Jayden showed that he could score the rock and showed a lot of versatility, especially on the defensive end of the floor. Things did not turn out how he would have liked, but he left it all on the court and can definitely help a program at the next level.
He finished with the following stat line: 10pts (4-11 [2-5 3-Ptr)
Mario Davenport (6’3/F/’23/Charles Henderson HS)
Mario was a senior that was settled into his role and made a big difference on the glass and defensively in the paint. He left his impact on the game without having to get touches, without having to score, but by playing with tremendous energy and effort. He was committed to the glass and committed to the defensive end of the floor, and his role in the championship game was felt beyond the state sheet.
He finished with the following stat line: 3pts (1-1 [1-1 3-Ptr])