Class 7A Championship Game Standout Players

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">The class 7A championship game was played at a high level, but in the end, Hoover HS captured the Blue Map. Several players made their impact, and here are a few…</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>7A State Champions: Hoover HS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":1495537,"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-Salim-London-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/06/PH-Salim-London-C.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1495537" width="256" height="256" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1398516' first='Salim' last='London']</strong>&nbsp;(6'4/CG/'25/Hoover HS)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Instagram: leemlondon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Twitter: @IAmSalimLondon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">I have put a lot of ink on Salim, and more is sure to come, but he showed why he is the #1 ranked player in the 2025 class. I have spoken in volumes about Salim's ability and the promise he shows, but he showed on the biggest stage that he can go get a bucket whenever he wanted to. He did not shoot it well from beyond the arc, but he was still efficient from the floor and was just a beast off the bounce. His moves off the bounce are so forceful, and he is an excellent finisher at the rim. I said a while back that if the 'Big 3' stays together, they could possibly three-peat, and they got the first one under their belt. His continued maturation showed on the biggest stage as he played with better instincts, showed better shot quality, and is emerging into a verbal leader. All I can say is enjoy the next two years of watching a high-major prospect. He finished with the following stat line: 34pts (13-19 [0-3 3-Ptr]); 6rebs. </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>His moves off the bounce are so forceful, and he is an excellent finisher at the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --><cite>Terry J. Drake</cite></blockquote> <!-- /wp:quote --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":1352625,"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/2/2021/12/PH-Dewayne-Brown.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/PH-Dewayne-Brown.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1352625" width="256" height="256" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1398554' first='DeWayne' last='Brown, II']&nbsp;</strong>(6'7/C/Hoover HS)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Instagram: dewaynebrown2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Twitter: @Dewaynebrownll</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Let me just say that DeWayne was unstoppable, and I could leave it at that as it would sum up his entire game in the championship. He is the type of big that teams dream of having as a player and as a dominant post presence. He scored a lot on low-block post-ups, put-backs, and dump-offs around the rim. He's an enforcer in the middle who protects the paint and changes the game with his size, length, and defensive instincts. His presence completely disrupted the flow of Central's offense. He is the old-school, back-to-the-basket type of player that is going to be highly sought after. He's well built with broad shoulders and natural power, but if he can take this off-season and change his body to be more muscular and chiseled, he is going to be that much more challenging to deal with in the paint and much more enticing in the eyes of coaches at the next level. He had one of the highest +/- in the final four, with 27+/-. He finished with the following stat line: 24pts (11-13); 13rebs; 6-Blocks</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/HooverBucsBBall/status/1632889365109043200","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/HooverBucsBBall/status/1632889365109043200 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":1817718,"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/2/2023/02/PH-Jonathan-Caicedo-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/PH-Jonathan-Caicedo-C.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1817718" width="256" height="256" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='812617' first='Jonathan' last='Caicedo']&nbsp;</strong>(6'7/SF/'23/Hoover HS)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Instagram: Jonathan05_</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Twitter: @jonathan_c25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Jonathan had been playing some of the best basketball of any player entering the final four. He was the glue guy that kept it all together for the Bucs, evidenced by his finals stat line and his 22+/- that he finished the game with. He was a bucket away from a triple-double, but truthfully it wasn't any of his stats that made the needed difference for the Bucs. His leadership and ability to keep the young Bucs together were far weightier than anything else he did. Hopefully, his performance in the championship game and his collective body of work over the season will garner attention from coaches at the next level. He is a player worth looking at; he is a great guy for culture and winning. He finished with the following stat line: 8pts (3-3); 10rebs; 11-Assist</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/jonathan__c25/status/1635653670871224321","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/jonathan__c25/status/1635653670871224321 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Central-Phenix City</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":1324397,"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/2/2021/11/PH-Jacoby-Hill.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/11/PH-Jacoby-Hill.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1324397" width="256" height="256" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1398552' first='Jacoby' last='Hill']</strong>&nbsp;(6'3/CG/'25/Central HS)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Instagram: _.jaacoby._</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Jacoby showed one thing in not just the championship game but the entire final four: he is a bucket. His ability to play in isolation was terrific, and Hoover had no answer for him. Scoring is not an issue for Hill as he is as reliable as anyone I saw in the final four to score in a variety of ways. He is young but is as polished as anyone in any class when it comes to the offensive side of the ball. Jacoby uses his athleticism and wingspan to do things others at his position can't. Jacoby had the entire toolbox open, and as good as he was in numerous facets, it was his speed off the bounce that was one of his greatest weapons, as he has a deadly first step to blow by defenders, forcing opponents to keep help in the paint, which leads to creating space for teammates. Jacoby showed a lot of promise, and his stock rose drastically, playing on the year's biggest stage. Just take a look on his Instagram account at the different offers that came his way after his performance. He finished with the following stat line: 37pts (11-21 [4-9 3-Ptr]); 7rebs</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>Jacoby showed one thing in not just the championship game but the entire final four: he is a bucket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --><cite>Terry J. Drake</cite></blockquote> <!-- /wp:quote --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Willie Townsend (5'10/G/'24/Central HS)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">In a game where [player_tooltip player_id='1398552' first='Jacoby' last='Hill'] was absolutely remarkable, Willie had to step up and do more than provide scoring as he struggled a little from the field. He did provide another source of ball-handling and facilitating, as Jacoby was the primary source of offense each possession. Willie will be back next year and will look to help his squad get back to Birmingham.&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>He finished with the following stat line: 7pts (2-8 [1-6 3-Ptr])</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --><cite>Terry J. Drake</cite></blockquote> <!-- /wp:quote --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Que Billingsley</strong>&nbsp;(6'0/G/'23/Central HS)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">In his final game of his high school career, Que provided double-digit scoring in a game where outside of Jacoby, Central had a hard time finding points. He wasn't very efficient, but the points he provided helped keep Central close until Hoover was able to break away late. Que left it all on the floor and did everything he could on both ends of the floor to help his team; unfortunately, they came up short.</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>He finished with the following stat line: 13pts (4-12 [1-5 3-Ptr])</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --><cite>Terry J. Drake</cite></blockquote> <!-- /wp:quote -->