2025 Rankings: Sniper School
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As we continue our dive into the 2025 rankings, here are some of the players that were the best in the state when it came to scoring from behind the arc. I like to call these players instructors at the…
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Continue ReadingAs we continue our dive into the 2025 rankings, here are some of the players that were the best in the state when it came to scoring from behind the arc. I like to call these players instructors at the sniper school.
Ray Ray McCants (6’4/Wing/Pinson Valley HS)
Instagram: rayray.glizxzy
Twitter: @Raymccants_
I have put so much ink on Ray Ray that I am not going to speak much about him in this article. He holds his spot and is ranked #11 in this edition of the 2025 rankings. He is considered one of the top 5 shooters in the state regardless of class. He continues to expand his range and spring up in height, as that 6’4 might be a thing of the past. It is very possible that Ray might hold the best shooter in the state title before it is all said and done.
Tucker Whitley Tucker Whitley 6'2" | SG Fayette County | 2025 State AL (6’2/SG/Fayette County High School)
Instagram: tuckerwhitley
Tucker dropped 8 spots in the rankings to the #52 spot, but it had nothing to do with his shooting. When I watched him play, he was still one of the best shooters in the state, but his production took a dip which affected his ranking, as he had to take on more of the lead guard spot responsibilities. He had a challenging sophomore year, and hopefully, with one season under their new head coach, the team will be a little more settled into their new system.
Kel Battle Kel Battle 6'1" | CG Hamilton | 2025 State AL (6’1/CG/Hamilton HS)
Instagram: kelabattle
Kel is one of the best I have seen when shooting over contested shots. It does not take much for him to get his shot off, and if he gets his feet set in his c&s opportunities, consider it a bucket. He is listed as a combo guard, and he showed his ability to facilitate throughout the year while still being a primary scoring option for his squad. He can really shoot from behind the arc, which makes him a tough cover because he has a true perimeter game and can score out on the perimeter and off the bounce.
He makes his debut in this edition of the rankings as the #56 ranked player in his class.
Austyn Holmes Austyn Holmes SG Brewer | 2025 State AL (5’8/CG/Brewer HS)
Instagram: austynholmes_1
Austyn is a small but impactful combo guard that is a high-volume shot-taker. He looks for his shot beyond the line off the bounce and in c&s opportunities. He is a streaky shooter from beyond the arc, and when he gets going, it is hard to cool him off. He is a gifted scorer who needs touches, and it is in the best interest of his team to provide him the necessary touches.
He makes his debut in this edition of the rankings as the #58 ranked player in his class.
Tye Madison Tye Madison 6'2" | SF Marion County | 2025 State AL (6’1/SF/Marion County)
Instagram: whoistye7
Tye is listed as a small forward, and many may say that is ok for class 1A, but when you look at Tye’s game, you see that he plays the 1-3 throughout a game. He has range from behind the arc and is lethal in his c&s opportunities. I know we are discussing players that can get it done from beyond the arc, but I have to talk about Tye’s instincts on the defensive end of the floor. He is not just a leader on the offensive end of the floor; he is also the head of his squad’s defensive attack.
He makes his debut in this edition of the rankings as the #59 ranked player in his class.
Nicklaus Allen Nicklaus Allen CG Mobile Christian | 2025 State AL (5’10/CG/Mobile Christian)
Instagram: n1ck1aus
Nicklaus is a slim sniper with very deep range from beyond the arc. He is a multi-level scorer that is just as productive off the bounce as he is from beyond the arc. He plays well in isolation situations, and it is difficult for defenders to defend one on one. One of the main reasons he is such a tough cover is because of his deep range, as defenders must step out in space and defend the trey. He has a very good offensive game that makes him a very promising player in this class.
He makes his debut in this edition of the rankings as the #64 ranked player in his class.