#TerryTalks: AHSAA Class 7A Championship Game Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">The class 7A Championship game is set, and here is a dive into Hoover vs Florence.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>Hoover</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2794482,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/PH-Salim-London-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/PH-Salim-London-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2794482" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: EB Capturess, EB Capturess</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1398516' first='Salim' last='London']</strong> (6'6/CG/'25/Hoover)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: leemlondon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @IAmSalimLondon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Salim is the most aggressive downhill attacking guard that will be in this game. He has an impressive combination as a playmaker and scorer, and if he gets it going, it will be very difficult for Florence to keep him out of the paint. He operates well as a ball-handler in ball screens and knows how to get to his spots coming off screens. He is a really tough finisher around the rim and in the paint, and he has been shooting the ball well from behind the arc lately.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2794483,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/PH-DeWayne-Brown-II-C-1.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/PH-DeWayne-Brown-II-C-1.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2794483" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: EB Capturess, EB Capturess</figcaption></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>(6'9/C/'25/Hoover HS)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: dewaynebrown2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @Dewaynebrownll</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">The key to the entire game for both sides is going to be DeWayne. It goes like this for Hoover: if he brings his physical interior play and can impose his will on Florence's interior players, then the advantage will be on Hoover's side. If Florence can limit DeWayne's production and keep him below his average in points and rebounds, then the advantage could be in Florence's favor. The problem is that many have tried to contain or at least slow DeWayne down and have come up unsuccessful.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2697815,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/PH-Jarett-Fairley-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/PH-Jarett-Fairley-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2697815" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1398558' first='Jarett' last='Fairley']&nbsp;</strong>(6'2/CG/'25/Hoover HS)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: jarettgotquicks_</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @fairley_jm</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Jarett is a two-way force who will more than likely be matched up with either [player_tooltip player_id='1398642' first='Bryant' last='James'] or [player_tooltip player_id='1398772' first='Jamarrion' last='Reeder'], and he has the ability to be a disruptive defender who can negate either one of those offensive options. Offensively, Jarett can provide offensive production from all levels, and his ability to be a scoring option will be another scorer for which Florence will have to account.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>Florence</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2794484,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/PH-Jalen-Chandler-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/PH-Jalen-Chandler-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2794484" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: EB Capturess, EB Capturess</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2415060' first='Jalen' last='Chandler']</strong> (6'6/F/'25/Florence) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: xxjalenn</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Jalen is coming off a 41pt performance in the semi-finals. There is no questioning that Jalen can score the rock; the question will be whether he can follow up on his performance with a similar one against Hoover. It goes without saying he will have to have a huge night on both ends of the floor if Florence is going to have a chance. He may need another 40 for his squad to pull off the upset.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2794485,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/PH-Jaylen-Blackwell-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/PH-Jaylen-Blackwell-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2794485" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: EB Capturess, EB Capturess</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1398803' first='Jaylen' last='Blackwell']&nbsp;</strong>(6'4/G|F/'25/Florence)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: Jaylen_blackwell_</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @Jaylenblackwe15</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Jaylen is a versatile wing with good positional size who could cause match-up problems for the smaller Hoover guards, depending on how the line-ups match up. He can score in a variety of ways, and he has an intriguing combination of size and shot-making ability from both inside and outside the arc. He is a key piece to the upset attempt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2489360,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/PH-Bryant-James-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/PH-Bryant-James-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2489360" /></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> (6'2/CG/Florence 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">X: @bryantjames_13</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">I have seen Bryant go off for huge numbers in the past, and at any moment, he can get hot and be a scoring threat every time he touches the ball. He has excellent shooting mechanics, touch from all levels, vision, and passing accuracy. He could be the person who can get Florence over the top.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">This will be a game between two teams who both have their own 'Big 3.' Hoover leans on DeWayne Brown, [player_tooltip player_id='1398516' first='Salim' last='London'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1398558' first='Jarett' last='Fairley'], while Florence leans on [player_tooltip player_id='2415060' first='Jalen' last='Chandler'], [player_tooltip player_id='1398803' first='Jaylen' last='Blackwell'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1398642' first='Bryant' last='James']. It just may come down to the 'Others' as Shaq calls them. Can Florence pull off the upset? We will see in just over 24 hours.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Class 6A Championship Game</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Saturday, March 1, 2025, at 5:45pm</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->