AL State Finals Standout Performers: My 1st Time Seeing

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Once again, the Alabama State Finals had talent from each classification on display. Here are a few players who stood out who I was able to watch for the first time…</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2797686,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/PH-Jon-Harper-Kilcrease-C-1.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/PH-Jon-Harper-Kilcrease-C-1.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2797686" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Average Joe Sports / Deedra Pike, Average Joe Sports / Deedra Pike</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2815028' first='Jon' last='Harper Kilcrease']</strong> (6'2/F/'25/Brantley)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: jonharperkilcrease</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Jon is a wing who showed his ability to score from the perimeter. He had a mature floor game with a really good understanding and feel. He has to be accounted for on every possession, and even when defenders do run him off the line, he has a nice floater game that he can go to. He is a really good offensive weapon, as he provided scoring and on-court leadership.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2797687,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/PH-Isiah-Thomas-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/PH-Isiah-Thomas-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2797687" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Average Joe Sports / Deedra Pike, Average Joe Sports / Deedra Pike</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2455022' first='Isiah' last='Thomas']</strong> (6'5/Wing/'26/RC Hatch)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: cntguard2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Isiah is a walking double-double and puts tremendous pressure on the rim, which results in drawing a lot of fouls and getting to the line at a high rate. He has good positional size and can shoot it from the perimeter, create offense off the bounce, and get his teammates involved with his passing skills and unselfish approach to the game. He played within himself and did not force action, and as a result, he had two really impressive performances in the final four. He goes to the glass, and with his physical play and athleticism, not many could match his activity on the glass.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2797688,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/PH-Jordan-Davis-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/PH-Jordan-Davis-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2797688" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Average Joe Sports / Deedra Pike, Average Joe Sports / Deedra Pike</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2797199' first='Jordan' last='Davis']</strong> (6'0/PG/'27/Decatur Heritage)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: jordan_corde0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Jordan is a young floor general who is really good with the rock in his hands. He has a shiftiness to his game and can dance with the rock, often rocking his defender to sleep. He is a tough cover as he has court awareness and court vision, and can make the passes needed to get his teammates open looks for easy scoring opportunities. He is a solid distributor who's not going to make many mistakes, and he keeps the offense in the flow of what his coach desires. At the end of the day, he is a trustworthy lead guard.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2797689,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/PH-Jackson-Cooper-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/PH-Jackson-Cooper-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2797689" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Average Joe Sports / Deedra Pike, Average Joe Sports / Deedra Pike</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Jackson Cooper</strong> (6'2/CG/'26/Section)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: jackson.cooper20</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Jackson is a talented scoring backcourt talent who can score from all levels but thrives attacking off the bounce. He plays an attacking two-way style, putting pressure on the rim offensively, getting after it defensively, and bringing toughness on both ends. He stays in attack mode on both ends with an aggressive mindset. Jackson has a score-first mindset, as he is tough to contain when he drives to the rim; he showed that he can score from outside, has passing skills, and can rebound his position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2797690,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/PH-Garrett-Morgan-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/PH-Garrett-Morgan-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2797690" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Average Joe Sports / Deedra Pike, Average Joe Sports / Deedra Pike</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2786938' first='Garrett' last='Morgan']</strong> (6'3/CG/'25/Glencoe)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: gmorgann21</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Garrett is a wing who was at his best when looking to get to the cup. He was aggressive and showed his ability to finish through contact in traffic. He is a crafty finisher with good footwork in the paint. He has a mature floor game and was able to get to his spots utilizing his dribble where he was able to provide production on the scoreboard. I was impressed with his composure and ability to handle the pressure that Montgomery Academy played with.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2797693,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/PH-Miles-Warren-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/PH-Miles-Warren-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2797693" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Average Joe Sports / Deedra Pike, Average Joe Sports / Deedra Pike</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2472358' first='Miles' last='Warren']</strong> (6'0/SG/'27/Brooks)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: Milesw02</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @Milesw02</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Miles is a small guard who I have written about in the past, but that was in a team preview. This was my first time actually seeing him live and not on film. He is really tough off the bounce and is good at creating opportunities for his teammates. He is a playmaker who constantly got paint touches and made good decisions in tight windows.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2814985' first='Gabe' last='Glover']</strong> (6'1/F/'25/Houston Academy)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: gabe.gloverr</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Gabe is an athletic wing who made a two-way impact with his play. Offensively, he is a multi-level scorer who is quick when operating off the bounce and getting downhill. He showed his ability to balance scoring and facilitating and showed a good basketball IQ. Defensively, he uses his athleticism and quick jumping ability to contest shots and be a disruptive on-ball defender. He is very instinctive on the defensive end of the floor and was really good playing help-side defense.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2797228' first='Blaze' last='Wakefield']</strong> (6'0/CG/'27/Hubbertville)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Not many could get to the cup like Blaze could. He was in constant attack mode, getting paint touches just about every trip, and he kept defenders on their heels. He is a young playmaker who is deceptive with his handles and, at times, is explosive, hitting open gaps. He lives in the paint and keeps defenses collapsing and having to rotate. He is a talented young guard who understands where he is looking to go on the floor and how to get there.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->