Names to Know from the Huntsville City Classic

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">The Huntsville City Classic once again delivered high-level competition and meaningful evaluation reps. Several prospects separated themselves with skill, feel, and competitive edge. Here is a deeper look at the players who didn't just show up but made statements…</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":3288705,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/01/PH-Mason-Ellis-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/01/PH-Mason-Ellis-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-3288705" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2194591' first='Mason' last='Ellis']</strong> (6'3/CG/'28/Montgomery Academy)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: masewitdashifts.1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @Masewitdashift</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">This was my first time seeing Mason in live action, and he did not disappoint when it came to his overall play. He is a young, dynamic playmaker who was really good at creating his own offense and keeping defenses off-balance and in rotations. He plays on and off the ball, but he is at his best when he has the freedom and space to create. He has open-floor speed, quick-twitch bodily movements, functional control of his body, and burst off the dribble. Despite his youth, he has a knack for scoring, and he had a lot of people picking up the tourney program to see who he was as he had his scoring arsenal and playmaking abilities on full display on one of the biggest stages in the state during the season. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2696946,"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-Jalen-Kidd-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/PH-Jalen-Kidd-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2696946" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Jalen Kidd</strong> (6'6/PF|C/'26/Fairfield) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: Bnt_jalen</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">With the departure of a talented senior class and a transfer, Jalen has had to step into a bigger role for the Tigers this season. He is still raw offensively, but he gives the Tigers an inside presence. He can finish around the rim, so he is able to provide point production, which is needed for a team that lost a lot of point production. He brings physical interior play on both ends of the floor, while being able to carve out his space at the mid-line and at the front of the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":3288707,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/01/PH-Jerion-Dewayne-Peebles-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/01/PH-Jerion-Dewayne-Peebles-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-3288707" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Jerion Dewayne Peebles</strong> (5'10/PG/'26/Lee) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: lf.jerion0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @J3rionJerion</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Jerion is a small guard who is aggressive on both ends of the floor. He has a mature floor game and craftiness to go along with it, which makes him very difficult to contain when orchestrating the offense. He is a gritty lead guard and brings toughness in the backcourt. His craftiness, along with his body control and ability to change pace, gives him unique ways of throwing defenders off. He is really good at getting into the heart of the paint, making good decisions, and he has all the live-dribble passing skills to deliver on-time and on-target passes. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":3288708,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/01/PH-Malachi-McNair-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/01/PH-Malachi-McNair-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-3288708" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2748656' first='Malachi' last='McNair']</strong> (5'10/PG/'28/Mae Jemison) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: lf.mali2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @Malachimcnair00</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Malachi is a small lead guard who is extremely heady and knows how to run an offense. He is a young lead guard, but his patience and pace in which he plays show a floor game beyond his years. He processes the game at a fast rate and sees plays unfold before they happen. His court awareness allows him to be a step ahead of his defender and create offense for teammates. He showed his ability to manipulate defenders and has PG intuition of where the ball needs to go on most possessions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":3288709,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/01/PH-Ryan-Wright-II.-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/01/PH-Ryan-Wright-II.-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-3288709" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Ryan Wright, II.</strong> (6'0/SG/'26/Austin) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: Foreverpaid_.Rj</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @Rj54186686</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Ryan is one of the best at attacking and putting pressure on the rim. He plays hard and plays with determination when looking to create his own offense. His downhill velocity off the attack helps him to finish through contact, which he does often. He is tough off the dribble, and when he is in the open court, he is looking to get paint touches and create offense for himself and his teammates. He proved his ability to get into the paint with ease and draws fouls. He is really good at shifting gears, and when he has his mind set on scoring, not many were able to slow him down.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":3288710,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/01/PH-Colton-Horton-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/01/PH-Colton-Horton-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-3288710" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2455007' first='Colton' last='Horton']</strong> (6'3/Wing/'26/Columbia) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: c0ltonn_h</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @coltonhortonn</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Colton is a high-energy wing who impacts the game through effort and activity. He excels on the offensive glass, consistently creating extra possessions and manufacturing points with put-backs. His motor never stops, and his hustle plays swing momentum. He brings toughness, rebounding, and physicality from the wing spot, traits that become invaluable as the season heads toward the playoffs. His willingness to do the little things makes him a player coaches trust when the game tightens.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->