Marching to Birmingham: Elite 8 Stars Shine

Several programs are headed to Birmingham, and with it comes the brightest lights and biggest stage of the season…the Final Four. The Elite 8 has not disappointed. It has delivered statement performances, dominant stretches, and breakout moments from players who are peaking at exactly the right time. Here are the standouts who are carrying momentum into championship week.   Grayson Moon (6'4/Wing/'26/Guntersville)   [player_tooltip player_id='2748297' first='Kobe' last='Brothers'] might be getting most of the spotlight for Guntersville as they head to Birmingham, but it is Grayson who is the ultimate x-factor that teams are having a problem contending with. He is highly active and brings tremendous effort to both ends of the floor. He is an inside-out factor who had an efficient scoring night in the Elite 8, leading his squad with 18pts, all from inside the arc and the free-throw line. He is a relentless competitor and simply outplays opponents at times.   [player_tooltip player_id='3070702' first='Julius' last='Sylvester'] (6'3/C/'26/Brantley)   Julius made an impact on both ends of the floor, helping his squad punch their ticket to Birmingham. His interior presence was too much for McIntosh to handle at times, as Julius scored well in the paint, was active on the glass, and was active defensively with his hands. His activity level helped him to get to the line, which was one area in which he struggled, and will need to tighten up as his team takes the court in Birmingham.   JB Potter (6'2/SG/'26/Ashville)   IG: jb_potter26   X: @jbp_three   JB had it going as he helped his team punch their ticket to Birmingham. He dropped a 40-piece as he was phenomenal on the offensive end, scoring it from all over the floor. He was in a groove, and it had to feel like he was shooting into an ocean. The huge game came on an efficient night of shooting from the field and from the line. He is a crafty, shifty talent who is tough to contain, and, as he showed, when he gets it going, it is hard to slow him down. He was aggressive, attacked with purpose, played a mature game, and is headed into the Final Four with a lot of confidence.   [player_tooltip player_id='2194652' first='Khalil' last='Luster'] (6'8/F|C/'28/Red Bay HS)   IG: khalil_oneal   X: @KhalilLuster   Khalil has been on an absolute tear throughout the playoffs, and he helped his squad to punch their ticket to Birmingham, which has the Red Bay community buzzing. He continues his stock rising season by showing his scoring versatility. He shot the ball extremely well from beyond the arc as he finished with another double-double, continuing to make his impact across the stat sheet. Whoever his team faces in the final four, they will have their hands full with Khalil and his inside-out scoring versatility.   [player_tooltip player_id='2847404' first='Cole' last='Brand'] (6'0/PG/'27/Hubbertville)   IG: cole_brand_11   Cole was a high-volume shot taker in the Elite 8, as his squad cruised into a spot in Birmingham. He produced from the perimeter, particularly from behind the arc, and led his team to a commanding victory. His scoring and ability to facilitate the offense will be needed as his team looks to hoist the blue map in Birmingham. Cole gives his squad a steady presence in the backcourt, and he will be key to any success Hubbertville has.   Jayden Thomason (6'5/PF|C/'27/Lafayette)   IG: whatswrongwith.jayden   Jayden had another efficient night from the field and made his presence felt in the paint. His length and athleticism were a factor on both ends of the floor. He understands his strengths and plays to them, rarely gets out of character, and rarely tries to do things beyond his arsenal. If he can continue to hang his hat on his interior play and the effort level in which he plays, he will give his team a shot as they take the court in Birmingham next week.   [player_tooltip player_id='3302096' first='Logan' last='Hagler'] (6'1/CG/'27/Providence Christian)   IG: loganh_24   Logan took advantage of the gravity teammate [player_tooltip player_id='1961231' first='Pearce' last='Boone'] created to help his squad get back to Birmingham. He is a smooth, crafty guard who can facilitate and score, and has a great feel and high IQ. He sees the floor well, and throughout this game, he seemed to be one step ahead of his defenders. He does a good job controlling tempo, keeping teammates involved, and making good decisions while orchestrating the offense. If he can be the second scoring punch and keep the team in rhythm, it will be hard to stop his squad.   DeSarion Lewis (5'6/PG/'27/RC Hatch)   DeSarion is a small guard who helped his squad punch their ticket to Birmingham. He was dynamic on the offensive end of the floor, especially from behind the arc. He is tough to contain off the bounce, and he was able to get whatever he wanted throughout the flow of the game. His floor game was solid, and he did a good job running the show while being the primary scoring option this game.

Several programs are headed to Birmingham, and with it comes the brightest lights and biggest stage of the season…the Final Four. The Elite 8 has not disappointed. It has delivered statement performances, dominant stretches, and breakout moments from players who are peaking at exactly the right time. Here are the standouts who are carrying momentum into championship week.