256 vs 205 Challenge Media Days (Pt. 1)

<p>Featuring: 256 vs 205 Challenge </p>   <p>Matchup: Grissom High School vs Oak Mountain High School </p>   <p>January 26, 2023 at Oak Mountain High School</p>   <p>The 256 vs 205 challenge is a challenge in the state of Alabama where two of the greatest areas for high school men's basketball meet up and play from January 15, 2023, through February 4, 2023. This challenge brings some of the top teams in the state of Alabama and some of the best athletes to compete against each other not at a neutral site but hosted at the home team gymnasium. Today I bring to you Grissom High School vs. Oak Mountain High School in this amazing challenge. Both teams have an extremely well-developed background in high school basketball. Each team has won many state championships, produced multiple great athletes from each program, and has some legendary coaches on their staff. This matchup will be one of the top matchups and the 256 vs 205 challenge.</p>   <p>I have had the pleasure of participating in both the 256 and the 205 media days hosted by Knight Eady this past week. First, I would like to thank the sponsors, Bryant Bank, for allowing Knigh Eady to make this 256 vs 205 challenge happen for the State of Alabama. Each team has some very unique and extremely talented players that we will need to keep a lookout for throughout the season and leading up to this event. Grissom High School is led by Coach Jack Doss, who has an extremely long résumé in the basketball world with multiple championships, multiple final four appearances, and multiple sweet 16 appearances in the Alabama High School Athletic Association men's basketball state finals. Oak Mountain High School has a tremendous basketball coach coming out for the first time this year in Joel Floyd, who has taken on the role of head basketball coach for the Eagles. Coach Floyd has a long history as well, coming from Pelham High School and many other high schools in the area that have had great success in high school basketball. I am looking forward to this matchup between both schools to see who comes out with the wind and the 256 or 205. Let's dive in and talk about some of the great athletes on both teams that participated in this media day.</p>   <p>R.J. Johnson:</p>   <p>R.J. Johnson is one of the top basketball players in the state of Alabama and is returning for another year at Grissom High School. [player_tooltip player_id='833333' first='RJ' last='Johnson'] has committed to play at the University of Alabama. Johnson is a point guard who is very agile and can move the ball up and down the court with ease. Johnson has said on his media day that he is looking forward to focusing more on his team and being consistent around the ball to create opportunities for each of his teammates to make big plays on the court. As a point guard, Johnson is 6'3, 215 lbs. and has the ability to shoot, guard, and rebound. Johnson understands the matchup versus Oak Mountain high school, and he knows that this Oak Mountain basketball team has some very talented athletes on it, starting with guard Matt Heiberger. Johnson knows that staying consistent during this season will help this Grissom high school team continue at a high level of basketball in the state of Alabama.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/rjjohnson_11/status/1563227093802295296?s=20&t=TuoWGQzzhVI2jzN9uqFSgA </div></figure>   <p>Tre Thomas</p>   <p>Thomas is coming into his senior year for the Oak Mountain High School Eagles. Trey is listed as 6'9" and weighs in at 200 pounds. I will continue to be the big forward on the court. Thomas knows that, coming into the season, he has developed a whole new category in his game to have the Eagles be a top contender this upcoming season. Thomas has claimed that he spent his off-season improving a variety of skills to get ready for the new year. Thomas will be a very hard athlete to stop with his extremely long wingspan and the ability to score from the basket as well as receive rebounds on both ends of the court. Thomas has grown into a player that can stop a scorer from getting to the basket as well as use his advantage to make a block shot and grab rebounds up and down the court.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/tret_32/status/1548806712936775684?s=20&t=TuoWGQzzhVI2jzN9uqFSgA </div></figure>   <p>Matt Heiberger</p>   <p>Watching Matt Heiberger compete in the 2021–2022 basketball season has created a sense of urgency for the Oak Mountain high school athletic program. Matt has some high praise from his new head coach, Joel Floyd, stating that there are not 10 guys better than Matt in the state of Alabama at his guard position. Matt Heiberger is verbally committed to the University of Alabama for baseball. Although Matt is committed to baseball, he said he has the same love for the game of basketball as he has for baseball. Matt also stated that he has been working all season on both sports to help both teams be successful throughout the basketball season as well as his upcoming baseball season. I think Matt will be a force at guard coming into the season and matching up with [player_tooltip player_id='833333' first='RJ' last='Johnson'] doing the 256 vs. 205 challenge would be a great matchup to see.</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1564710' first='Izzy' last='Miles'] </p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1564710' first='Izzy' last='Miles'] is another elite performer for the Grissom High School basketball program. [player_tooltip player_id='1564710' first='Izzy' last='Miles'] is an extremely talented point guard for this basketball team. During Izzy's media day press conference questions, he has stated that he is most looking forward to getting other teammates involved in the game by being more vocal and more technique-sound on the court. Miles currently holds an offer from Troy University and various other teams as well. Miles is not only equipped on the court, but he also holds a 3.9 GPA in the classroom. Izzy enters this season ranked number five in the state of Alabama for prep hoops basketball. Izzy is a player who understands that his role on his basketball team is to create opportunities as well as lead his team to success in and out of each week by scoring and making huge plays throughout the basketball season.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/DarrellMiles20/status/1569528585823866881?s=20&t=TuoWGQzzhVI2jzN9uqFSgA </div></figure>   <p>D.J Thompson</p>   <p>DJ Thompson is a very energetic player on and off the court for the Grissom High School basketball program. Watching DJ Thompson last year as he led and facilitated a well-balanced game throughout his season was very awesome to see. DJ Thompson said in his press conference that he wants to lock in more and execute the most critical parts of a basketball game, such as rebounding and playing better defense. DJ also states that he wants to create a better path to come downhill and transition from one end of the court to the next to create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates. Coming out of that press conference, DJ is a very versatile player who looks to continue to help his team be successful in many different ways. As of right now, there's a 2023 athlete who does not hold an offer, but I can guarantee you by the end of the year he'll be a player you need to watch out for.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Djthompsonjr/status/1540887347272863745?s=20&t=TuoWGQzzhVI2jzN9uqFSgA </div></figure>   <p>Eli Love</p>   <p>Eli Love comes into his senior year at 6'1" and 160 lbs. as a guard for the Eagles. Love had an awesome junior year, helping lead the Oak Mountain High School Eagles to the elite eight. To help his team win throughout this season, Eli loves to focus on ballhandling and creating pockets for an open shot. I watched Love participate in the former event, Battle 205. Love was very mobile throughout the court, setting up screens and popping out for an open shot to drain a three-point basket. Love stated that he is most excited about this season due to the bond and willingness to grow and play together as one. I'm very excited to watch this young athlete participate in his final year knowing that he is really a good sharpshooter with a dynamic eye for the court, knowing where everyone is at what time to make a big play for the Eagles.</p>

Featuring: 256 vs 205 Challenge