My Immediate Thoughts From #PHTop250ExpoAL

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">The #PHTop250ExpoAL took place in Hoover, AL, at Spain Park HS. The gym was full of talent, and here are my initial thoughts on a few standouts…</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2221740,"sizeSlug":"thumbnail","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-thumbnail"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/Jeremiah-Williamsjpg.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/Jeremiah-Williamsjpg.jpg?w=150&amp;h=150&amp;crop=1" alt="" class="wp-image-2221740" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1958492' first='Jeremiah' last='Williams']&nbsp;</strong>(6'0/PG/'26/Shades Valley HS)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Instagram: Jeremiah.07</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X/Twitter: @Curl2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Jeremiah, better known as 'Curl,' was in full scoring mode throughout camp. Seeing Curl and [player_tooltip player_id='1398735' first='Austin' last='Coner'] in the same backcourt, I knew it was going to be a long day for opposing teams. Curl is known for his ability to shoot the rock from deep, but his ability to put the ball on the floor and create off the bounce steadily improves. He has gotten a lot more comfortable and confident with the ball in his hands. He has been a player that can be a volume shooter, which he has had to do in the past, and he is a player that has developed into a playmaker. I am excited about Curl's development as he is just scratching the surface of his all-around game. What I really was impressed with at camp was not just his physical toolkit but his mental maturation in his game.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2221741,"sizeSlug":"thumbnail","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-thumbnail"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/Austin-Conerjpg.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/Austin-Conerjpg.jpg?w=150&amp;h=150&amp;crop=1" alt="" class="wp-image-2221741" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1398735' first='Austin' last='Coner']</strong>&nbsp;(6'0/PG/'25/Pinson Valley HS)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Instagram: acwoo2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X/Twitter: @IAMWOO2x</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Austin, better known as 'Woo,' is coming into his own, and being the catalyst of the Pinson Valley's squad this year will show everything I have been trying to say about him the past year. With his brother now at the next level, Coach Barber will look to Woo to be the Indians' floor general. He is more than able to handle the responsibility, as he showed throughout camp. He is a shifty lead guard who orchestrates the offense and is a reliable and steady presence at the position. I have to go ahead and put this in this article, as it just shows how Woo's all-around game is developing, and what I am speaking about is his in-game dunk as he came down the lane, elevated, and threw it down. Needless to say, I was shocked. He showed a lot of promise, and with everything surrounding the Pinson Valley program as we enter the season, look for Woo to be the constant stabilizing force for the Indians.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2221742,"sizeSlug":"thumbnail","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-thumbnail"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/Jalen-Brightjpg.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/Jalen-Brightjpg.jpg?w=150&amp;h=150&amp;crop=1" alt="" class="wp-image-2221742" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1574461' first='Jalen' last='Bright']</strong>&nbsp;(6'3/CG/'24/Hazel Green HS)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Instagram: 859.jalen</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X/Twitter: @Jalen3x2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Jalen was one of the best two-way players at camp. He is highly athletic and was impactful on both ends of the floor. He was tough off the bounce and was aggressive attacking downhill. When he is not flying high to score above the rim, he has crafty tricks to score around the basket. He was able to create his own shot off the bounce, and his combination of size, speed, and leaping gave him the advantage in many of his match-ups. His athleticism was key to his ability to apply pressure on the defensive end of the floor. If Jalen plays with the effort and production he did in camp, look for him to be a senior who his team will look to for leadership on the court.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2221743,"sizeSlug":"thumbnail","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-thumbnail"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/Kinley-Simmonsjpg.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/Kinley-Simmonsjpg.jpg?w=150&amp;h=150&amp;crop=1" alt="" class="wp-image-2221743" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2224465' first='Kinley' last='Simmons']</strong>&nbsp;(5'11/SG/'26/Murphy)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Murphy HS coach sent several players to camp, and I was impressed with what they will be putting on the court this year. Even though they did not have their entire squad at camp, I found out that their guard play will be tough, and they can shoot the rock from deep. Kinley is one of those guards that will be on display, and he had it going from behind the arc. He is an athletic shooting guard that can really fill it up. He is tough in the open court with his ability to finish above the rim, and his ability to knock down the trey makes him a player who creates gaps for his teammates to penetrate because teams will find out that you cannot help off Kinley.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2221744,"sizeSlug":"thumbnail","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-thumbnail"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/Rowen-Thorntonjpg.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/Rowen-Thorntonjpg.jpg?w=150&amp;h=150&amp;crop=1" alt="" class="wp-image-2221744" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Rowen Thornton</strong>&nbsp;(6'3/Wing/'25/Tallassee)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Instagram: _rowenthornton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X/Twitter: @_rowenthornton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Rowen is a wing player who can really light it up from beyond the arc, and in the games I watched him, he was very efficient. The strength of his game is his ability to score from deep, but he brought a lot of energy to the floor, which was contagious to his teammates. As far as I know, this was my first time laying eyes on Rowen, and he will be making his way into our next state rankings. He is a player with a quick release, the stamina to run around the floor all game, and the intelligence to find open spots where he can get locked and loaded. He showed his ability to put the ball on the floor when defenders ran him off the line, and he scored with a mid-range jumper and crafty finishes at the rim. One thing that I must say is an opportunity for growth for Rowen is that, at times, he plays defense with his hands by his side. He has a nice wingspan that can be impactful when he is defending.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2221745,"sizeSlug":"thumbnail","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-thumbnail"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/Christian-Millerjpg.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/Christian-Millerjpg.jpg?w=150&amp;h=150&amp;crop=1" alt="" class="wp-image-2221745" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1905932' first='Christian' last='Miller']</strong>&nbsp;(6'5/G|F/'24/Ridgecrest)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">One player who really increased his stock at camp was Christian. He is a player who has the talent to play at the next level, but very few people know about him due to where he plays and the fact that they are AISA. He has good positional size and is a swingman who can score inside and out. He is an athletic multi-level scorer with a good feel for the game and playmaking abilities. The ball doesn't stick in his hands. Even though he can stroke the trey ball, he will pass up a contested shot on the wing for a teammate to launch an open corner three, or he will attack a closeout and then spray the rock. He is a very heady player with a loaded toolkit. Many will question if he can do it against stiffer competition, but in a gym filled with some high-level talent from the state, he held his own and had many intrigued with his game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->