Evaluating the Players Who Will Decide the Postseason

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Parity across the state is as real as it has been in years. Night after night, evenly matched teams are trading blows, and that balance is setting the stage for a wide-open, must-watch postseason. When margins are this thin, the difference comes down to elite players, the ones capable of swinging games, breaking schemes, and owning moments when the pressure peaks. Below are some of the top-ranked players in the state, and make no mistake: each will have a major say in how the playoff story is written…</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2696950,"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-Gage-Mayfield-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/PH-Gage-Mayfield-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2696950" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2313889' first='Gage' last='Mayfield'] </strong>(6'8/G|F/'26/Hale County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: 5stargoon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Gage continues to impress with his versatile scoring arsenal and ability to take over games late. He is a dynamic scorer who, despite being the center of every team's scouting report, still has the ability to go for huge points and have his team competing every time his team steps onto the floor. He has the physical tools and the skill set that have many already declaring Hale County as the State Champions. He has shown his ability to shoot over top of contesting defenders and get his shot off virtually any time he wants. He is going to be a tough match-up for many going down the stretch, and how his team handles the expectation level will determine a lot in the next few weeks for his squad. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2921358,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/PH-Evan-Toms-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/PH-Evan-Toms-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2921358" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2472355' first='Evan' last='Toms']</strong> (6'9/PF/2027/Huntsville)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: evan.toms34</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @EvanToms</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Evan is an interior presence who is the anchor of the Huntsville squad. He shows his ability to play with his back to the basket, his ability to step out, face-up, and attack off the dribble. He puts constant pressure on the rim and has an aggressive mindset on both ends of the floor. He does a good job scoring around the rim, and it is his ability to demand extra attention that often puts teams in a tough situation trying to decide whether to double him or play him straight up. The challenge is if teams double him, he is a good passer out of the post and can get the ball to the open shooter, and if they play him straight up, not many teams have the personnel to match-up against him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2773292,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/PH-Jaylen-Alexander-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/PH-Jaylen-Alexander-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2773292" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1958808' first='Jaylen' last='Alexander'] </strong>(6'1/PG/'26/Oxford HS)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: j3ylen</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @256Jaylen</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Jaylen is playing like a man on a mission, and many have his team as a favorite to make it to Birmingham. He will be vital to his team, and key, if they can hoist the blue map. His leadership, ability to facilitate, and scoring prowess will be needed to get the Yellow Jackets to the championship. He is an athletic lead guard with downhill speed, body control, and the shiftiness to change speed and direction with the ball in his hands. His combination as a playmaker and as a scorer, along with his aggressiveness, makes him a tough cover night in and night out, and many believe he can get the Yellow Jackets over the hump.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":3077582,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/PH-Antwane-Daniels-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/PH-Antwane-Daniels-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-3077582" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2313904' first='Antwane' last='Daniels'] </strong>(6'6/CG/‘26/Auburn HS)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: saucegod81</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Antwane is getting national recognition as a result of his play and pedigree, but in order for his squad to make a deep playoff push, he will have to continue to be a versatile scoring threat with the ball in his hands. He has the ability to carry his team deep into the playoffs as he can facilitate as well as provide timely buckets while going for huge numbers. He has a mature floor game as seen in how he doesn't force the issue, takes good shots, and makes good decisions with the rock in his hands.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2714861,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/PH-Jackson-Sheffield-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/PH-Jackson-Sheffield-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2714861" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Hoover Basketball Program Hoover Basketball Program</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2224458' first='Jackson' last='Sheffield']</strong> (6'9/C/'26/Hoover)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: jackson_sheffield32</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @jsheffield2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Jackson is without question the guy for Hoover, and the Vandy-commit knows if his team is going to make a run to Birmingham again, he will have to be the dominant player he can be night in and night out. There are not many in the state who can match his size and physical play, but it is going to be imperative for Jackson that he can be a player that Hoover can run the offense through and be a dominant force with inside scoring, shot-blocking, and controlling the glass. He is the key to how far Hoover goes this playoff season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2886688,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/PH-Jakobi-Sharp-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/PH-Jakobi-Sharp-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2886688" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Jakobi Sharp</strong> (6'3/Wing/'26/Gadsden City)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: kobi.22</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @JakobiSharp_22</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Jakobi has emerged as a well-rounded player who impacts the game on both ends of the floor. You can tell that the game has slowed down for him, and his experience and maturity have set in, which is another reason he rises above the opponents. He continues to be a multi-level scorer who can go for huge numbers on any given night. Jakobi will have a huge impact on his team's post-season success because of all the things he brings to the floor, such as his scoring ability, playmaking instincts, tough on-ball defense, and leadership responsibility &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->