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Hoover High has 23 athletes in national signing day ceremony (videos)

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Frank Couch

Frank Couch

Frank Couch

Frank Couch

Frank Couch

Frank Couch

Frank Couch

Frank Couch

Frank Couch

Frank Couch

Frank Couch

Frank Couch

Frank Couch

Frank Couch

Frank Couch

Twenty-three students from Hoover High participated in the school’s athletic signing day ceremony today, declaring they are accepting scholarships to play sports in college.

Nine were from Hoover’s football team, including linebacker and defensive end Jeremiah Moon, who is headed to play for the University of Florida Gators, and cornerback P.J. Hall, who chose to go to Tulane University.

Five members of Hoover’s track and field teams have received scholarships to play in college, including Brittley Humphrey, a world-class hurdler who decided to go to LSU.

Hoover also had three female soccer players, two female basketball players, two softball players and two volleyball players sign athletic scholarships.

Here’s the full list of Hoover athletes and the schools from which they are accepting scholarships:

BASKETBALL

FOOTBALL

SOCCER

SOFTBALL

TRACK AND FIELD

VOLLEYBALL

Hoover High Principal Don Hulin congratulated the student-athletes on their accomplishments and encouraged them to make the most of their chance to go to college and participate in college athletics.

“I had 15 years as a head coach, and I had lots of kids who were fortunate enough to go to the next level, but a lot of those kids didn’t take advantage of that opportunity,” Hulin said. “You’ve worked extremely hard on the playing fields, in the classroom to get to this point. Take full advantage of the opportunity.”

Football standouts

Hoover football coach Josh Niblett said each of the 11 football players accepting scholarships represents the Hoover program well.

“This is a good group — a really good group,” Niblett said. “I’ve been with this group since they were young, kind of watched them grow up.”

This group of seniors won 37 games and two state championships and lost only five games in four years, Niblett said.

“Now they’ve been given an opportunity to go to the next level and see what they can do at the next level,” he said. “I challenge them to, No. 1, to continue to work hard and No. 2, continue to treat people with respect and No. 3, always protect the family.”

Moon and Hall both were chosen to play on the 40-man Alabama roster in the 2015 Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game in December.

Moon committed to Florida long ago but had a visit there last week. “I met with a lot of the players, and they showed me how it really goes down there, and I just loved it,” he said.

New Florida coach Jim McElwain is doing a great job with the players there, and they are working hard, “so I think this upcoming season will be pretty good,” Moon said.

Hall received offers from Louisville, Minnesota, Mississippi State and Georgia Tech but said he really connected with the coaches at Tulane. “I think they’re going to change the program, and I wanted to be a part of it,” he said.

Track stars

Hoover track and field coach Devon Hind said it will be especially tough losing Humphrey to LSU and Weems to Samford.

“We’re losing a lot of talent with these two girls right here,” he said. “If you look at our record board that’s out in the hall out there, you’ll see their names splashed all over it. They own all the records. They’ve rewritten the record books.”

Humphrey this past summer placed second in the world in the hurdles and is currently ranked fourth in the nation, Hind said. Weems was state champion in the 800-meter race last year and is currently ranked sixth in the nation, he said.

“They call themselves sisters. They’ve been running together since Simmons Middle School. I know Mountain Brook is really glad that they’re both graduating.”

Humphrey said she has liked LSU since middle school.

“I really like their track program. They develop hurdlers very well, and I think it will be a great fit for me,” Humphrey said. “I think LSU is a place where I can really be myself and succeed and go as far as my abilities and God allows me.”

Hind said he’s very excited for the University of Montevallo as they gain Apel, Franklin and Shelton. Montevallo already has 10 athletes from Hoover, and they make up about half of the university’s track team, he said.

Apel, Franklin and Shelton are going to continue the Hoover tradition in terms of great leadership and hard work, he said. “They’ve been improving every single year.”

Lady Bucs basketball

Maddox is “a coach’s dream” according to her coach, Tiffany Frederick. She’s a hard worker on the court and in the classroom, Frederick said.

“Ever since her freshman year, Jailyn always stayed after practice to put in extra work,” Frederick said in written comments shared by another coach. “She led the Lady Bucs in scoring each of the last three years and is currently this year’s leader with 16 points per game.”

She has been a team captain the last two years and scored more than 1,000 points in her career. There is no doubt she’ll continue to elevate her game at Virginia Commonwealth, Frederick said.

Maddox also considered Middle Tennessee State, Rice and South Alabama but really liked the coaches, the environment and the diversity at VCU, she said. “It just felt like home when I went for my official visit. I really liked it,” she said.

Plus, she likes VCU’s fast-paced offense, she said. “That’s really what I like to do — fast breaks, so I think it’ll be a really good fit.”

Langham — with a 4.09 GPA — is a model student and a very versatile player, Frederick said. She is the basketball team’s leading rebounder and a team captain.

“Whether inside as a forward or outside as a guard, her diversity will be a strength for her at the next level,” Frederick said.

Volleyball players

Hoover volleyball coach Chris Camper said it has been a tremendous honor to coach Lowe and Sanford the past four years. They and the other seniors completely bought into the program, he said.

“They’ve been leaders for us from the very first day. They’re amazing young women — great in the classroom, on the court lead us to back-to-back trips to the Elite Eight and a trip to the finals for the first time in school history last year,” Camper said. “Their legacy will be here for a very long time.

“We’re very proud of them,” Camper said. “We know you’re going to do great at UAH … They love that university, and they’re going to represent Hoover at an extremely high level for the next four years.”

Softball standouts

Frank Couch

Lowery and Praytor both have been tremendous leaders for the Hoover softball program, coach Lexi Shrout said.

Lowery was voted a team captain as a junior last year and has played a vital role as a second baseman. While not a power hitter, she was able to move runners around the bases as needed, Shrout said.

Praytor, a pitcher, did a tremendous job on the mound and was selected for the Over-the-Mountain all-star team, Shrout said.

“I’m so proud of these two girls and how hard they’ve worked, and I know they’ll be able to do great things at their colleges,” she said.

Soccer trio

Frank Couch

Girls soccer coach Will Patridge told the families of Amidon, DeJohn and Morris that they had done a good job raising the girls.

“They come to play every single day. They’re respectful, and they’re just a joy to be around,” Patridge said.

They’re where they are today not only because of their hard work since they were 3, 4 and 5 years old, but also because of the other 37 players in the program, Patridge said.

Morris is a clutch player who has played forward the past three years, Patridge said. “Anytime she touches the ball … you just want to stand up on your feet because you know something magical can happen,” he said.

DeJohn is a three-year starter at midfield. “This girls comes to work day in and day out,” he said. “She is a ferocious defender. She’s great on the attack. She’s one of those players where I can’t tell if she’s having a bad day or not because she brings 100 percent every single day.”

Amidon is a great player who makes soccer look effortless, Patridge said. The Savannah College of Art and Design is a great fit for her because of her love for both art and soccer, he said.

See coverage of the signing day ceremony at Spain Park High School.

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