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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney
Hoover's Khloe Ford (5) moves to shoot for 2-points guarded by Auburn's Avari Bowley (24) in the first half of a girls Class 7A state semifinal game at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by David Leong
Hoover's Seneca Robinson (4) dribbles around Enterprise’s Malachi Reed (3) in the first half of the boys Class 7A state championship game at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Photo by David Leong.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney
Hoover’s Ariana Peagler (14) shoots a layup in the second half of the girls Class 7A state championship game at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex on Saturday, March 2, 2024. The Lady Bucs defeated the Lady Huskies 58-56. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney
Hoover's Salim London (5) shoots a layup in the first half of a boys Class 7A state semifinal game against Central-Phenix City at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney
Hoover head coach Krystle Johnson holds up her hands in the second half of a girls Class 7A state semifinal game at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. The Lady Bucs defeated Auburn 71-56 to advance to the Class 7A state final on Saturday. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney
Hoover’s Aaliyah Blanchard (13) drives the ball to the goal guarded by Hewitt-Trussville's Mia Ada (11) in the second half of the girls Class 7A state championship game at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex on Saturday, March 2, 2024. The Lady Bucs defeated the Lady Huskies 58-56. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney
Hoover's Kaitlyn Gipson (12) dribbles the ball downcourt in the second half of a girls Class 7A state semifinal game at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. The Lady Bucs defeated Auburn 71-56 to advance to the Class 7A state final on Saturday. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney
Hoover's Kamryn Lee (3) dribbles the ball guarded by Auburn's Daley Alsobrook (15) in the second half of a girls Class 7A state semifinal game at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. The Lady Bucs defeated Auburn 71-56 to advance to the Class 7A state final on Saturday. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by David Leong
Hoover's Layla Cannon (20) makes a layup in the first half of a girls Class 7A state semifinal game at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. Photo by David Leong.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney
Hoover's DeWayne Brown (55) shoots for 2-points in the second half of a boys Class 7A state semifinal game at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. The Bucs defeated Central-Phenix City 57-49 to advance to the state championship game Saturday. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by David Leong
Hoover's Jarett Fairley (1) dribbles past Austin's Jordan Johnson (1) during an AHSAA Class 7A boys regional semifinal game between the Hoover Bucs and Austin Black Bears in Tom Drake Coliseum at Wallace State Community College in Hanceville on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024. Photo by David Leong.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney
Hoover's Salim London (5) shoots a layup in the first half of a boys Class 7A state semifinal game against Central-Phenix City at Legacy Arena at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney
Spain Park’s Korbin Long (2) dribbles the ball downcourt guarded by Chelsea’s Avery Futch (0) during a game against Chelsea at Spain Park High School on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney
Spain Park’s TJ Lamar (5) shoots a 3-pointer in a game against Oak Mountain at Spain Park High School on Friday, Jan. 19, 2024. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney
Spain Park’s Teagan Huey (21) dribbles the ball guarded by Oak Mountain’s Ella Holt (4) during a game at Spain Park High School on Friday, Jan. 19, 2024. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney
Spain Park’s Ava Leonard (3) drives the ball to the basket guarded by Oak Mountain’s Joy Damron (25) during a game at Spain Park High School on Friday, Jan. 19, 2024. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
The 2023-24 high school basketball season has been completed, which means it’s time to recognize those with standout seasons on the annual Starnes Media All-South Metro basketball team.
Mountain Brook’s Ty Davis and Hewitt-Trussville’s Jordan Hunter are Players of the Year, as each capped off incredible careers. Both were coached by their parents and led their teams to state runner-up finishes this year.
Homewood’s Tim Shepler is the boys Coach of the Year, after leading Homewood back to the regional final for the first time since 2016. Tonya Hunter and Krystle Johnson met up in the Class 7A girls state championship game and both share Coach of the Year honors due to their stellar leadership.
BOYS
Player of the Year: Ty Davis, Mountain Brook
Coach of the Year: Tim Shepler, Homewood
FIRST TEAM
Salim London, Hoover: One of the top guards in the state, averaging 17.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4 assists for the state champs.
DeWayne Brown, Hoover: Nearly averaged a double-double, with 15.1 points and 9.4 rebounds per game.
Avery Futch, Chelsea: Helped the Hornets to regionals by averaging 12.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.
Ty Davis, Mountain Brook: Capped off a brilliant career with 17.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists per contest for the state runner-up.
Drew Mears, Briarwood: Led the area in scoring, with 23.6 points per game this season.
SECOND TEAM
Jackson Weaver, Vestavia Hills: Went for 13 points per game for the Rebels.
Korbin Long, Spain Park: Led the Jags with 14 points and 4 rebounds and assists per game.
Devon McKinnon, Clay-Chalkville: Surpassed 1,000 career points and drained 75 3-pointers.
Victor Odiari, Clay-Chalkville: Won area tournament MVP for a strong Cougars squad.
Reid Stodghill, Hewitt-Trussville: Accepted a preferred walk-on offer to Alabama and eclipsed 1,000 points and 500 rebounds for his career.
THIRD TEAM
Jarett Fairley, Hoover: Went for 14 points per game for the state champion Bucs.
Adam Barksdale, Vestavia Hills: One of the Rebels’ top options, scoring 12.3 points per game.
TJ Lamar, Spain Park: A solid physical presence, averaging 13 points and nearly 7 rebounds a game.
David Stone, Homewood: The only double-digit scorer for a balanced Patriots team.
Grey Williams, Oak Mountain: Averaged 12.5 points per game.
HONORABLE MENTION
Seneca Robinson, Hoover; Gavin Collett, Chelsea; Aiden Owens, Chelsea; Christen Whetstone, Chelsea; Ben Evans, Vestavia Hills; Carson Romero, Mountain Brook; John Carwie, Mountain Brook; Jack Bakken, Mountain Brook; KJ Kirk, Clay-Chalkville; Kaleb Carson, Homewood; Aden Malpass, John Carroll; Braylon Bernard, John Carroll; Kevin Jasinski, Oak Mountain; Emanuel Johnson, Oak Mountain
GIRLS
Player of the Year: Jordan Hunter, Hewitt-Trussville
Coaches of the Year: Krystle Johnson, Hoover, and Tonya Hunter, Hewitt-Trussville
FIRST TEAM
Haley Trotter, Chelsea: One of two players in the area to average a double-double, with 18.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.
Jordan Hunter, Hewitt-Trussville: The Auburn signee helped the Lady Huskies to a state runner-up finish, going for 19.9 points per game.
Sarah Gordon, Vestavia Hills: Led the area in scoring, with 20.3 points per game.
Khloe Ford, Hoover: Burst onto the scene as a sophomore, finishing with 12.8 points and 7.8 rebounds for the four-time state champs.
Kameron Sanders, Clay-Chalkville: Led the Lady Cougars with 12.3 points a game.
SECOND TEAM
Emma Kerley, Briarwood: Has become one of the most versatile players in the area, going for 11.9 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.
Jill Gaylard, Vestavia Hills: All-around solid point guard, posting nearly 10 points per game as well.
Brooklyn Phillips, Clay-Chalkville: One of the top 3-point shooters in the area, making 72 of them.
Raegan Whitaker, Oak Mountain: Averaged a double-double in her final season.
Maddie Walter, Mountain Brook: Went for 10 points and 8 rebounds a game.
THIRD TEAM
Caroline Brown, Chelsea: The versatile forward averaged nearly 10 points per game.
Ryleigh Martin, Hewitt-Trussville: Had plenty of flashes in her freshman season, including a 27-point outing late in the season.
Kayla Warren, Homewood: Led a balanced team, with 9.8 points a game.
Kaitlyn Gipson, Hoover: Surpassed 1,000 career points for the state champs.
Ann Tatum Baker, Briarwood: The fourth-leading scorer in the area, with 13.4 points per game.
HONORABLE MENTION
Emily Williams, John Carroll; Sadie Schwallie, Chelsea; Olivia Pryor, Chelsea; Mallory Ogle, John Carroll; Ashlyn Howard, Hewitt-Trussville; Ellis McCool, Homewood; Ava Robinson, Homewood; Mira McCool, Homewood; Savannah McDonald, Homewood; Lane Crowe, Homewood; Laine Litton, Homewood; Grayson Hudgens, Vestavia Hills; Ariana Peagler, Hoover; Aaliyah Blanchard, Hoover; Layla Cannon, Hoover; Kamryn Lee, Hoover; Kamoriah Gaines, Clay-Chalkville; Ava Leonard, Spain Park; Tori Flournoy, Spain Park; Teagan Huey, Spain Park; Caroline Kester, Oak Mountain; Emma Stearns, Mountain Brook; Libby Geisler, Mountain Brook; Sarah Passink, Mountain Brook; Mary Beth Dicen, Briarwood
Teams covered by Starnes Media are Briarwood, Chelsea, Oak Mountain, Spain Park, Hoover, Homewood, John Carroll, Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills, Hewitt-Trussville and Clay-Chalkville.
