As we approach playoff time on the gridiron, it means we are also nearing tipoff time on the hardwood. With that thought in mind, let’s take a look at the 2022-23 Alabama high school basketball season and offer five key players across the state that you should know entering the campaign.
Labaron Philon – Baker
Philon is likely Alabama high school basketball’s top player entering the 2022-23 campaign. The four-star guard returns for his junior season after leading Baker to a Class 7A state semifinal appearance a year ago. He’s the arguable preseason favorite to win Mr. Basketball after a stellar sophomore season in which he led the Hornets with 24.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.4 apg, and 2.4 spg.
RJ Johnson – Grissom
While Philon is likely the state’s top overall player returning this season, the same could also be said for Johnson when it comes to the 2023 class alone. Johnson, a three-star Alabama commit, returns as the biggest name for a Grissom team that could be among the best in Class 7A in 2022-23.
John Broom – Jacksonville
Defending 4A state champion Jacksonville is expected to be one of the top teams in the classification again, and Broom is a big reason why. One of the state’s top guards at 6 feet, 5 inches, Broom is rated as a three-star prospect and is currently committed to South Alabama.
Alex Odam – Piedmont
One of the top guards a year ago in Class 3A, Odam returns for Piedmont after an impressive junior season. In 21 games a year ago, the Jacksonville State commit averaged a 26.9 ppg for the Bulldogs, as well as 2.5 rpg and 2.5 apg.
Chase McCarty – Westminster Christian
Behind Philon, McCarty might be Alabama high school basketball’s next best player in the 2024 class. A four-star prospect, McCarty returns this season for a Westminster Christian team that was one of the best in Class 4A a year ago, finishing with a 27-6 record.
In addition to those five, here are a few more key players to know as we inch closer to the 2022-23 Alabama high school basketball season:
- Win Miller – Vestavia Hills
- Ty Davis – Mountain Brook
- Kerrington Kiel – Ramsay
- Caleb Holt – Buckhorn
