As the 2022-23 Alabama high school basketball season gets underway, storylines statewide are, as with every year, plentiful. Here are five you should be watching for in the coming months.
Can Anyone Stop Hazel Green and Pisgah?
The Hazel Green Trojans and Pisgah Eagles girls’ basketball teams have each won five consecutive state titles dating to the 2017-18 season (Hazel Green all in Class 6A, Pisgah in 3A/2A). The Trojans and Eagles both are preseason favorites in their respective classifications again this season, meaning the only question left to be answered is: Can anyone stand in the way of Hazel Green and Pisgah from winning sixth straight state titles?
The Race for Mr. Basketball
For the first time since the 2015 season, there will not be a back-to-back Mr. Basketball winner in Alabama, as last year’s recipient of the award, McGill-Toolen’s Barry Dunning, has moved on to the collegiate level. As for the names to watch for in that conversation, there are numerous statewide who could be candidates, such as Baker’s Labaron Philon, Grissom’s RJ Johnson, Jacksonville’s John Broom, and many more.
Will Any Teams Repeat as State Champion?
The Hazel Green and Pisgah girls squads are two of 20 teams looking to repeat as state champions in the 2022-23 Alabama high school basketball season. Following are those defending state champions to watch for this season, as well as the classification in which each won a year ago. (Some teams have since reclassified.)
Boys: Enterprise (7A), Cullman (6A), Lee-Huntsville (5A), Jacksonville (4A), Plainview (3A), Section (2A), Covenant Christian (1A), Pike Liberal Arts (AISA 3A), Autauga (AISA 2A), Heritage Christian (AISA 1A)
Girls: Hoover (7A), Hazel Green (6A), Guntersville (5A), Deshler (4A), Prattville Christian (3A), Pisgah (2A), Marion County (1A), Glenwood (AISA 3A), Edgewood (AISA 2A), Abbeville Christian (AISA 1A)
Lee-Huntsville Boys, Prattville Christian Girls Move Up
Speaking of reclassified state champions, none who made the move up a classification this past offseason were more notable than the Lee-Huntsville boys and the Prattville Christian girls. The Generals, who have won the last two 5A state championships, move up to Class 6A, while the Panthers move up to 4A after having won the last two 3A state titles.
Pike Liberal Arts, Tuscaloosa Academy Transition to AHSAA
Two of the top teams in the AISA a year ago, Pike Liberal Arts and Tuscaloosa Academy make the transition to the AHSAA, where both will play in Class 2A in the 2022-23 Alabama high school basketball season. The Patriots were the AISA Class 3A state champion a year ago, while the Knights fell to Pike Liberal Arts in the state semifinal round.
