Over the last 10 years, Alabama high school basketball has produced countless players who have gone on to have success at some of the highest levels of the sport. However, only 10 of those names have had the distinction of being labeled the state’s No. 1 recruit out of high school. Here’s a look back at the top Alabama high school basketball recruits from 2013-22, and an update on where they are today. (Rankings courtesy of On3 Consensus.)
2013 – Jimmie Taylor (Greensboro)
The four-star Taylor was considered the state’s top overall player out of Greensboro High School in 2013, prior to playing collegiately at Alabama for four seasons. Since he left Alabama, Taylor has made a number of stops professionally overseas, most recently this season with Debreceni Egyetem of the A Division in Hungary.
2014 – Justin Coleman (Wenonah)
Coleman was the state’s No. 1 player in 2014 at Wenonah High School. The former four-star went on to play collegiately at Alabama, Samford, and Arizona. Coleman is currently the assistant director of player development at Tennessee.
2015 – Donta Hall (Luverne)
Hall was rated a three-star prospect at Luverne High School prior to playing collegiately at Alabama. Since his playing days with the Crimson Tide, Hall has made multiple stops through the professional game in both the United States and overseas, most recently this season with AS Monaco of ProA in France.
2016 – Joshua Langford (Madison Academy)
One of the top Alabama high school basketball recruits of the last decade, Langford was a five-star combo guard at Madison Academy in 2016. He went on to spend five seasons at Michigan State, last playing in 2020-21.
2017 – John Petty (Jemison)
Likely one of the more well-known names on this list of former top Alabama high school basketball recruits, Petty was a four-star out of Jemison High School who went on to star at Alabama for four seasons. Petty is currently playing with the New Orleans Pelicans NBA G-League team, the Birmingham Squadron.
2018 – Kira Lewis (Hazel Green)
Lewis was a four-star prospect at Hazel Green High School in 2018 before going on to spend two seasons at Alabama. A first-round NBA Draft pick, Lewis is currently with the New Orleans Pelicans.
2019 – Trendon Watford (Mountain Brook)
Watford was rated as a five-star prospect at Mountain Brook High School in 2019. The forward went on to play two seasons at LSU and is now in his second NBA season with the Portland Trail Blazers.
2020 – Colby Jones (Mountain Brook)
The second consecutive Mountain Brook High School product on this list of Alabama high school basketball recruits, Jones was rated as a four-star in 2020 and is in his third season collegiately at Xavier.
2021 – JD Davison (Calhoun)
One of the highest-rated players out of high school on this list, Davison was a five-star prospect at Calhoun in 2021. After a season at Alabama, Davison is currently playing with the Boston Celtics’ NBA G-League team, the Maine Celtics.
2022 – Barry Dunning (McGill-Toolen)
The most recent top recruit currently playing at the next level is Dunning, who was a three-star prospect a year ago at McGill-Toolen. He’s now in his freshman season at Arkansas.
