Three local basketball stars announced as Player of the Year finalists

Mar. 19—The Alabama Sportswriters Association announced the finalists for its major high school basketball awards on Wednesday, and three local players made the cut for player of the year.

Priceville's Leah Childress is a finalist for Class 5A girls, while Decatur Heritage's Leslie Hames is a finalist for Class 2A girls. East Limestone's Zak Cain is a finalist for Class 5A boys.

The winners, along with Mr. and Miss Basketball, will be recognized during a luncheon banquet April 17 at the Montgomery Renaissance.

The full list of finalists:

—

ASWA FINALISTS

Finalists for the Alabama Sports Writers Association's major high school basketball awards:

CLASS 7A GIRLS

Sarah Gordon, Vestavia Hills

Jabria Lindsey, Central-Phenix City

Lani Smallwood, Albertville

CLASS 6A GIRLS

Saniya Jackson, Park Crossing

Kristen Johnson, Hazel Green

Haley Trotter, Chelsea

CLASS 5A GIRLS

Jamonica Chambers, Vigor

Leah Childress, Priceville

Samarian Franklin, Wenonah

CLASS 4A GIRLS

Ava McSwain, Good Hope

Maddie Smith, Trinity

Kaylee Yarbrough, New Hope

CLASS 3A GIRLS

Natalie Barton, St. James

Belle Hill, Mars Hill Bible

Shila Marks, Lauderdale Co.

CLASS 2A GIRLS

Campbell Barron, Pisgah

Ella Dickerson, Cold Springs

Leslie Hames, Decatur Heritage

CLASS 1A GIRLS

Ace Austin, Spring Garden

Sarah Davis, Shoals Christian

Hadlee Sanderson, Brilliant

AISA GIRLS

Diamond Chankio, North River

Shalexia Little, Springwood

Lexie Smith, Edgewood

CLASS 7A BOYS

DeWayne Brown, Hoover

J.D. Gossett, Huntsville

Jacoby Hill, Central-Phenix City

CLASS 6A BOYS

Jaylen Alexander, Oxford

Devin Barksdale, Gadsden City

Austin Coner, Pinson Valley

CLASS 5A BOYS

Zak Cain, East Limestone

EJ King, Russellville

Jayden Williams, Ramsay

CLASS 4A BOYS

Keeyun Chapman, Jackson

Milton Jones Jr., Fairfield

Junior Smith, Dale Co.

CLASS 3A BOYS

Emmanuel Clarton, Sumter Central

Eli Pounders, Mars Hill Bible

Skyler Stovall, Montgomery Academy

CLASS 2A BOYS

Pearce Boone, Providence Christian

Mica Merriman, Gaston

Danilo Stojakovic, Tuscaloosa Academy

CLASS 1A BOYS

Jayden Parks, Brantley

Isiah Thomas, R.C. Hatch

John Welsh, Spring Garden

AISA BOYS

Nolan Cole, Hooper

Deshawn Hall, Valiant Cross

Tylon Shine, Evangel-Montgomery

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