Kelly, Philon win Miss, Mr. Basketball awards

Published 9:21 am Friday, April 7, 2023

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By Special to the Advance

MONTGOMERY –- Hoover’s Reniya Kelly and Baker’s Labaron Philon won the state’s top high school basketball honors Thursday.

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Philon and Kelly were named Mr. and Miss Basketball by the Alabama Sports Writers Association.

The awards are sponsored by ALFA Insurance and were awarded at a banquet sponsored by the Alabama High School Athletic Directors & Coaches Association.

Kelly led Hoover to a 35-1 record and a Class 7A championship this season. She averaged 15.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 5 assists.

The North Carolina signee finished with 2,272 career points, the most in Hoover history, and was a four-time All-State player.

Kelly gives Hoover an unprecedented third Miss Basketball winner. The previous winning Bucs were Sidney Spencer (2003) and Marqu’es Webb (2013).

Philon racked up a 35.3-point average, helping Baker finish 23-6. He also averaged 6.1 rebounds and 4 assists, shooting 51% from the field and 82% on free throws.

A junior, Philon is the sixth underclassman to win Mr. Basketball. The first was John Carroll’s Ronald Steele in 2003-04.

MISS BASKETBALL

Reniya Kelly, Hoover

  1. BASKETBALL

Labaron Philon, Baker

SUPER ALL-STATE

(top 5 players regardless of classification)

GIRLS

Reniya Kelly, Hoover

Leah Brooks, Hazel Green

Syriah Daniels, Auburn

Ace Austin, Spring Garden

Jorda Crook, Ohatchee

BOYS

Labaron Philon, Baker

Caleb Holt, Buckhorn

John Broom, Jacksonville

Chase McCarty, Westminster-Huntsville

Win Miller, Vestavia Hills

CLASS PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

GIRLS

7A: Reniya Kelly, Hoover

6A: Leah Brooks, Hazel Green

5A: Olivia Vandergriff, Guntersville

4A: Chloe Siegel, Deshler

3A: Jorda Crook, Ohatchee

2A: Belle Hill, Mars Hill Bible

1A: Ace Austin, Spring Garden

AISA: Grace Davis, Clarke Prep

BOYS

7A: Labaron Philon, Baker

6A: Caleb Holt, Buckhorn

5A: Austin Cross, Charles Henderson

4A: John Broom, Jacksonville

3A: Alex Odam, Piedmont

2A: Jacob StClair, Sand Rock

1A: Jaden Nixon, Autaugaville

AISA: Jacob Wilson, Macon-East

COACHES OF THE YEAR

(originally named March 19)

GIRLS

7A: Jarvis Wilson, Sparkman

6A: Lin Slater, Huffman

5A: Brad Kitchens, Arab

4A: Terrie Nelson, Priceville

3A: Shane Childress, Clements

2A: Flori Sweatt, Mars Hill Bible

1A: Ricky Austin, Spring Garden

AISA: Darryl Free, Edgewood

BOYS

7A: Scott Ware, Hoover

6A: Patrick Harding, Buckhorn

5A: Marshon Harper, Valley

4A: Tres Buzan, Jacksonville

3A: Courtney Jones, Midfield

2A: Christopher Walker, Aliceville

1A: Melvin Allen, Oakwood Academy

AISA: Dusty Perdue, Glenwood