Kelly, Philon Win ASWA Miss, Mr. Basketball Awards

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

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

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

MR. 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

NOTABLE

* Kelly and Philon are two-time Super All-State honorees.

* With Kelly, Hoover has had 13 all-time Super All-State picks, all girls. The Bucs have had six in the last five years.

* Hoover has had the most Super All-State players in ASWA All-State history. Butler had 12 (seven boys, five girls), while LeFlore (seven, three) and Bob Jones (four, six) have had 10 each.

* Daniels, Austin, Crook, Broom and McCarter are each their school’s first Super All-State player.

* With Brooks, Hazel Green has had six Super All-State players in the last six years.

* Holt is Buckhorn’s second all-time Super All-State player, joining Brandon Robinson (2000).

* Miller is the third from Vestavia Hills, joining Wade Kaiser (1992) and Jordan Swing (2009).

* Vandergriff, Kelly and Philon are repeat class players of the year.

* Brooks and Siegel are their school’s eighth all-time players of the year. Hazel Green has had five girls and three boys. Deshler’s eight were all girls.

* Midfield ranks first in ASWA All-State history with 10 players of the year (five boys, five girls). Lauderdale County (nine girls) and Tuscaloosa Academy (five boys, four girls) follow with nine.

* This year, there were 415 boys and 397 girls nominations received for All-State from 155 schools. There are 240 All-State spots (120 per gender) plus a maximum of 64 honorable mentions.

ALL-TIME MISS BASKETBALL

2023: Reniya Kelly, Hoover

2022: Samiya Steele, Hazel Green

2021: Karoline Striplin, Geneva Co.

2020: Sarah Ashlee Barker, Spain Park

2019: Annie Hughes, Pisgah

2018: Zipporah Broughton, Lee-Montgomery

2017: Bianca Jackson, Brewbaker Tech

2016: Jasmine Walker, Jeff Davis

2015: Shaquera Wade, Huntsville

2014: Shakayla Thomas, Sylacauga

2013: Marqu’es Webb, Hoover

2012: Jasmine Jones, Bob Jones

2011: Hayden Hamby, West Morgan

2010: Kaneisha Horn, Ramsay

2009: Jala Harris, Bob Jones

2008: Courtney Jones, Midfield

2007: Katherine Graham, Ramsay

2006: Shanavia Dowdell, Calera

2005: Whitney Boddie, Florence

2004: Starr Orr, Speake

2003: Sidney Spencer, Hoover

2002: Kate Mastin, Boaz

2001: Donyel Wheeler, Huffman

2000: Natasha Thomas, Lawrence Co.

1999: Tasheika Morris, Butler

1998: Gwen Jackson, Eufaula

1997: April Nance, Butler

1996: Nicole Carruth, Sulligent

1995: Heather Mayes, Fyffe

1994: Pam Duncan, Carrollton

1993: Leah Monteith, Cherokee Co.

1992: Yolanda Watkins, Decatur

1991: Tonya Tice, Hamilton

1990: Karen Killen, Mars Hill Bible

1989: Leslie Claybrook, St. James

1988: Jeaniece Slater, Hartselle

ALL-TIME MR. BASKETBALL

2023: Labaron Philon, Baker

2022: Barry Dunning Jr., McGill-Toolen

2021: J.D. Davison, Calhoun

2020: J.D. Davison, Calhoun

2019: Trendon Watford, Mountain Brook

2018: Trendon Watford, Mountain Brook

2017: John Petty, Jemison-Huntsville

2016: John Petty, J.O. Johnson

2015: Dazon Ingram, Theodore

2014: William Lee, Dallas Co.

2013: De’Runnya Wilson, Wenonah

2012: Craig Sword, Carver-Montgomery

2011: Trevor Lacey, Butler

2010: Trevor Lacey, Butler

2009: Kerron Johnson, Madison Aca.

2008: JaMychal Green, St. Jude

2007: Courtney Fortson, Jeff Davis

2006: Stanley Robinson, Huffman

2005: Richard Hendrix, Athens

2004: Ronald Steele, John Carroll

2003: Ronald Steele, John Carroll

2002: Kennedy Winston, Blount

2001: Chris White, Grissom

2000: Gerald Wallace, Childersburg

1999: Marvin Stone, Grissom

1998: Sam Haginas, UMS-Wright

1997: Anthony Williams, Loachapoka

1996: Isaac Spencer, Jeff Davis

1995: Brian Williams, Jeff Davis

1994: Rod Willie, Lee-Huntsville

1993: Howard Pride, Butler

1992: Darryl Wilson, South Lamar

1991: Victor Newman, Houston Academy

1990: Cedric Moore, Woodlawn

1989: Queintonia Higgins, Fairhope

1988: Terrence Lewis, Ramsay

1987: Bryant Lancaster, Valley

1986: Larry Rembert, Keith

1985: Vincent Robinson, Bridgeport

1984: Jeff Moore, Midfield

1983: Terry Coner, Phillips-Birmingham