By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director
Spring Garden seniors Ace Austin and John Welsh led their respective basketball teams to unforgettable careers, capped off with incredible 2024-25 seasons.
But there’s still one more chapter to be told before the duo closes the book on their high school basketball days.
Both players are Class 1A finalists for the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Basketball Player of the Year banquet. The finalists were announced early Wednesday morning. This year’s banquet will be held April 17 at the Montgomery Renaissance.
Austin, the reigning Miss Basketball, two-time Gatorade Player of the Year, and a University of Alabama signee, contributed 26 points, eight rebounds, six assists, four steals and two blocks per game at point guard for the three-time defending state champion Lady Panthers (36-1) last season. She became the first six-time all-state basketball selection when the teams were announced on Saturday.
Welsh, a forward, came away with 22 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block per contest for the Panther boys (29-1), who won 29 straight games last season.
Joining Austin as finalists for the 1A girls honor is Shoals Christian senior guard/forward Sarah Davis and Brilliant junior center Hadlee Sanderson.
Davis delivered 27 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and three steals for the Flame. Sanderson averaged 21 points, 12 rebounds, two assists and two steals for the state runner-up Lady Tigers last season.
Along with Welsh as a 1A boys finalist is Brantley senior guard Jayden Parks and R.C. Hatch junior forward Isiah Thomas.
Parks posted 28 points, seven rebounds, six assists, four steals and a block for the Bulldogs. Thomas tallied 11 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and two steals for the Bobcats last season.
This year’s ASWA basketball finalists are listed below, beginning with 7A girls.
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
