MONTGOMERY, Ala.  – After three workouts, Alabama All-Star boys’ basketball head coach Steve Ward had a profound assessment of the 12 seniors on the roster.
    “I am just so shocked to see how really talented these guys are,” Ward said following Thursday’s afternoon workout. “You watch film on them and see different highlights on them but to actually see them in person they are much more talented in person than they are on film. I can’t say one particular kid sticks out. All of them appear to be even better than what I have seen on their highlight films.”
      Alabama hopes to carry that bit of optimism into the 31^st annual Alabama-Mississippi Classic against Mississippi’s All-Stars Friday night when the two teams tip off at the Cramton Bowl Multiplex at 7 p.m. The girls’ all-star game will precede the boys’ contest at the Alabama-Mississippi Classic Friday afternoon at 5 p.m.
      AHSAA TV partner WOTM TV will televise both games live over the AHSAA TV Network. The games will also be live-streamed over the wotm.tv and the NFHS Network. The Alabama Radio Network will broadcast both games live as well. Handling the play-by-play will be veteran AHSAA TV Network commentator Tommy Wood with Caleb Brooks and Luke Robinson handling color. The AHSAA Radio Network will share the same audio feed. Mississippi’s producer Russ Robinson said his network will also pick up the live video and audio feed from WOTM and transmit back to Mississippi over its network.
    Tickets are available digitally for purchase at GOFAN.

    Alabama swept last year’s series played in Mississippi and currently own a 16-14 edge in the boys’ and girls’ series.  Alabama won the boys’ game 118-97 at Mississippi College’s Wood Arena and carry a two-game winning streak into this year’s contest. Alabama’s girls won 70-63 and currently have a three-game winning streaking back to 2018.
    Ward and assistant coach Shumbe Hunter of Williamson High School are both impressed by the skills of Alabama’s boys. Ten of Alabama’s 12 players on the roster have already signed to play collegiately – with reigning Mr. Basketball, 6-foot-4 J.D. Davison of Calhoun, is an Alabama signee and one of three on the roster headed to the SEC.  Lee-Huntsville 6-6 guard/forward Kaleb Brown is heading to Missouri; and 6-11 center KeShawn Murphy of Ramsay already set for Mississippi State.
     Carver-Montgomery 6-10 forward Rayquan Taylor has signed with Austin Peay University; 6-6 guard Dawson Sarblah of Greenville, with Air Force Academy; Thompson 6-0 point guard Grant Hopkins, with Navy; Hartselle 6-3 guard Brody Peebles, with Liberty University; Hoover 6-2 shooting guard D.J. Fairley, with Alabama A&M; and 6-8 Tuscaloosa County forward Bryson Hall, Alabama-Huntsville. 
     Fairhope 6-4 guard Riley Leonard is heading to Duke but the quarterback will be wearing a football uniform for the Blue Devils. Currently still unsigned are Spain Park 6-3 guard Cameron Crawford and Williamson 6-4 forward Jordan Bell.
     Mississippi’s squad still has seven players unsigned. Harrison Central 6-5 forward Carious Williams is headed to the SEC and South Carolina. Point guard Jay Barnes of Oak Grove has signed with Mississippi Valley State while 6-1 Brookhaven guard LaDarius Thrasher, 6-6 forward C.J. Keys of Quitman and 6-4 guard Keithean Brooks are headed to JUCO programs.
     Alabama girls’ all-star head coach Mike Chase of Spain Park High School likes the team chemistry of his team. “I’ve coached three North-South all-star teams and this is my first time coaching in the Alabama-Mississippi game,” he said. This group is probably the best group I’ve had. They bring a lot of energy to practice, like hanging out together. As far as anyone standing out, I think the players are showing the strengths that they each have that got them chosen to this team. I think we are going to have a very solid effort come game time.”
    Chase and assistant Alissa Flowers of Madison Academy have a team featuring nine girls already signed with colleges. Eufaula guard Kaitlin Peterson, who averaged 26.5 ppg this season, is heading to the Big 10 and Indiana University. 6-foot-3 forward Karoline Striplin of Geneva County and 6-2 guard Sara Puckett of Muscle Shoals both have signed with Tennessee. Priceville point guard Jenna Walker signed with Western Kentucky; guard Randrea Wright with Central Arkansas; 6-1 post Jirah Rogers of East Limestone with Alabama-Huntsville; 6-0 forward Grace Watson of four-time 6A state champion Hazel Green with Delta State; 6-0 guard Amiya Payne of Hewitt-Trussville with Middle Tennessee; and 5-10 guard Saniah Parker of Mae Jemison with Tennessee State.
    Still unsigned are Anniston point guard Allasha Dudley, the 2020 Class 4A player of the year; point guard Nya Valentine of McGill-Toolen Catholic; and guard Maya Cunningham of  Pleasant Grove.
    Mississippi’s girls, coached by Choctaw Central’s Bill Smith, list five players already signed by four-year colleges. Louisville point guard Areyanna Hunter, guard Melony Thames and 6-1 forward Kennedy Ransom of Jackson State are headed to Jackson State; guard Chrystal Mayes has signed with Delta State; guard Macie Walker of Belmont has signed with North Alabama. Six others have signed with Mississippi JUCOs and one is still undecided.

 Baldwin ties with Alabama coaches  include Hunter who was formerly at Daphne and Foley and Thompson coach Dru Powell who was the head coach at Spanish Fort.

ALABAMA-MISSISSIPPI BASKETBALL CLASSIC SERIES

YEAR BY YEAR HISTORY

GIRLS

YEAR                                       SCORE                                    SITE

2020               Alabama 70, Mississippi 63            Mississippi College, Clinton, MS

2019               Alabama 101, Mississippi 82          Alabama State, Montgomery, AL

2018               Alabama 109, Mississippi 96          Mississippi College, Clinton, MS

2017               Mississippi 93, Alabama 86            Alabama State, Montgomery, AL

2016               Mississippi 78, Alabama 77            Mississippi College, Clinton, MS     

2015               Alabama 93, Mississippi 87            Alabama State, Montgomery, AL

2014               Mississippi 95, Alabama 89            Jackson State, Jackson, MS

2013               Alabama 64, Mississippi 54            Alabama State, Montgomery, AL

2012               Mississippi 94, Alabama 91             Alabama State, Montgomery, AL

2011               Mississippi 73, Alabama 60            Pelham CC, Pelham, AL

2010               Mississippi 78, Alabama 56            Pelham CC, Pelham, AL

2009               Alabama 81, Mississippi 73            Pelham CC, Pelham, AL

2008               Alabama 89, Mississippi 86 (OT)    Pelham CC, Pelham, AL

2007               Alabama 90, Mississippi 65            Pelham CC, Pelham, AL

2006               Mississippi 89, Alabama 80            Pelham CC, Pelham, AL

2005               Mississippi 101, Alabama 83          Pelham CC, Pelham, AL

2004               Alabama 114, Mississippi 78          Pelham CC, Pelham, AL

2003               Mississippi 95, Alabama 82            Pelham CC, Pelham, AL

2002               Alabama 76, Mississippi 71            Mississippi College, Clinton, MS

2001               Alabama 87, Mississippi 76            North Alabama, Florence, AL

2000               Mississippi 87, Alabama 82            Holmes CC, Goodman, MS

1999               Alabama 95, Mississippi 85            North Alabama, Florence, AL

1998               Alabama 105, Mississippi 84          Mississippi College, Clinton, MS

1997               Alabama 60, Mississippi 54            North Alabama, Florence, AL

1996               Mississippi 88, Alabama 72            Mississippi College, Clinton, MS

1995               Alabama 80, Mississippi 77            North Alabama, Florence, AL

1994               Mississippi 92, Alabama 84            Mississippi College, Clinton, MS

1993               Alabama 73, Mississippi 66            North Alabama, Florence, AL

1992               Mississippi 74, Alabama 61            Mississippi College, Clinton, MS

1991               Mississippi 82, Alabama 66            North Alabama, Florence, AL

SERIES RECORD:   Alabama 16, Mississippi 14

WIN LOSS RECORDS BY SITE:

Jackson State                 Mississippi 1, Alabama 0

Alabama State     Alabama 3, Mississippi 2

Pelham CC            Mississippi 5, Alabama 4

UNA                      Alabama 5, Mississippi 1

Miss College                   Mississippi 4, Alabama 4

Holmes CC            Mississippi 1, Alabama 0

 

                   TOTAL POINTS       GAME AVERAGE

Alabama        2,545                          84.8 ppg

Mississippi     2,403                          80.1 ppg

                        MOST POINTS                 FEWEST POINTS    VICTORY MARGIN

Alabama        2007 (113)                 2002 (67)                   1991 (41)

Mississippi     1994 (123)                 2013 (54)                   2002 (31)      

GAME          MOST POINTS

2018               205 (Alabama 109, Mississippi 96 @ Mississippi College)

GAME          FEWEST POINTS

1997               114 (Alabama 60, Mississippi 54 @ North Alabama)

LONGEST WINNING STREAKS:   Mississippi, 3 games (2010, 2011, 2012)

Alabama, 3 games (3 occasions--1997, 1998, 1999;  2007, 2008, 2009; & 2018, 2019, 2020)

 

SERIES SAME DAY SWEEPS:    Alabama, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2019, 2020 (11 sweeps)

                                                Mississippi, 1992, 1994, 1996, 2003, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2016, 2017 (9 sweeps)

 ALABAMA-MISSISSIPPI BASKETBALL CLASSIC SERIES  YEAR BY YEAR HISTORY

BOYS

YEAR                                       SCORE                                    SITE

2020               Alabama 118, Mississippi 97          Mississippi College, Clinton, MS

2019               Alabama 107, Mississippi 90          Alabama State, Montgomery, AL

2018               Mississippi 127, Alabama 90          Mississippi College, Clinton, MS

2017               Mississippi 96, Alabama 91            Alabama State, Montgomery, AL

2016               Mississippi 85, Alabama 83            Mississippi College, Clinton, MS

2015               Alabama 101, Mississippi 88          Alabama State, Montgomery, AL

2014               Alabama 90, Mississippi 83            Jackson State, Jackson, MS

2013               Alabama 87, Mississippi 76            Alabama State, Montgomery, AL

2012               Alabama 109, Mississippi 104        Alabama State, Montgomery, AL

2011               Mississippi 85, Alabama 74            Pelham CC, Pelham, AL

2010               Mississippi 112, Alabama 88          Pelham CC, Pelham, AL

2009               Alabama 78, Mississippi 74            Pelham CC, Pelham, AL

2008               Alabama 101, Mississippi 99          Pelham CC, Pelham, AL

2007               Mississippi 118, Alabama 113        Pelham CC, Pelham, AL

2006               Mississippi 94, Alabama 87            Pelham CC, Pelham, AL

2005               Alabama 84, Mississippi 79            Pelham CC, Pelham, AL

2004               Alabama 87, Mississippi 86            Pelham CC, Pelham, AL

2003               Mississippi 82, Alabama 80            Pelham CC, Pelham, AL

2002               Mississippi 98, Alabama 67            Mississippi College, Clinton, MS

2001               Mississippi 87, Alabama 83            North Alabama, Florence, AL

2000               Alabama 90, Mississippi 82            Holmes CC, Goodman, MS

1999               Alabama 95, Mississippi 68            North Alabama, Florence, AL

1998               Alabama 111, Mississippi 76          Mississippi College, Clinton, MS

1997               Alabama 110, Mississippi 91          North Alabama, Florence, AL

1996               Mississippi 105, Alabama 97          Mississippi College, Clinton, MS

1995               Alabama 85, Mississippi 69            North Alabama, Florence, AL

1994               Mississippi 123, Alabama 111        Mississippi College, Clinton, MS

1993               Mississippi 82, Alabama 75            North Alabama, Florence, AL

1992               Mississippi 73, Alabama 71            Mississippi College, Clinton, MS

1991               Alabama 103, Mississippi 62          North Alabama, Florence, AL

SERIES RECORD:   Alabama 16, Mississippi 14

WIN LOSS RECORDS BY SITE:

Jackson State                 Alabama 1, Mississippi 0

Alabama State     Alabama 4, Mississippi 1

Pelham CC            Mississippi 5, Alabama 4

UNA                      Alabama 4, Mississippi 2

Mississippi College         Mississippi 6, Alabama 2

Holmes CC            Alabama 1, Mississippi 0

 

                   TOTAL POINTS       GAME AVERAGE

Alabama        2,770                          92.3 ppg

Mississippi     2,691                          89.7 ppg

                        MOST POINTS                 FEWEST POINTS    VICTORY MARGIN

Alabama        2020 (118)                 2002 (67)                   1991 (41)

Mississippi     2018 (127)                 1991 (62)                   2018 (37)      

GAME          MOST POINTS

1994               234 (Mississippi 123, Alabama 111 @ Miss. College)

GAME          FEWEST POINTS

1992               144 (Mississippi 73, Alabama 71 @ Miss. College)

LONGEST WINNING STREAKS:   Alabama, 4 games (2 occasions--1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 & 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)

                                                Mississippi, 3 games (3 occasions—1992, 1993, 1994; 2001, 2002, 2003 & 2016, 2017, 2018)

 SERIES SAME DAY SWEEPS:    Alabama, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2019, 2020 (11 sweeps)

          Mississippi, 1992, 1994, 1996, 2003, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2016, 2017 (9 sweeps)