Final 2016 Player Rankings | Long Live 3
The Legendary Rod Scott
The class of 2016 started off as a really great class when some of these kids were rising frosh. Some have plummeted in the rankings while some unknowns have risen as usual. What makes this class so special, is the honoring of the late great legend, Rod Scott. We won't go into anymore details about the legend as we are still dealing with the pains and struggles but the joy he gave us on and off the court makes it only right to put him as the top player in the class of 2016 in our final player rankings of the year.
Rod Scott was committed to play at Jacksonville State University and was the top point guard in the state for the class of 2016. He was a kid who vastly improved over the summer coming into his senior season and it didn't stop there. Scott led the Robert E. Lee Generals to the Central Regional finals putting up some really good efficient numbers before falling to 7A runner-up Central-Phenix City in overtime.
Thank you Rod for showing us the way to be a student-athlete and spreading your joy with that amazing smile. #LongLive3
Rod Scott was committed to play at Jacksonville State University and was the top point guard in the state for the class of 2016. He was a kid who vastly improved over the summer coming into his senior season and it didn't stop there. Scott led the Robert E. Lee Generals to the Central Regional finals putting up some really good efficient numbers before falling to 7A runner-up Central-Phenix City in overtime.
Thank you Rod for showing us the way to be a student-athlete and spreading your joy with that amazing smile. #LongLive3
Madison Academy's Josh Langford finishes the rankings at #2 and is the first McDonalds All American from the state of Alabama since Demarcus Cousins. He is the MVP of back-to-back 3A State Championship games and wasa finalist every year of his career for Mr. Basketball. Surprisingly, Langford has never won the Mr. Basketball award although being named the Gatorade State Player of the Year last season and being nationally ranked in the top 25 throughout his entire career. He will suit up for Tom Izzo next season at Michigan St.
Javien Williams of Woodlawn was one of the most electrifying scorers this season while putting on an aerial display time and time again. One of his best performances was at the Steel City Invitational against 5A State Champs J.O. Johnson. He weaved through defenders, knock down countless jumpers and carried his team against arguably the most talented team in the state. Woodlawn lost that game but Williams showed the state he was a force to be reckoned with and didn't back down from any challenge. UAB got a for sure high major talent and that's why Williams finished at #3.
Javien Williams of Woodlawn was one of the most electrifying scorers this season while putting on an aerial display time and time again. One of his best performances was at the Steel City Invitational against 5A State Champs J.O. Johnson. He weaved through defenders, knock down countless jumpers and carried his team against arguably the most talented team in the state. Woodlawn lost that game but Williams showed the state he was a force to be reckoned with and didn't back down from any challenge. UAB got a for sure high major talent and that's why Williams finished at #3.
One of the biggest surprises was former New Mexico St basketball commit Reginald Todd switching up his decision to a completely different sport. Todd was probably the best wide receiver in the state of Alabama this year and that's saying a lot here in football country. He was a high major basketball recruit at one point but his academic situation pushed some schools away and that's how he made the decision to commit to New Mexico St. It's a huge loss for the Aggies but the Bulldogs of Mississippi St have an excellent wide receiver who ended up qualifying late and turned a lot of heads on the gridiron and basketball court.
Cairon "CJ" Jones put up some ridiculous numbers at Central Park Christian this season. The former UT-Chattanooga commit switched his decision mid-season and decided to sign with Arkansas. Of course there's an evident pipeline with Arkansas' coaching staff (Mike Anderson & TJ Cleveland) and Birmingham so it wasn't too much of a surprise that the Jones switched up his decision. He rounds out the top 5 in a class that is full of good sized wing players.
Cairon "CJ" Jones put up some ridiculous numbers at Central Park Christian this season. The former UT-Chattanooga commit switched his decision mid-season and decided to sign with Arkansas. Of course there's an evident pipeline with Arkansas' coaching staff (Mike Anderson & TJ Cleveland) and Birmingham so it wasn't too much of a surprise that the Jones switched up his decision. He rounds out the top 5 in a class that is full of good sized wing players.
HIGH RISERS
High Point signee Clifford Thomas is the biggest riser and surprise of the class. The kid had no interest nor offers coming into his senior season at Jeff Davis. After a strong showing during his first five games or so and some rim rattling dunks every night out, he soon became one of the hottest mid major targets in the state. Still a bit raw, but his athleticism and motor is evident along with his high GPA and ACT score.
Kalin Johnson of Gadsden City really burst out onto the scene during regionals when he and his team defeated powerhouse Mountain Brook in a dramatic upset. He has a nice stroke and was hard to contain as Mountain Brook is known for their harassing defense all over the court. Johnson will be taking his talents to Lawson St and could end up on a division-I schools radar within the next year or two.
The 7A State Champs (basketball & football) McGill-Toolen got a huge season from point guard Rene Scott. Night in and out Scott was putting the Yellow Jackets on his back turning in clutch performances while being the smallest player on the floor majority of the time. He was almost impossible to stay in front of and would keep defenders honest by hitting a jump shot here and there. He has the athleticism and toughness to finish through and around defenders which allowed to finish around the rim despite his size. Coach Sanderson at Faulkner University is a heck of recruiter and got a really good steal and talent with this one.
Mikel Davis of Sidney Lanier was one of the few players this year who gave Clifford Thomas fits. Davis has a very high IQ for the game and knows how to use his body. He really blew up at out Rod Scott Unsigned Senior Showcase and had JUCO coaches flocking to him after every game. One of the schools in attendance worked really hard and got him and that work paid off for Marion Military assistant coach Tyler Cole. Marion Military won the region last year and competed at the NJCAA national tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas.
High Point signee Clifford Thomas is the biggest riser and surprise of the class. The kid had no interest nor offers coming into his senior season at Jeff Davis. After a strong showing during his first five games or so and some rim rattling dunks every night out, he soon became one of the hottest mid major targets in the state. Still a bit raw, but his athleticism and motor is evident along with his high GPA and ACT score.
Kalin Johnson of Gadsden City really burst out onto the scene during regionals when he and his team defeated powerhouse Mountain Brook in a dramatic upset. He has a nice stroke and was hard to contain as Mountain Brook is known for their harassing defense all over the court. Johnson will be taking his talents to Lawson St and could end up on a division-I schools radar within the next year or two.
The 7A State Champs (basketball & football) McGill-Toolen got a huge season from point guard Rene Scott. Night in and out Scott was putting the Yellow Jackets on his back turning in clutch performances while being the smallest player on the floor majority of the time. He was almost impossible to stay in front of and would keep defenders honest by hitting a jump shot here and there. He has the athleticism and toughness to finish through and around defenders which allowed to finish around the rim despite his size. Coach Sanderson at Faulkner University is a heck of recruiter and got a really good steal and talent with this one.
Mikel Davis of Sidney Lanier was one of the few players this year who gave Clifford Thomas fits. Davis has a very high IQ for the game and knows how to use his body. He really blew up at out Rod Scott Unsigned Senior Showcase and had JUCO coaches flocking to him after every game. One of the schools in attendance worked really hard and got him and that work paid off for Marion Military assistant coach Tyler Cole. Marion Military won the region last year and competed at the NJCAA national tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas.