Alabama high school basketball: 29 Boys players to watch in the Gadsden area
The high school basketball season starts on Thursday around the Gadsden area. And while not every team is kicking off play that day, it's time to look at some of the best returning boy players from around the area:
Boys basketball players to watch in the Gadsden area
Players listed alphabetically by last name
GIRL PLAYERS TO WATCH: Alabama high school basketball: 32 girls players to watch in the Gadsden area
Sam Barcliff
Albertville, senior
Point Guard, 5-foot-10
Why chosen: Barcliff was the Marshall County Offensive player of the Year last season.
Logan Blackwell
Susan Moore, senior
Why chosen: Blackwell has been starting since his eighth grade season.
Ish Bethel
Piedmont
Guard, 6-3
Why chosen: Bethel averaged 11 points and seven rebounds per game last season.
Brody Burnett
Southside, senior
Guard, 6-2
Why chosen: Burnett should be a leader for Southside.
Aidan Cornutt
Glencoe, senior
Why chosen: Cornutt scored 353 points, leading the team, to go with 39 rebounds, 39 steals and 34 assists.
Cooper Cox
Fyffe, junior
Why chosen: Cox should be a leader for the Red Devils this season.
Landon Davenport
Hokes Bluff, senior
Forward, 6-3
Why chosen: Davenport averaged 11.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and two assists per game.
Jonah Gurley
Sylvania, senior
Point Guard
Why chosen: Gurley had 10 points and eight rebounds per game last season.
Luke Martin
Sardis, senior
Shooting Guard, 5-11
Why chosen: Martin averaged 15 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals per game last year for the Lions.
James McFadden
Gadsden City, senior
Shooting guard 6-2
Why chosen: McFadden should be a leader for the Titans this season.
Eli McFry
Gaston, senior
Why chosen: McFry had seven points and four rebounds per game last season.
Roman McKeehan
Sylvania, junior
Point Guard
Why chosen: McKeehan missed last year with a knee injury but should be back to full strength.
Cayden McMichael
Southside, senior
Guard, 6-2
Why chosen: McMichael should be one of the leaders for the Panthers.
Kason Moore
Sardis, senior
Point Guard, 6-1
Why chosen: Moore averaged 10 points and three rebounds to go with two steals and two assists.
Anderson Morgan
Hokes Bluff, junior
Guard, 5-10
Why chosen: Morgan averaged 8.5 points to go with three rebounds and three assists per game.
Garrett Morgan
Glencoe
Why chosen: Morgan had 340 points with 111 rebounds to go with 59 assists and 47 steals.
Eli Morton
Sardis, senior
Center, forward
Why chosen: Morton averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds per game to go with two assists, one steal and a block.
Judd Oliver
Boaz, senior
Guard, 6-1
Why chosen: Oliver will be entering a new leadership role as one of the only returning players from last year.
J.B. Potter
Ashville, sophomore
Why chosen: Potter had 15 points, five rebounds and two steals per game.
Colton Proctor
Piedmont
Guard, 6'3
Why chosen: Proctor averaged four points and seven rebounds per game.
Jon Wesley Seay
Albertville, senior
Forward, 6-5
Why chosen: Seay shot over 40% from 3-point range last season, taking more than 100 attempts.
Jameson Scissum
Etowah, junior
Shooting Guard, 6-3
Why chosen: A multi-sport star, starting quarterback and ace pitcher as well, Scissum averaged eight points and four rebounds per game last season.
Josh Scott
Fort Payne, junior
Guard, 6-5
Why chosen: Scott transferred from Sylvania where he averaged 21 points and eight rebounds per game.
Jakobi Sharp
Gadsden City, sophomore
Point Guard 6-2
Why chosen: Sharp should be a leader on and off the court for the Titans this year.
Luke Stephens
Fort Payne, senior
Guard, 6-3
Why chosen: Stephens averaged 21.7 points and 7.9 rebounds per game last season.
Jalein Walker
Etowah, senior
Shooting Guard, 6-3
Why chosen: Walker averaged 12 points, five rebounds and two steals per game.
Jacob Welsh
Spring Garden, junior
Forward
Why chosen: Welsh is paired with his brother down low and they are a force to be reckoned with. Jacob averaged 10 points and six rebounds per game.
John Welsh
Spring Garden, junior
Center
Why chosen: Welsh is paired with his brother down low and they are a force to be reckoned with. John averaged 14 points and six rebounds per game.
Cole Wilson
Piedmont
Guard, 6'2
Why chosen: Wilson averaged nine points per game while shooting 40% from the field.
Maxwell Donaldson covers high school sports and Jacksonville State athletics for the Gadsden Times. Find him on Twitter/X @_Max_Donaldson and contact him at MDonaldson@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: 29 boys basketball players to watch in the Gadsden area