PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Nate Rogers, Wetumpka senior
Wetumpka’s Rogers proved that he was in a class of his own when it came to scoring this season. The now back-to-back Elmore County Player of the Year averaged 25 points per game, six more than the next closest in-county player. To add to his scoring, he averaged five rebounds, three steals and three assists per game.
FIRST TEAM
Jaden Eason, Elmore County junior
The Elmore County sharpshooter averaged 12.4 points per game this year, but he took another step when it came to area games. In the five most important games of the year – four area games and the playoff game – Eason averaged 16.3 points. To clinch a playoff berth, Eason knocked down four 3-point attempts against Holtville in the area tournament.
Corian Gilder, Stanhope Elmore senior
Stanhope Elmore had a handful of seniors who all made an impact this season, but none bigger than Gilder. The point guard did it all as he averaged 13.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.7 steals per game. In a loss in the county tournament championship, he scored a team-best 23 points as the Mustangs came up just short of the win.
Johnny Groves, Edgewood Academy senior
Groves was a first-year player for Edgewood this season, but the senior instantly made an impact on the court. He averaged a team-best 10.6 points and 3.2 steals per game while adding 2.2 assists and 4.7 rebounds. He helped lead Edgewood to back-to-back Class AA state championships and scored 14 points in the championship game.
Malik Owens, Wetumpka senior
After earning All-County honors a year ago, Owens entered the 2024 seasons as one of the best forwards in the surrounding area. He proved to be that and more this season as part of Wetumpka’s dangerous 1-2 punch with Nate Rogers. Owens averaged 12 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 block per game this season.
Rowen Thornton, Tallassee junior
Thornton put the entire state on notice with an early season performance where he scored a career-best 50 points. He continued to score at a high level for Tallassee as he averaged 19.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game as he led Tallassee to the Class 5A playoffs. He shot 92-of-130 at the free throw line and knocked down 52 3-pointers this year.
SECOND TEAM
Caleb Blackmon, Holtville senior
Jamarion McCoy, Tallassee senior
Jabari Murphy, Elmore County senior
Brock Whitt, Edgewood Academy sophomore
Tyrone Williams, Stanhope Elmore senior
HONORABLE MENTION
Edgewood Academy: Brody Whitt, Sr., Prescott Bonner, Sr.
Elmore County: Cam Brown, Sr., Gage Davis, So.
Holtville: Elijah Headley, Jr., Caleb Sutton, Sr.
Stanhope Elmore: Charles Johnson, Sr., Jaylon Young, Sr., Kaleb Sanders, Fr.
Tallassee: Roderius Glover, Sr., Jaiden Gordon, 8th.
Wetumpka: Andrew Voyles, So.
