Trinity's Smith named Class 3A Girls Player of the Year by ASWA

Maddie Smith, who led Trinity to a second-straight state championship earlier this year, was chosen as the ASWA Class 3A Player of the Year. (File Photo)

CONTRIBUTED

Trinity Presbyterian’s Maddie Smith was named the 2023-24 Class 3A Girls Player of the Year on Tuesday by the Alabama Sports Writers Association.

The senior led the Lady Wildcats to back-to-back state titles, including the title win over Plainview earlier this year.

Spring Garden junior Ace Austin and Buckhorn sophomore Caleb Holt won the Mr. and Miss Basketball awards, respectively, which are the state of Alabama’s top high school basketball awards.

The awards are sponsored by ALFA Insurance and were awarded at a banquet sponsored by the Alabama High School Athletic Directors & Coaches Association in Montgomery.

Holt is the seventh underclassman to win Mr. Basketball and Austin is the third to win Miss Basketball, but 2024 marks the first time underclassmen won both awards in the same year 

Holt is the first sophomore winner.

Both led their teams to state championships this year.

Austin, a 5-7 guard, averaged 19.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 7.1 assists for the Panthers, who went 31-1 and won a second straight Class 1A state title. In her five seasons, Spring Garden is 167-9. 

Holt, a 6-6 guard, averaged 20.2 points for the Bucks, who finished 23-5 and won a second straight Class 6A championship.

MISS BASKETBALL

Ace Austin, Spring Garden

MR. BASKETBALL

Caleb Holt, Buckhorn

SUPER ALL-STATE

(top 5 players regardless of classification)

GIRLS

Ace Austin, Spring Garden (Miss Basketball)

Leah Brooks, Hazel Green

Jordan Hunter, Hewitt-Trussville

Ivey Maddox, Good Hope

Belle Hill, Mars Hill Bible

BOYS

Caleb Holt, Buckhorn (Mr. Basketball)

DeWayne Brown, Hoover

Caleb Harrison, Huntsville

Ty Davis, Mountain Brook

Cam Dooley, Valley

CLASS PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

GIRLS

7A: Jordan Hunter, Hewitt-Trussville

6A: Leah Brooks, Hazel Green

5A: Missy Odom, Jasper

4A: Ivey Maddox, Good Hope

3A: Maddie Smith, Trinity

2A: Belle Hill, Mars Hill Bible

1A: Ace Austin, Spring Garden

AISA: Takayla Davis, Glenwood

BOYS

7A: DeWayne Brown, Hoover

6A: Caleb Holt, Buckhorn

5A: Cam Dooley, Valley

4A: Micah Caster, Jackson

3A: Trey Simpson, Hillcrest-Evergreen

2A: Carson Thrasher, Mars Hill Bible

1A: Trey Kellogg, Covenant Christian

AISA: Haiden Harper, Lee-Scott

COACHES OF THE YEAR

(originally named March 16)

GIRLS

7A: Krystle Johnson, Hoover

6A: Freeah Smith, Park Crossing

5A: Blake Laney, Jasper

4A: Justin Aby, Good Hope

3A: Blake Smith, Trinity

2A: Jamie Pruett, Ider

1A: Ricky Austin, Spring Garden

AISA: Haley Rosa, Evangel Christian

BOYS

7A: Rhett Harrelson, Enterprise

6A: Lucas McDonald, Helena

5A: Jairus Jackson, Vigor

4A: Austin Grammer, American Christian

3A: Terean Pinkney, Hillcrest-Evergreen

2A: Michael Merriman, Gaston

1A: Kirk Norris, Georgiana

AISA: Scott Phillips, Edgewood