Spain Park High School’s senior class is set to make history on the hardwood. For the first time all eight seniors will share the varsity roster, a group that has been playing side‑by‑side since elementary school.
Coach DJ Black, now in his third year leading the Jaguars, said the foundation for the upcoming season was laid in the locker room after last year’s Elite Eight run. “These guys have been grinding since the season ended in the Elite Eight last year,” Black told reporters at the Under the Lights Basketball Media Day on Oct. 19.
Senior leaders
The centerpiece of the squad is senior forward Tommy Morrison, a 6‑foot‑8 scorer and facilitator who was the team’s top performer in the postseason. Morrison expressed excitement about reuniting with his longtime teammates. “I’m excited to get to play with these guys again because in past years, we’ve had older teams, so this group’s kind of been split up a little bit,” he said. “But this group’s really good, and we’ve been good since elementary school.”
Joining Morrison are senior guards Bastian Carroll, Andy McQueeney, Maddox Phillips, Harry Taylor, Jackson Schach and Jackson Ballinger, all of whom have been rivals and teammates in youth leagues. Senior Jonathan Fonbah, a track standout who sat out basketball last season, was persuaded back to the gym by his peers.
Coach’s philosophy
Black builds his program on the biblical principle “iron sharpens iron,” stressing that each player should make the others better. He encourages versatility, noting that Carroll can run the point or play the five, which in turn allows Morrison to handle the ball as a point guard when needed. “Bastian Carroll can play the point guard. He can also play the five spot. Which might sound kind of crazy, but if he knows how to play the five, that means Tommy knows how to play the point,” Black explained.
Supporting cast
The seniors are backed by a deep junior group—Matthew Couprie, Evan Hill, CJ Davis, David Tulloss, Ryan Harvey, Tyler Wilson and Landyn Smith—as well as sophomores Ayden Henderson, a developing 6‑foot‑4 forward, and freshmen Jakobe Bates and 6‑foot‑5 Cohen Crumly. Morrison believes the newcomers will contribute immediately, and some will emerge as key players by season’s end.
New competition landscape
The Alabama High School Athletic Association’s latest reclassification keeps Spain Park in Class 6A but moves the school to Area 6, alongside Oak Mountain, Vestavia Hills and Hewitt‑Trussville—teams the seniors know well. Junior McQueeney said the primary goal is to win the area.
Spain Park opens the season on Monday against Mountain Brook, then faces Gadsden City in the Caleb White Classic before hosting the Jag Classic over Thanksgiving week. Upcoming matchups include Hoover (Dec. 4), Thompson (Dec. 11) and a home tournament against Birmingham Ball (Dec. 18‑21) with Charles Henderson, Daphne and Smiths Station. Area play begins Jan. 8 at Oak Mountain, and the regular season concludes Feb. 5 at Hoover.
“We want to peak in February, but you don’t get good by playing lesser opponents, if that makes sense,” Black said, underscoring the team’s intent to challenge itself throughout the schedule.
Original reporting: Hoover Sun — read the source article.
