2021 OTMJ All-OTM Boys Basketball: Functional Crawford Will help Place Spain Park Back on Keep track of and Earns Leading Player Honor

Cam Crawford will acquire his video game to the upcoming stage. He is getting recruited by a number of NCAA Division I colleges, together with Troy, Southern Miss, Marshall, American University, Substantial Point and Air Pressure. Journal images by Jordan Wald.

By Rubin E. Grant

Cam Crawford wished to play basketball so terribly when he was a compact boy that his mother fudged on his age so he could.

“I was 3 a long time old and the league in Trussville claimed you had to be 4 to be equipped to participate in. So when my mom registered me, she stated I was 4,” Crawford claimed with a chuckle whilst recalling the story.

Hence commenced a journey that culminated this period with the Spain Park senior remaining named the 2021 Around The Mountain Journal’s Boys Basketball Player of the Year in a vote of About the Mountain coaches.

“That’s awesome,” Crawford stated. “I respect it. We experienced a really entertaining season. We had been equipped to get the plan back again on keep track of. We gained the area championship for the initial time in 5 several years, and we have been the regional champions for the initial time in 5 yrs.”

Crawford, a 6-foot-4 guard, averaged 15.7 factors, 5.8 rebounds and 1.9 helps per sport whilst major Spain Park to a 27-7 record and a berth in the Alabama Substantial Faculty Athletic Association Course 7A Last Four.

“I considered he had an exceptional time,” Spain Park mentor Chris Laatsch reported. “He was a dude who would (do) what ever we wanted that evening. If we wanted him to rebound and protect the other team’s greatest player, he would do that, and on evenings we needed him to rating and established up his teammates, he would be that. His flexibility to do so many points produced him quite important.”

Also, Laatsch stated, “He was also a wonderful chief. He inspired his teammates and worked tricky.”

Spain Park’s period ended with a 57-56 semifinal decline in double overtime to Business on a putback at the buzzer at Bartow Arena. The heartbreaking final result nonetheless gnaws at Crawford.

“I do not imagine the memory of that video game will ever go absent,” Crawford said, “but I am grateful we were being in that situation. We had a wonderful calendar year with all the wins and the time we expended in the locker place with each other as teammates. You simply cannot overlook all those points.”

Class 6A point out winner Mountain Brook experienced senior guard Bo Barber and senior forward Rayven Turner (higher than) voted to the group.

Crawford surpassed 1,000 points for his career on Jan. 22, when he scored a profession-large 38 points in an 87-62 victory from Gadsden Metropolis. But he does not contemplate himself just a scorer.

“I imagine I can do a minor of all the things,” Crawford stated. “I attempt do no matter what the crew desires in some way, condition or form.”

Crawford performed for the Alabama All-stars in the 31st Alabama-Mississippi Classic on March 12 in Montgomery. He scored 5 factors, grabbed two rebounds and experienced two assists in 10 minutes of action as Mississippi received 93-91.

Crawford will consider his game to the next amount. He is remaining recruited by various NCAA Division I schools, which includes Troy, Southern Overlook, Marshall, American College, Significant Stage and Air Pressure.

“I’ve got to figure out the 1 that’s very best for me,” Crawford claimed.

Crawford is a single of two Jags to make the All-OTM workforce. Junior middle Colin Turner is the other.

Class 7A state champion Oak Mountain landed a few players on the team: senior forward Noah Younger, junior centre Will Shaver and junior guard Wilder Evers.

Course 6A point out champion Mountain Brook had senior guard Bo Barber and senior ahead Rayven Turner voted to the team.

Rounding out the squad are Vestavia Hills sophomore guard Earn Miller, Hoover senior guard D.J. Fairley and Briarwood senior guard Landon Nuyt.

Oak Mountain landed 3 gamers on the staff: senior forward Noah Youthful, junior centre Will Shaver (earlier mentioned) and junior guard Wilder Evers.

Mentor of the Year

Oak Mountain’s Chris Love was tabbed the 2021 OTM Boys Basketball Mentor of the 12 months, with Mountain Brook’s Tyler Davis also acquiring votes.

Vestavia Hills sophomore guard Earn Miller is a member of the 2021 All-OTM Boys Basketball Team.

Appreciate guided Oak Mountain to the to start with state championship in school heritage, finishing with a 24-9 report.

“It’s really humbling and I am incredibly honored with the award mainly because there are a good deal of good coaches in our space,” Appreciate explained. “I am not sure I are worthy of it, but it’s substantially appreciated.”

Appreciate gave credit score to his players and coaching team for what the Eagles achieved this year.

“Stuff like mentor of the year awards is a combination of possessing players of superior character and talent and a very good coaching personnel who make it all appear together,” he mentioned.

“We sized our (championship) rings the other working day and it was so amazing and entertaining. I am glad to have that possibility to do that with my children and coaches. It is times like that that make you know how unique it is to be point out champions.”