Senior, OL - Chris Owens, Arlington Lamar
After redshirting his freshman year, Owens has made his impact felt on the offensive line. Owens found himself filling in at center for the Tide after All-American Landon Dickerson suffered a torn ACL against Florida in the SEC Championship game. Owens helped the Tide complete their season with a Championship title playing Monday night against Ohio State.
At Arlington Lamar, Owens was a four-star guard and rated as the No. 10 guard Nationally according to a 247Sports composite and the No. 2 Guard in Texas. Owens earned an All-State selection by the Texas Associated Press and chose Alabama over Oklahoma, Texas, and Texas A&M.
Freshman, PK - Chase Allen, Colleyville Heritage
Allen joined Alabama as a walk-on addition this season. Allen has served the Crimson Tide by kicking off in various instances to include the starting kickoff duties in the first four games of the 2020 season, against LSU, Mississippi State, Kentucky, and Auburn. Although Allen didn't play during the National Championship game, he totaled 2,029 yards on kickoffs for the Crimson Tide.
At Colleyville Heritage, Allen was ranked as the No. 1 kicker and punter in Texas 5A Division 1. He earned an All-District 4-5A Special Teams Player of the Year honor his senior season and recorded a touchback on 30 of his 46 kicks during his senior season. Allen chose Alabama over Ole Miss and Villanova.
Freshman, RB - Jase McClellan, Aledo
McClellan has shown his ability more than once on Alabama's offense and special teams. He got his first collegiate playing time against Missouri early in the season where he played on special teams before doing the same against Texas A&M in the Tide's home opener. McClellan even earned special teams player of the week recognition from the Alabama coaching staff against Mississippi State where he helped limit MSU to zero yards on punt returns. McClellan totaled 245 rushing yards, two touchdowns, and one receiving yard during the 2020-2021 season with Alabama. McClellan joined on special teams during the National Championship game.
At Aledo, McClellan was a highly sought-after recruit. As a four-star prospect, he was ranked as the No. 6 running back and the No. 6 player in the state of Texas according to a 247Sports composite. McClellan was selected to play in the Under Armor All-American Game and competed in Nike's "The Opening". McClellan helped lead Aledo to a State Title in the 2019-2020 season with a 45-42 win over Fort Bend Marshall. McClellan totaled over 6,800 yards and 842 carries with 125 touchdowns. He chose Alabama over Oklahoma after first pledging his loyalty to the Sooners two years prior to his Tide commitment.
Freshman, OL - Drew Sanders, Denton Ryan
Drew Sanders came out of Denton ready to show his strength to his SEC opponents. Sanders saw consistent play on special teams throughout the entire season as an outside linebacker. In his collegiate debut, Sanders recorded an unassisted tackle against Missouri early in the season. Sanders earned special teams player of the week from the Alabama coaching staff for his play against Tennessee and Arkansas. Sanders recorded four solo tackles and five assisted tackles prior to the National Championship game. Sanders saw playing time against Ohio State during the Championship showdown.
At Denton Ryan, Sanders made a name for himself and quickly became a five-star recruit. Rated as the No. 1 player in Texas according to a 247Sports composite, Sanders played on both ends of the ball where he completed over 10 passes and scored over 45 touchdowns in his career. Sanders was also named as a finalist for the 2019 Landry Player of the Year. Sanders chose Alabama over Oklahoma, LSU, Notre Dame, Oregon, and more.
WHERE: Alamodome -- San Antonio, TX
...
CLICK HERE TO STAY UPDATED ON ALL OF THE UIL BOYS BASKETBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
...
WEST BROOK BRUINS
It comes as little surprise that West Brook (34-3) is reaching the same destination as a year ago, as the reigning 5A Division I champions arrive in San Antonio wielding just as much—if not more—momentum and talent. Aside from a razor-thin 54-53 victory over Randle in the Region III Final, the Bruins’ path to the program’s second title-game appearance has been defined by undeniable dominance, most recently on display in Tuesday’s 63-35 trouncing of Leander Glenn. Now, head coach Michael Thomas and his squad are poised to capture back-to-back state crowns.
Reigning State Tournament MVP and District 19-5A MVP Elijah Garrett (Sr. PG) continues to perform at an elite level, averaging a team-high 21 points and three assists per game, along with four rebounds and three steals. Senior Christian Haskett quickly established himself as a difference-maker for the Bruins, contributing 14 points and six boards per outing. Meanwhile, junior forwards Austin Stewart and Braedon Moton provide size and composure on both ends of the floor, bolstering a well-balanced lineup.
FRISCO HERITAGE COYOTES
Under head coach Jibran Kelley, the Coyotes completed a revenge tour earlier this week, edging Birdville 65-63 to return the favor to the Hawks, who eliminated them from last year’s state semifinal. Heritage (33-2) mirrors West Brook in that both programs have made back-to-back trips to the UIL Final Four, each representing the same number of appearances in their respective histories. The difference: West Brook captured the title last year. On Saturday, however, Heritage has the chance to write a new headline, with its sights set on the team’s inaugural state banner.
The formidable duo of seniors Cameron Lomax and Bryson Howard is virtually unstoppable. Lomax, a four-star SMU signee averaging a monstrous 26.2 points per game, delivered the game-winning basket with under two seconds remaining against Birdville—punching the Coyotes’ ticket to the Final. Howard, son of former NBA All-Star Josh Howard, is the No. 1 collegiate prospect in Texas according to 247Sports. Standing 6-foot-6, the soon-to-be Duke Blue Devil contributes 23 points and a team-leading eight rebounds per game. Beyond the star pair, senior guards Garrett Shelton and Malachi Balanzategui are known to make splash plays when called upon.
WHERE: Alamodome -- San Antonio, TX
...
CLICK HERE TO STAY UPDATED ON ALL OF THE UIL GIRLS BASKETBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
...
DENTON RYAN RAIDERS
Head coach Monesha Allen and the Lady Raiders find themselves exactly where they were a year ago, as the team’s quest to repeat has come full circle. The defending 5A Division I State Champions return to San Antonio riding a 17-game winning streak, most recently defeating Tascosa (54-34) and Walnut Grove (40-28) to improve to 36-4 and secure the program’s second appearance in the UIL title game.
The No. 3-ranked squad in Texas (MaxPreps) still boasts much of the arsenal that powered last year’s gold finish — particularly reigning 5A Division 1 MVP Kaylin Jackson (SMU signee), senior Zaviyana Madison (Lamar), junior Jamyla Anderson and James Madison–bound senior Kinley Lewis.
LEANDER GLENN GRIZZLIES
The tone was set in last week’s Region IV Final, when Glenn defeated San Antonio Wagner 63–59 to secure the program’s inaugural UIL State Tournament appearance. On Tuesday, first-year head coach Katina Flournoy-Walker watched her squad dispatch La Porte 54–42 to punch its ticket to the Alamodome — a remarkable milestone for a school that opened its doors in 2016.
Glenn’s most dynamic weapon, junior guard Elizabeth “Libby” Lee, has answered the call time and again, while freshman sister Jennah Lee has quickly emerged as a rising star this winter. Senior CeCe Flournoy-Walker (Angelo State) and junior Ariel Goppy have also been vital pieces for a Grizzlies squad hungry to cap its monumental campaign with a crown.
GAMES
Join the #VYPETEAM
Get up to date news from all over the country!
