In this week’s edition of the Warm-Up, I returned for the ninth annual Lighthouse classic. This tournament continues to amaze me.
I really enjoy the setup of having different teams from the southeast compete but also having a sprinkle of some of the premier prep schools included in the mix.
Last year, I saw a bunch of talented athletes, and I must say that this year was the same.
Covering Alabama teams is usually my bread and butter, but tournaments like this allow me to see all the players out there, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Here's a quick recap of some of my top performers from the classic that really made this trip worthwhile.
LightHouse Classic Standouts
Eric Jones - Fayette-Ware - 2024 6-foot Guard
Jones was a great player to watch get my day kick-off for the Lighthouse Classic. Keep playing with a lot of energy, and I could tell the team flowed very well because he was approaching the game. John has a quick release from the three; he wasn’t afraid to pull whether a player gave him too much space or they were all of his mug, he let it fly. He dropped 26 points and went eight for 14 from the three and a 70-45 win over Haleyville.
Bryant James - Haleyville - 2025 6-foot Guard
Sophomore Bryant James may have come up short in the game against Fayette-Ware, but he won in my eyes just from his performance. The ‘25 class for Alabama has some serious studs, but James made a statement not to forget his name when discussing the others. He played lights out from the offensive end, doing much of the heavy lifting for Haleyville. James showed great leadership and got great looks at the basket with that smooth jumper. He finished with 27 points and left it all on the floor, as the fatigue showed after playing 31 minutes.
Damarien Yates - Fayette-Ware - 2023 6-foot-8 Forward
Alongside Jones was forward Damarien Yates. Yates absolutely dominated the paint, going for every rebound that came off the rim. He put in some major work on the defensive end with two big blocks and two steals. He finished with a double-double of 13 points and 15 rebounds.
Josh Hubbard - MRA - 2023 6-foot Guard
There is much more I can say about Hubbard that ain’t already been said. This Ole Miss is the real deal; some players you can look at & just know they have the “It Factor,” and that’s Hubbard. He moves so smoothly on the floor that you don’t even realize that he just put up 26 points in the first half, making it look so effortless. He finished with 38 points, and it’s just great to see a player that has already signed not take his foot off the gas and is still striving to get better.
C.J. Hyland - Grayson High - 2024 6-foot Guard
Hyland was another favorite guard that turned many eyes at the Classic. He is truly an offensive threat with his quick burst to the basket and the ability to finish over taller guards. Hyland has a nice pull-up jumper around the perimeter and can also knock down the three. In a matchup against Grissom of Alabama, he dropped 22 points and pulled down two rebounds in a 79-53 win.
Christian Alston - Bartlett - 2024 6-foot-3 Guard
Alston was on the opposite side of Josh Hubbard‘s 38 points, and I believe at halftime, he took offense to that and turned his game to another level. Alston is very explosive and has a nice shot from the three. One skill that stood out more than most was his energy on the defensive end; he was very aggressive and showed great awareness of where the ball was at all times. He finished with 29 points and pulled down seven rebounds.
Jordan Marsh - Moravian Prep - 2023 5-foot-11 Guard
Marsh was by far my favorite guard to watch Saturday evening. Before even knowing what Marsh could do on the floor, it was his overall control of the game that caught my attention. That’s a skill you can’t teach; it’s like he knew where everyone was and had every move calculated before even taking a step. Marsh is a great attacker and has swift handles where he can handle any pressure applied from the defense. He’s definitely a player that will give %100 on both sides of the ball. Defensively, Marsh can be a pest and it showed with getting four steals in a 76-54 win over Fort Erie. He dropped 28 points, pulled down four rebounds, & dished out three assists. He truly had the complete game.
Simon Walker - Huntsville - 2025 6-foot-5 Guard
There’s a name that has rung out a lot in Alabama for ‘25 Simon Walker, so I was excited to see him play in person. Walker started the game against Tupelo with a lot of energy, and I was glued to his every move. He dropped 18 points in the first half, putting up some great shots from three. Walker is just charismatic and a kid you don’t want to take your eyes off of cause you might miss something. Walker isn’t the type of player to sit and wait for open looks; he’s coming straight at you on both ends of the floor. He finished with 26 points and knocked down five threes.
Caleb Harrison - Huntsville - 2024 6-foot-9 Forward
If you follow me, you know I enjoy watching an actual big go to work, and that’s Harrison. He captures the true essence of how the correct footwork can make one unstoppable in the post. He has a soft touch around the basket and also has a nice jumper when needed. He pulled down five rebounds and dropped 18 points, going 8/11 from the field to beat Tupelo 76-51.
Other Standouts
Ja’Mari Arnold
Brayden Rivers
London Fields
Dayveun Anderson
RJ Johnson
Ishan Sharma
Regal Moore
Izzy Miles
Harrison Alexander
Mike Jones
Kameren Wright
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