Over the first half of the high school season, the HoopSeen.com staff has closely watched Alabama’s talented 2017 class. With that being said, it’s time to update our rankings. The current juniors make up one of the most talented basketball classes the state has ever seen, with several high-major prospects sitting at the top of the list. A new name is at the top of the list, while several others made big moves in this set of rankings.

NEW TOP DOG

Since we unveiled our 2017 Alabama state rankings last year, Birmingham (AL) Spain Park center and Auburn pledge Austin Wiley has had a steady perch as the No. 1 overall player in the class. However, a new name finds himself at the top of the class now.

J.O. Johnson wing John Petty is our new No. 1 prospect in 2017. The 6-foot-6 scorer is one of the most talented players the country has to offer, as he can score at all three levels with ease. His shooting and scoring ability is off the charts, and, after a 40-point performance at the Lighthouse Classic at Thanksgiving and a couple of impressive games at the Steel City Invitational, it was a unanimous decision to give Petty the nod with the top overall spot. It’s easy to see why Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, and UConn are all hot on his trail at this time.

Despite dropping to No. 2, Wiley has been very productive this season. The 6-foot-10 big man has been a consistent 20-20 threat this season in the scoring and rebounding departments. Mark this down: Wiley will lead the SEC in rebounding at some point during his career at Auburn. His broad shoulders and length make him one of the most productive bigs in the country.

Pelham’s Alex Reese, Spain Park’s Jamal Johnson, and Auburn’s Garrison Brooks hold their spots and round out the top 5.

2017 ALABAMA PLAYER RANKINGS

MOVERS

A handful of prospects made statements in November and December and made their case to move up in the rankings. Herb Jones (6) and Javan Johnson (7) have got off to productive seasons this year and make the jump from No. 10 and No. 9 since the last rankings installation. While both prospects are good right now, their best basketball is on the horizon. The high-major potential is there and only continues to strengthen this class.

The Sacred Heart backcourt duo of D.J. Heath and Kevion Nolan made the biggest impressions this winter. They are the best backcourt the state of Alabama has to offer and proved we had them too low in our previous rankings. After a couple of superb performances at the Steel City Invitational, Heath comes in at No. 10 with Nolan following closely behind at No. 13.

DEBUTS

There are three new faces in this rankings edition, and they all have one thing in common: they burst onto the scene.

Fairhope (AL) shooting guard Tevin Brown has put up some big points on the scoreboard thus far, and he finds himself at No. 23. The talented scorer has hit the 30 and 40-point marks a few times already.

Tyrique Purvis, a shooting guard from Decatur (AL), was a pleasant surprise in the season’s early months. The 6-foot-2 athlete is receiving some attention for his play on the gridiron, but he can play basketball, too. While he has had some inconsistent showings, when Purvis is at his best, he is hitting shots from all over the floor.

Homewood’s Luke Touliatos burst onto the scene at the Steel City Invitational, where he earned MVP honors of the event after leading his team to a championship win. The 6-foot-3 wing is one of the deadliest shooters the class has to offer and he consistently plays hard. He stole the show in the early part of the season and made the most of his stages. Touliatos now sits at No. 29.