The 2018 Alabama Fall Preview proved to be a stage for players to start their story. In fact, 2020 wing Jamel King, who was voted as a top performer by our coaches and staff, was actually named a story starter last year at the Georgia Fall Preview. He now holds offers from UAB, South Alabama, and Tennessee State, among others.

On Sunday, a handful of new and rather unknown names made a statement and added themselves on our radar for the upcoming high school and travel seasons. Meet the Alabama Fall Preview story starters.

C.J. Burns, 2021 PG, Ramsay (AL): Talk about coming out of nowhere - that's exactly what Burns did on Sunday. The 6-foot bowling ball point guard was one of the best players I saw throughout the day. He made an impact on both ends of the floor, as he was nearly impossible to keep out of the lane with his quick first step and he was a menace on defense for opposing guards. Burns got wherever he wanted, but he also made good decisions and showed his unselfishness. Samford and UAB have shown early interest and you can expect that list to grow exponentially soon. 

Zyon Smith, 2019 CG, Park Crossing (AL): Smith had a quality weekend earlier this spring at the Bama Jam and was named to the All-Tournament team, but this weekend I was finally able to sit down and get a good look at him. The 6-foot-3 guard had a terrific day with his dynamic scoring ability and calm demeanor. He picked his spots here and there throughout the day and showed he is a quality sleeper from Montgomery. Smith has drawn some interest from a variety of schools, but he is an intriguing option for non-Division I programs.

Sam Youngblood, 2020 SG, McAdory (AL): I've seen plenty of Sam Youngblood since his high school career started, but this weekend, the junior showed our staff some things I frankly didn't know he could do. At 6-foot-3, Youngblood is a sniper from behind the arc. He shot the ball extremely well and made quality decisions at camp, but the most intriguing part of his game was his improved athleticism. During drills and game-play, Youngblood threw down a handful of dunks with ease, raising eyebrows across the gym. With his shooting ability and deceiving athleticism, Youngblood is a prospect for lower-level Division I programs to have on their radars. 

John Tyler Gilbert, 2022 C, Haleyville (AL): Gilbert received an early call-up last season to play up on the Haleyville High School varsity squad as an 8th grader. Unfortunately, a leg injury ended the 6-foot-7 big man's season early and he didn't see much quality time on the varsity level as Haleyville made a run to regional play at Wallace State-Hanceville. Nevertheless, the now-freshman made a nice early impression on Sunday. Despite being a youngster, Gilbert has a big, strong body. He made the most of it by pulling rebounds left and right and being a blue-collar workhorse below the rim. He still has plenty of development to continue improving but I liked what I saw from Gilbert in my first extended viewing. 

Camron Scott, 2020 SF, Ramsay (AL): I saw Scott come off the bench at Pinson Valley last November at the N2 Hoops Invitational and he caught my eye with his shooting ability as a face-up 4 man. It's safe to say that position talk is now out the window, as the junior has rapidly developed his skill-set, especially his ball-handling ability. The 6-foot-5 wing is now comfortable with the ball in his hands and can play off the dribble. He displayed that on Sunday along with his ability to shoot the basketball. With a wealth of upside, Scott is a potential sleeper to take note of and is someone that will play Division I basketball in the future.

Kendan Maddox, 2021 PF, Pelham (AL): You will be hard-pressed to find a big man with a higher motor than Maddox. As Tai Young said on Sunday, the sophomore brought his hard-hat with him to camp, as he battled in the lane from start to finish. The 6-foot-6 big man was one of the best rebounders we saw but he also made it a point to run in transition and get early position in the post. He's another youngster I am excited to track this high school season.

Jadakiss Anderson, 2020 SG, Greenville (AL): Anderson quietly put together a quality day. Each time I looked up, the slim junior was making the correct play and putting his team in a better chance to win. A smooth and fluid operator at 6-foot-2, Anderson has an advanced scoring package. He brings a consistent shot-making ability to complement his athleticism. There were a handful of times throughout the day where he glided to the rim for easy finishes, and our coaches took note of his ability. Greenville has some quality youngsters in their program, but Anderson will be depended on this season as a junior.