MONTGOMERY — Among the recently announced rosters for the 28th-annual North-South All-Star basketball games were a pair of Baldwin County representatives, Keiyonla Knight from Foley and Keyona Royal from Gulf Shores.

The Alabama Sports Writers Association also recognized both athletes with all-state honors following standout junior seasons.

Knight will mark a second straight Lion at the all-star game after Ashauntee Hobbs, as well as head coach Emily Flanigan, represented Foley at last year’s contest. Royal becomes the Dolphins’ first all-star since Madison Dowling in 2021.

The four 15-member all-star basketball teams comprised of 2025 rising seniors were announced by Brandon Dean, Director of the Alabama High School Athletic Directors & Coaches Association (AHSADCA).

“This group is collectively one of the most experienced groups we have seen selected in quite some time,” Dean said. “Twenty-three of the players selected participated in the AHSAA 2024 State Championships at the BJCC earlier this winter, and five earned state tourney MVP honors after leading their teams to the state title.”

Royal is one of those players who finished their season at the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s State Basketball Championships after the Gulf Shores Dolphins made the program’s first-ever trip to the Class 5A Final Four. Knight and the Foley Lions fell in the Class 7A Elite Eight but similarly made their first-ever trip to the Final Four last season.

The North-South All-Star basketball competition will be live-streamed in July by the NFHS Network and AHSAA TV Network.

The North won both games last summer at the Cramton Bowl Multiplex in Montgomery. The North won the girls’ game 80-44 to improve to 23-3 in the annual series. The South won the boys’ game 81-79 on a last-second shot to cut the North’s all-time lead in the series which was first played in 1953 to 50-30.

The AHSADCA, which operates under the auspices of the AHSAA will also host all-star games baseball, softball, volleyball, boys’ and girls’ soccer, cross country, tennis and golf during the All-Star Week, July 15-19.

Volleyball and cross country teams have already been released. The remaining teams to be selected will be announced in the coming weeks. The 65th-annual North-South All-Star Football Game was played last December at Mobile where the South won 31-28.

2024 NORTH-SOUTH ALL-STAR ROSTERS

SOUTH GIRLS' BASKETBALL ROSTER                        

Brooke Hallman – Auburn, G, 5'9              

Kennedi McGhee – Brewbaker Tech, C, 6'1           

Jillian Baine – Brewbaker Tech, G, 5'10    

Sarah Amos – Enterprise, F, 6'2  

Keiyonla Knight – Foley, G, 5'8

Keyona Royal – Gulf Shores, F/C, 6'

JaNya Foster – Highland Home, SG, 5'7   

Ja'Kayla Moore – Keith, PG, 5'5  

Chauncey Dixon – Leroy, F/C, 6'2              

Saniya Jackson – Park Crossing, PG, 5'8   

Jykierra Oliver – Selma, SG, 5'7  

Malaya Crowell – Smiths Station, G, 5'6  

Francie Morris – Trinity Presbyterian, PG, 5'8       

Maddie Smith – Trinity Presbyterian, PG, 5'8       

Ansleigh Ishee – UMS-Wright, F, 5'10      

SOUTH GIRLS' COACHES                              

Blake Smith – Trinity Presbyterian                                          

Jermel Bell – Carroll                                      

Robb McGaughey – LAMP (Admin.)

NORTH GIRLS' BASKETBALL ROSTER        

Jaliyah Smith – Bob Jones, G, 5'10

Haley Trotter – Chelsea, F, 6'

Leah Childress – Clements, PG, 5'6

Ava McSwain – Good Hope, G, 5'9

Brett Douglas – Hazel Green, F, 6'

Ashlyn Howard – Hewitt-Trussville, F/C, 6'2

Jareah Branch – Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, F, 6'

Shila Marks – Lauderdale County, G, 5'7

Kaylee Yarbrough – New Hope, SG, 5'9

Lauren Jimmerson – Plainview, G, 5'11

Keyarria Stokes – Pleasant Grove, C, 5'10

Sarah Davis – Shoals Christian, F, 5'10

Ace Austin – Spring Garden, PG, 5'7

Ella Wheeler – Sulligent, G, 5'11

Sarah Gordon – Vestavia Hills, G, 5'11

NORTH GIRLS' COACHES               

Justin Bowen – Southside-Gadsden                         

Amber Deline – Hartselle                            

Brant Llewellyn – Lauderdale County (Admin.)

SOUTH BOYS' BASKETBALL ROSTER                         

Desmond Williams – Baker, G, 6'2, 155

Lennox Myers – Barbour County, F, 6'6, 225

Tyler Robertson – Calhoun, F, 6'4, 202

Jacoby Hill – Central-Phenix City, SG, 6'4, 188

Joshua Davis – Dallas County, SF, 6'4, 175

Eric Winters – Enterprise, G, 6'1, 210

Rayshon Coleman – Florala, G, 6', 185

Nasir Cheatham – Georgiana, G, 6'4, 185

Robert "Trey" Simpson – Hillcrest-Evergreen, F, 6'7, 210

Miles Hannah – Keith, G, 6'2, 175

Ethan Stokes – McGill-Toolen Catholic, F, 6'7, 210

Tristin Blocton – Selma, SG, 5'9, 156

Emmanuel Clarton – Sumter Central, G, 6'5, 180

Skyler Stovall – Montgomery Academy, G, 6'4, 170

Silas Evans – Williamson, F, 5'6, 209

SOUTH BOYS' COACHES                               

Tereance Pinkney – Hillcrest-Evergreen                  

Sheroderick Smith – Loachapoka

Robb McGaughey – LAMP (Admin.)

NORTH BOYS' BASKETBALL ROSTER                        

Kaden Rickard – Bob Jones, G, 6'6, 170

Fred Derrick – Buckhorn, G, 5'9, 195

Jake Dorough – Cullman, PG, 6'2, 170

DeMarcus Williams – Fairfield, PG, 5'10, 177

Bryant James – Florence, G, 6'2, 180

Mica Merriman – Gaston, PG, 6'4, 170

Kelton Battle – Hamilton, G, 6'1, 173

Christopher Thompson – Holy Spirit Catholic, G, 5'10, 140

DeWayne Brown II – Hoover, C, 6'9, 250

Salim London – Hoover, PG, 6'5, 175

Peyton Wiggins – Huffman, G, 6'3, 170

Simon Walker – Huntsville, G, 6'5, 185

Devin Barksdale – Jacksonville, G, 5'9, 139

Armonie Franklin – Midfield, G, 5'10, 150

Jayden Williams – Ramsay, PG, 6'6, 190

NORTH BOYS' COACHES

Patrick Davis – Vestavia Hills

Bret Waldrep – Covenant Christian

Brant Llewellyn – Lauderdale County (Admin.)