State Finals brings seven classifications, boys and girls, to Legacy Arena at the BJCC for the semi-finals and finals. Alabama was the first state to adopt this format for crowning a state champion.
The AHSAA Basketball State Finals is one the top high school basketball championship events in the country. It features the top boys and girls teams from across the state of Alabama competing for a blue map trophy and a championship title in their respective class. All classes 1A-7A will be represented across semi-final and final games at Legacy Arena in Birmingham. The journey to State Finals begins with regular season games, followed by area and regional tournaments in which teams battle for a chance to advance. The 42 games played across the duration of the week are a showcase of talent, determination, and sportsmanship and serve as the culmination of each team’s season.
This year's tournament promises thrilling matchups, with many returning 2023 champions, such as Hoover's girls and boys teams, prepared to defend their titles. Among the anticipated games is the 7A boys rematch between Hoover and Central in the semi-finals, set to reignite the fierce competition witnessed in last year's final. The Huntsville boys team made it to the 7A final four this year as well with tournament MVP Caleb Harrison who is signed to play at Samford University. Continuing to make a major impact on the court, he will be a player to watch this year in the Iron City. Another player to watch out for is Hewitt-Trussville's Jordan Hunter. Signed to play at Auburn University, Hunter looks to leave her mark as she wraps up her senior season. As seasoned champions return to defend their honor, new teams and emerging talents add fresh excitement in the quest to claim a blue map.
Knight Eady is no stranger to the excitement surrounding State Finals. Our team has worked alongside the Alabama High School Athletic Association since 2015 to help provide a premier experience for high school basketball teams across the state. The work begins long before the lights come on in Legacy Arena. Months of preparation are spent securing sponsorships, writing game scripts, organizing the dozens of support staff needed to execute the 42 games and managing hotel logistics for the competing teams traveling into the Magic City.
Once the week of State Finals rolls around, it’s a flurry of activity inside of Legacy Arena. On Sunday, the Knight Eady team is involved in bringing the arena to life, hanging signage and overseeing court installation. As games start to tip-off, each Knight Eady department tackles a variety of roles necessary for the week to run smoothly. Our operations department is involved in locker room set up, signage management and ensuring that lodging logistics are taken care of so that advancing teams can focus on what matters most– preparing for their championship games. Live tweeting, press conferences and media relations are managed by our strategy team, ensuring that those who can’t make the trek to Birmingham are able to follow their hometown teams throughout the week. The sponsorship and sales team assists with the execution of sponsorship inventory, including running game scripts and serving as stage managers, ensuring that all in-game activations go smoothly.
Across the course of the week, we’ll oversee 42 games, manage 84 press conferences, award 14 blue maps and create life-long memories for hundreds of student-athletes, coaches and their families. Although action-packed, the Knight Eady team often finds time during State Finals to reflect on the many “we believe in sports” moments we get to observe and be a part of throughout the week.
