Three Franklin County student-athletes were selected to Alabama Sports Writers Association All-State boys’ basketball teams. Russellville High School senior EJ King was picked for the Class 5A First Team, Red Bay freshman Khalil Luster was a Second Team selection in Class 2A, and Belgreen junior Braycen Johnson was a Class 2A Honorable Mention.
King, who averaged 32 points-per-game this past campaign, is the reigning Class 5A Player of the Year from last season and this year he’s also a finalist for the Alabama Mr. Basketball award.
“He is one of the most talented players I have seen,” Russellville head coach Patrick Odom said. “The numbers he put up this year, even though he took the other team's best defensive attack every night, is incredible. I think we are all looking forward to him playing at the next level. I think from a program perspective it shows that our program is a consistent and successful program that people in the state pay attention to.”
It’s the second straight year King has appeared on the Class 5A All-State First Team.
One of the most touted and prolific scorers in the state of Alabama, King surpassed the 2,000 career points milestone early on in the season and helped lead his team to a sub-region playoff appearance.
“When EJ was selected last year he became the first Russellville player to be First Team All-State since Luther Tiggs. This shows you how hard it is in 5A. For him to be selected a second straight year is an incredible achievement,” Odom said.
Red Bay’s Khalil Luster, a towering six-foot-seven forward, is, according to AHSFHS.org, the first freshman in program history to receive all-state recognition and the first Tiger to be placed on the second team or higher since Gath Weatherford in 2018.
Luster was instrumental for the Tigers in a season that saw them win the Franklin County Tournament, their area championship, and secure a spot in the AHSAA Northwest Regional Tournament in Hanceville.
“Khalil is very deserving of his Second Team All-State selection,” Red Bay head coach John Torisky said. “He led our team in scoring and rebounding as a freshman. He is a very unselfish player who really made everyone around him better.
“I have had the opportunity to coach some very good players. Khalil has a chance to be the very best player, statistically speaking,” Torisky added. “More important, though, is the fact that he is a great teammate and person. His future is very bright.”
Rounding out the all-state selections for Franklin County is Belgreen’s Braycen Johnson, a junior who was also chosen to play in this summer’s AHSAA North-South All-Star Basketball Game.
Johnson led the Bulldogs in scoring and aided in the team’s area tournament-winning campaign. He also passed the 1,000 career points mark during Belgreen’s regular season contest against Belmont. Johnson is the first Bulldog to receive all-state recognition since Collin Bonner and his now head coach Will Bonner were honored in 2022.
“He’s had a big impact for us,” Will Bonner told the Franklin Free Press.
“I think it shows what kind of player he is, what kind of ability he has,” Bonner added. “He was our leading scorer all year and he was our leader on the court. I think it’s a good testament to the player he is.”
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