Kelly was chosen as the Alabama Gatorade Girls Player of the Year and was named to the MaxPreps All-America second team. She is listed by ESPN as the Class of 2023 No. 30 best player and No. 6 best point guard in the nation.By Rubin E. Grant
Hoover senior basketball star Reniya Kelly had a few individual goals in mind entering the final season of her high school career.
“I was really pushing to get some awards,” Kelly said, “one of them being Miss Basketball.”
The 5-foot-8 guard already had an impressive list of accomplishments when she added the state’s most coveted award. The Alabama Sportswriters Association selected her as the 2023 Miss Basketball during its annual Mr./Miss Basketball awards luncheon on April 6 at the Montgomery Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center.
“Being named Miss Basketball is big for me because it is for the whole state not just the area I was living in, so I was definitely honored to get my flowers,” Kelly said.
Labaron Philon, a junior guard from Baker in Mobile, was tabbed the 2023 Mr. Basketball.
Kelly became the third Miss Basketball from Hoover, joining Sidney Spencer (2003) and Marqu’es Webb (2013). No other school has more than two.
“Honestly I wouldn’t say (Miss Basketball) is the cherry on top for my high school career because I still have a chance of attending the Jordan Brand Classic since I will be attending a Jordan school,” Kelly added. “It is a blessing being named Miss Basketball, though.”
Kelly is headed to the University of North Carolina to play collegiately.
A few weeks before receiving the Miss Basketball award, Kelly was selected as the OTM Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. She also was chosen as the Alabama Gatorade Girls Player of the Year and was named to the MaxPreps All-America second team. She is listed by ESPN as the Class of 2023 No. 30 best player and No. 6 best point guard in the nation.
Kelly became Hoover’s all-time scoring leader with 2,272 career points this season while leading the Lady Bucs to a 35-1 record and their third consecutive Class 7A title, their fourth in her five seasons on the varsity. She was named Class 7A MVP in the state tournament.
She averaged 15.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.4 steals a game this season, converting 194 of 432 field goals for 44.9% while making 80 of 171 from 3-point range for 46.8%.
Kelly also led the Alabama All-Star team to victory and was named MVP of the 2023 Alabama-Mississippi All-Star basketball game in March.
During her Hoover career, the Lady Bucs posted a 168-10 record.
Best Hoover Player Ever
“I’ve seen all the Hoover High school greats and Reniya Kelly is the best player to ever play at Hoover High School,” Hoover coach Krystle Johnson said. “What makes her special is she’s always looking to elevate her game. Once she masters one thing, she moves on to the next challenge.”
Kelly is a four-time All-State player and was named the Class 7A Player of the Year for the second straight year. She heads the 2023 ASWA Super All-State team, composed of the top five state players regardless of classification. It’s the second straight season she has been selected to the team.
“I would describe my career as legendary,” Kelly said. “I don’t think many people can say they have four (championship) rings and only lost 10 games in five years. It’s really impressive, I would say.
“It is shocking but also expected for me because I’ve worked so hard to get to where I am. I will definitely be the standard for the younger kids coming in.”
Johnson says she’s going to miss Kelly.
“She has been a coach’s dream to coach these past five years,” Johnson said. “To watch her go from a 12-year-old sending us to the state championship game in 2019 to a 17-year-old leading us to an unprecedented third straight state championship has been a pleasure.”
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