Scholar-athletes from A.H. Parker High School and Ramsay I.B. High School were named the best in the Birmingham area today by during the Kiwanis Club 2024-25 Athletic Awards ceremony held at The Harbert Center.
Parker's Jourdin Crawford was named Football Player of the Year by the organization, while the Parker Thundering Herd football team, represented by Crawford and Coach Frank Warren, earned the Fred Sington Award. Ramsay's James Giles, Jr. took home the Top Tennis Player of the Year award.
While Fred Sington Award typically goes to one team, the organization made an exception this year, with the Thundering Herd securing the its 6A football state championship, the first in school's 125-year history, and Hoover also winning the 7A state championship in boys basketball.
With the Thundering Herd stood out as a top team, one of its leading players emerged as the top player in the sport. Crawford has garnered numerous accolades for his performance during the championship season, including 2024 AHSAA Class 6A Lineman of the Year and All-State First Team Defense, and 6A Football State Championship Game MVP, as well as earning a selection to the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game. Ranked fifth nationally among defensive linemen, Crawford is an early graduate who is currently attending Auburn University.
The winningest tennis player in Ramsay history, Giles won 90 percent of his matches this season after compiling a winning percentage of 85% during his freshman through junior campaigns. He will take his talents to Webster University in the fall.
