How a strong work ethic led Clinton's Trey Alexander to winning MHSAA 7A Mr. Basketball award
CLINTON — Trey Alexander has always been persistent in getting into Clinton's school's gym. Early in the morning or after practices, he asked coaches to open the doors for him and spent countless hours trying to perfect his craft.
"He's a great player. He loves to be coached," Clinton coach Leonard Taylor said. "He loves that gym. If you tell him he needs to work on something, he'll work on that one thing for 30 or 40 minutes straight.
"When I tell you he lives in the gym, he's not in there just to play around and shoot when he's really working on game-like situations and stuff like that, and it shows in the game and on the court."
The constant drive led to Alexander winning the 2024 MHSAA Class 7A Mr. Basketball award, the first 7A award after the classification was created ahead of the 2023-24 school year.
"It feels great," Alexander said. "Knowing that I've got it, and I'm just taking it all in. I'm really grateful. I thank God that I got the award over everybody else, and it just feels great."
Alexander said he wasn't sure he'd win it considering the level and depth of the talent in 7A. He also didn't realize how special the award was — this is only the second year for the Mr. Basketball award in the state — but it proved to him that hard work pays off.
"Countless hours in the morning, at night, throughout the day before practice after practice," he said. "When you want something so bad and you're dedicated to it, you'r're willing to do anything. And that's that's how I was."
Alexander adds another award to his collection. Alexander won the MAIS Class 4A player of the year award last season at Clinton Christian before transferring to Clinton High at the end of his junior year.
"I feel like I'm able to play on any level or against anybody," Alexander said. "So it just lets me know that I can do anything I put my mind to."
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Even though Taylor has coached Alexander for only one season, he has known him since he was 6 years old and knew his game and personality could take him to these accolades.
"No matter what league or whatever conference you're in, if you're putting in the work, people are going to recognize you," Taylor said. "I think that everyone recognizes the hard work he puts in, and he's going to show it no matter what level he's on. He's going to be a pretty awesome and great player."
Alexander's next step in basketball is at Holmes Community College. He wants to pursue the true love that he's carried this far — basketball.
"I love basketball, and I've always known I love basketball, and it makes me feel great and happy," Alexander said, smiling. "So, me being able to keep playing beyond my high school career is amazing."
Alexander joins 13 other athletes who won the award, including: 6A Dorian McMillian, Pascagoula; 5A Jamarion Davis-Fleming, Canton; 4A Eric Paymon Jr., Raymond; 3A Kedrick Simmons, Booneville; 2A Dalyn Pierce, Bay Springs; and 1A Stanford Spearman Jr., Coffeeville.
The girls winners include: 7A Na'Kaiyla Tootie Lockett, Starkville; 6A KaMiyah Griffin, South Panola; 5A DeKyra Mitchell, Holmes County Central; 4A Mattison Bell, Choctaw Central; 3A Sa'Niyah Cook, Booneville; 2A Macie Phifer, Ingomar; and 1A Keyauna Foote, Blue Mountain.
Michael Chavez covers high school sports, among others, for the Clarion-Ledger. Email him at mchavez@gannett.com or reach out to him on X, formerly Twitter @MikeSChavez
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: How Clinton's Trey Alexander earned MHSAA Class 7A Mr. Basketball award
