Zak Cain put together one heck of a season for East Limestone.

The senior standout averaged 18.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game for the Indians, helping the program notch a county title and reach the Sweet 16 en route to netting Class 5A first-team All-State honors.

Those excellent numbers also helped Cain be selected as a 5A Player of the Year finalist by the Alabama Sports Writers Association, of which The News Courier is a voting member.

Safe to say, he is The News Courier’s All-Area boys basketball  Player of the Year.

East Limestone coach Jake Moran couldn’t agree more — and it goes far beyond the basketball court.

“Zak is a coach’s dream player,” he said. “He is the hardest-working, but most humble, kid you can imagine. His talent alone is incredible, but his work ethic is what has gotten him to this point. He is constantly in the gym training and trying to get better. His leadership has also been great for our program … you know you’re going to get his best each and every day. Players feed off that and it pushes them to want to get better.

“The best part about getting to coach Zak, though, is not only is he a great basketball player, but he’s an even better person. He is the type of teammate you want your kid to be around and learn from. We’re definitely going to miss having him in our program, but I can’t wait to see what the future holds for him.”

Tanner’s Kyle Owens, meanwhile, captured Coach of the Year honors after leading his alma mater — which lost several key players — to 15 wins and a third straight Elite Eight.

The All-Area team was selected after accessing the 2024-25 season and speaking with local coaches. However, with a small number of spots available, it’s possible some deserving candidates were left out.

See below for The News Courier’s All-Area boys basketball team, including honorable mentions.

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Player of the Year

Zak Cain, East Limestone

 

Coach of the Year

Kyle Owens, Tanner

 

All-Area Team

Andrew Eckstein, Ardmore

Noah Hester, Athens Bible

Saylor Bright, Athens

Brayden Walker, Athens

Jeb Blanton, East Limestone

Coleby Davis, East Limestone

Michael Stanford, Elkmont

Elyjah Jones, Tanner

JT Winter, West Limestone

 

Honorable Mention

Josiah Byrd, Ardmore

Endymion Tyus, Athens

AJ Bradford, Athens Bible

Noah Rikard, Clements

Charlie Eslick, East Limestone

Deacon Grams, Elkmont

Sam Jackson, Lindsay Lane

Cade Dorning, Tanner

Dawson Mewbourn, West Limestone