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Alabama high school basketball to add shot clock and mercy rule ahead of 2026-27 season
TL;DR
Alabama high school basketball will implement a shot clock and mercy rule starting in the 2026-27 season. The shot clock will be set at 35 seconds and reset to 25 seconds.
Alabama high school basketball to add shot clock and mercy rule ahead of 2026-27 season
After a long wait, the shot clock is finally coming to Alabama high school basketball.
After months of delay and postponing the vote, the Alabama High School Athletic Association's Central Board of Control voted to approve to implement the shot clock for the 2026-27 season.
AHSAA executive director Heath Harmon and the CBOC went into detail about the requirements when it came to the number of shot clocks and where the locations are to be. The shot clock would start at 35 seconds and reset at 25 seconds.
The requirements would be two shot clocks either mounted on the goals, or on a wall in the gym on both sides to be visible by both teams. The votes won't become official until the CBOC meeting is over, but it was approved by the board members.
Khloe Ford, of Hoover High School, and Jaylen Alexander, of Oxford High School, are named Ms. and Mr. Basketball by the Alabama Sports Writers Association during their basketball luncheon in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
The Alabama Basketball Players of the year are awarded by the Alabama Sports Writers Association during their basketball luncheon in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
Jaylen Alexander, of Oxford High School, is named Mr. Basketball by the Alabama Sports Writers Association during their basketball luncheon in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
Khloe Ford, of Hoover High School, is named Ms. Basketball by the Alabama Sports Writers Association during their basketball luncheon in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
Jaylen Alexander, of Oxford High School, is named Mr. Basketball by the Alabama Sports Writers Association during their basketball luncheon in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
Khloe Ford, of Hoover High School, is named Ms. Basketball by the Alabama Sports Writers Association during their basketball luncheon in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
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Photos of Alabama High School Basketball Players of the Year banquet
Khloe Ford, of Hoover High School, and Jaylen Alexander, of Oxford High School, are named Ms. and Mr. Basketball by the Alabama Sports Writers Association during their basketball luncheon in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
1 / 6
Photos of Alabama High School Basketball Players of the Year banquet
Khloe Ford, of Hoover High School, and Jaylen Alexander, of Oxford High School, are named Ms. and Mr. Basketball by the Alabama Sports Writers Association during their basketball luncheon in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
2 / 6
Photos of Alabama High School Basketball Players of the Year banquet
The Alabama Basketball Players of the year are awarded by the Alabama Sports Writers Association during their basketball luncheon in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
3 / 6
Photos of Alabama High School Basketball Players of the Year banquet
Jaylen Alexander, of Oxford High School, is named Mr. Basketball by the Alabama Sports Writers Association during their basketball luncheon in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
4 / 6
Photos of Alabama High School Basketball Players of the Year banquet
Khloe Ford, of Hoover High School, is named Ms. Basketball by the Alabama Sports Writers Association during their basketball luncheon in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
5 / 6
Photos of Alabama High School Basketball Players of the Year banquet
Jaylen Alexander, of Oxford High School, is named Mr. Basketball by the Alabama Sports Writers Association during their basketball luncheon in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
6 / 6
Photos of Alabama High School Basketball Players of the Year banquet
Khloe Ford, of Hoover High School, is named Ms. Basketball by the Alabama Sports Writers Association during their basketball luncheon in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
For coaches around the state, this is something that many have been waiting on like six-time defending Class 7A state champion Krystal Johnson from Hoover. In 2024, the Alabama Association of Basketball Coaches posted a survey in which that 71% of the coaches in the state approved of the shot clock.
"Amen, Yes I'm definitely in favor," Johnson said during the regional tournament. "Our players want to play in college and it prepares them for college. You got to learn how to make decisions on the fly. Like yes. sometimes stalling the ball does help but at the same token you got to be able to make big decisions and win a game with a shot clock."
Those sentiments were echoed by Homewood's Elijah Garrison, who helps lead the state's basketball coaches association and has help present the shot clock proposal at times to the AHSAA. In July of 2025, 88% of coaches in Classes 5A-7A told the AABC that they were in favor of a shot clock.
In Class 3A and 4A, that number was closer to 77%, results for Class 1A and 2A were not released. According to the NFHS, 32 states used shot clock in some fashion for the 2025-26 season.
The mercy rule was recommended by the Harmon and also voted on to be implemented during the 2026-27 season with a running clock in the fourth period of 30-point differential game that would include the Final Four contests.
The item of implementing district play instead of area play was also discussed even in the capacity of piloting in Class 6A which was formerly 7A, for the 2026-27 season, but no action was taken on the matter. Harmon did advocate for keeping area play.
Jaeden Day covers high school sports, Alabama State football and Auburn recruiting for the Montgomery Advertiser/USA Today. You can find him on X atdayjaeden12, or reach him at JDay@montgome.gannett.com. Maxwell Donaldson covers high school sports, Jax State athletics, the outdoors in Alabama and more for the Gadsden Times. Find him on Twitter/X@_Max_Donaldsonand contact him atMDonaldson@usatodayco.com
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: AHSAA basketball to add shot clock and mercy rule ahead of 2026 season
Q&A
What is the shot clock duration for Alabama high school basketball?
The shot clock for Alabama high school basketball will be set at 35 seconds and reset to 25 seconds.
When will the shot clock and mercy rule be implemented in Alabama high school basketball?
The shot clock and mercy rule will be implemented starting in the 2026-27 season.
Who approved the shot clock for Alabama high school basketball?
The Alabama High School Athletic Association's Central Board of Control approved the shot clock.
What are the requirements for shot clocks in Alabama high school basketball?
The AHSAA executive director provided details on the number of shot clocks required and their placement in gyms.
