HUSKIES ON THE TRACK
Hewitt-Trussville
Hewitt-Trussville running back Deuce Alston finds himself navigating a recruiting world
now shaped by NIL and the transfer portal. Photo by Shawn Bowles.
Smallwood JT Moving Trussville Forward
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & CERTIFICATIONS
Association of Government Accountants, American Association of Fraud Examiners, Government Finance Officers Association, Alabama Association of Tax Administrators, Alabama Accountants association, Alabama Association of Assessing Officials, Metropolitan Criminal Justice Executive Association, International City/County Management Association
EDUCATION
University of Alabama Birmingham - B.S. Samford University - Theology Birmingham School of Law - J.D.
ADVANCED STUDIES
Auburn University
Government & Economic Developmentmapping, zoning, subdivision layouts, Industrial Abatements, Conservation Easements
University of North Alabama - internal controls, auditing, entity FBI Internet Crimes certificate
ORGANIZATIONS
North Park Baptist
Iron Sharpeners Men’s Ministry Trussville (founder)
Red Elephant Club
Numerous Nonprofit & Board Involvements
NO NEW Tax-Debt
Trussville doesn’t have a revenue problem—it has a spending problem. In 2024, city leaders pushed a property tax hike affecting homeowners, businesses, and even those on fixed incomes. S&P downgraded Trussville’s credit due to deficits and a $6 million loan. J.T. Smallwood opposes all tax increases and will cut waste, restore reserves, and return Trussville to solid financial footing—without burdening taxpayers.
NO Garbage Fees
Trussville’s mayor and city council approved negotiations for garbage services, potentially costing residents up to $40 monthly—on top of existing taxes already funding essential services. Critics argue this double-charging is unfair and demand responsible fiscal leadership. J.T. Smallwood pledges to eliminate wasteful spending, resist special interests, and ensure essential services are funded without increasing the cost of living or burdening taxpayers further.
NO Dump - NO Landfill
The Eastern Area Landfill, dangerously close to neighborhoods and Magnolia Elementary, threatens residents—especially children—with harmful pollutants, odors, and reduced property values. The Moody landfill fire proves the risk is real. Trussville’s silence must end. Every community deserves clean air. As mayor, J.T. Smallwood will act—through negotiation, mediation, or litigation—to shut it down permanently, protecting public health and property at no cost to citizens.
South Dallas Turf & Supply delivers top-quality sod to Birmingham
South Dallas Turf, founded in Selma in 1990, is a proud, family-owned enterprise that offers a great selection of top-quality sod and turf grass for every possible use – single-family homes, townhouses, apartment complexes, businesses of all sizes, high-end golf courses and athletic fields.
The company can handle any job, large or small, including your home, and we offer a wide range of sod options. We'll transform your lawn into a green oasis.
“We have a true commitment to quality, and we offer exceptional customer service that is unheard of in today's world,” said the company’s co-owner and president, James S. “Tres” Wilkinson III.
South Dallas Turf & Supply recently expanded to the Birmingham area. The company acquired Coshatt Sod & Supply in Hoover, then moved the facility to Irondale in April.
“The Irondale location is much more convenient for our customers, and it allows us to give them even more personal service,” Tres said. “We’re able to offer many more products, since we have a bigger facility.”
All of the sod sold by South Dallas Turf & Supply is free of weeds, insects and disease, and the quality is guaranteed.
“We only produce high-quality, certified varieties,” Tres said.
The company cultivates its own turf grass at its three Alabama farms to provide customers the freshest product possible and showcases five inspected, registered and certified grass varieties — Emerald Zoysia, Meyer Zoysia, Zeon Zoysia, Tifway 419 Bermuda and TifTuf
Emerald Zoysia is an ideal lawn grass for showpiece properties where outstanding appearance and durability are essential. Known as the “Cadillac of turf,” Emerald Zoysia is great for homes, businesses, golf courses and athletic fields.
A cold-tolerant grass perfect for Southern winters, Meyer Zoysia spreads to create a dense, beautiful lawn with good traffic control. It’s good for homes, businesses and golf courses. It has a dark green color with a slightly wider blade than other zoysia species.
Zeon Zoysia is a soft, luxurious grass designed for elite landscapers, commercial installations and golf courses. It produces a thick, compact turf in various soil types, restricts weed growth and is shade tolerant and easy to maintain.
Tifway 419 Bermuda is a dense, durable grass with excellent traffic tolerance and quick recovery, and works in nearly any application.
TifTuf Bermuda is the gold standard for drought-tolerant turfgrass. Its delicate texture, density and durability make it ideal for athletic fields, golf courses and commercial landscapes.
For commercial applications, South Dallas Turf & Supply offers quick, efficient delivery and installation referrals for busy contractors and property managers. Our experts have the knowledge and experience to overcome any obstacle to your sod installation. Our clients include Red Diamond Tea, Barber Motorsports Park and Wind Creek Casino.
• Where: 4762 Overton Road, Irondale
• Call: 205-988-3197
• Web: southdallasturfandsupply.com
Reach out to South Dallas Turf & Supply today to arrange for a free estimate.
South Dallas Turf & Supply can provide the quality sod and turf grass you need to build or maintain a lush, green golf course. Our experts can help you make sound decisions regarding the design, maintenance and renovation of your tees, bunkers, and fairways. We’ve provided the grass for such prestigious golf courses as Shoal Creek Country Club, Bent Brook Golf Course, Greystone Golf & Country Club and three courses on Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.
South Dallas Turf & Supply can create top-quality athletic fields for any sport, including football, base-
ball and soccer, and at any level, from high school to college to the NFL. We offer customized services to meet the needs of each project, and we use the latest methods to manage your job, be it a tricky renovation or an entire sports complex. Our athletic fields include Regions Field in Birmingham, the New Orleans Saints practice facility, and facilities at Auburn University and The University of Alabama.
Tres has been with South Dallas Turf for 23 years and is the third generation of Wilkinsons to run the company. He follows his grandfather, company founder James S. Wilkinson Sr., and his father, James S. Wilkinson Jr.
“We’re very proud of this legacy of generational farming,” Tres said.
The team at South Dallas Turf & Supply enjoys what they do, and they make sure that customers get exactly what they need at a fair price.
“We take great satisfaction in seeing beautiful completed landscapes,” Tres said.
Reach out to South Dallas Turf & Supply today to arrange for a free estimate.
ABOUT US
Editor’s Note By Taylor Bright
For this month’s edition, we have a feature running across all of our publications that takes a deep look into how the changing landscape of college athletics is affecting local recruits.
Our own Kyle Parmley spoke with several area athletes about how NIL money and the transfer portal are creating both opportunity and uncertainty in the high school recruiting process.
We are continuing our coverage of the City Council races, and we talk to
the women running for council this year, including an attorney, a former Pelham councilwoman and an HR manager for a local business.
Speaking of businesses, this month we’re spotlighting a new board game business in Trussville and an art studio helping children explore their artistic talents. Finally, we have a feature on Laura and Mike Deibert, teachers at Hewitt-Trussville High School who met and fell in love while serving as missionaries in Nicaragua.
Please Support Our Community Partners
Aqua Systems of Birmingham (7)
Art of Drawers (17)
Birmingham Orthodontics (15)
Bromberg’s (6)
Closets by Design (1)
Grandview Medical (20)
JT Smallwood - Political (2)
Legacy Ridge Assisted Living (18)
Mountain Top Estates Malchus Real Estate (9)
One Man & A Toolbox (17)
Red Mountain Theatre Company (5)
South Dallas Turf Farm, Inc. (3)
Southern Home Structural Repair Specialists (9)
Space Cadets (6)
STP Heating and Air (19)
Syn Lawn (11)
Trussville Gas and Water (5)
Window World of Central Alabama (11)
Publisher:
General Manager/Editor in Chief: Community Editors:
Dan Starnes
Tim Stephens
Taylor Bright
Jon Anderson
Sarah Owens
Sports Editor: Digital Editor: Design Editor: Graphic Designer:
Production Assistant: Operations Specialist:
Contributing Writers:
Kyle Parmley
Cady Inabinett
Melanie Viering
Ted Perry
Simeon Delante
Sarah Villar
Blair Moore
Warren Caldwell Don Harris
Cot Tindall
Published by: Cahaba Sun LLC P.O. Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253 (205) 313-1780 cahabasun.com
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CITY
Former Pelham councilwoman, local attorney join Trussville City Council race
By STAFF
Mildred Reed, a former Pelham city councilwoman and Leslee Hughes, a local attorney are the most recent additions to the Trussville City Council races.
Reed, an instructor at Jefferson State Community College and former Pelham city council pro tem, said she is seeking Place 4 on the council. Reed emphasized the city’s need for experienced leadership during a period of transition.
“My heart is that of service,” Reed said. “The reason I am pursuing city council in our community here is because I do have that knowledge and experience in our city as we’re looking at a major transition in leadership that’s important to have, and I want to be able to offer that knowledge, that skill, that experience, the education, all of those things for our community, for our city as we move forward into the future.”
Reed, who moved to Trussville nearly a year and a half ago, has a background that includes service on Pelham’s planning and zoning commission and eight years on its city council. She cited financial strength, stakeholder relationship building and infrastructure as top priorities for her campaign.
“One of the things that’s important to me is financial strength and security for our city,” she said. “Revenue is important. It is vital. It’s not only vital for the city, but it’s also vital in all of our lives.”
Hughes, an attorney and partner at Cahaba Law Group, said she has been considering a run for several years and
now felt the timing was right.
“After a lot of prayer and consideration and talking it over with (husband) Scott, we made the decision that this was probably the best time for me to run if I was going to pursue this avenue — this made the most sense,” Hughes said.
Hughes has lived in Trussville since 2003 and raised her three daughters through the local school system. She said maintaining the city’s infrastructure, supporting law enforcement and first responders and planning for long-term growth are among her primary concerns.
“The community as a whole has outpaced the infrastructure,” Hughes said. “If we want this community to continue to grow…there at least needs to be some structure in place that keeps us and prevents us from misuse or mismanagement or lack of plan.”
While Reed has already selected Place 4 for her run, Hughes said she is still deciding.
“For me, everything needs to be committed to prayer,” Hughes said. “Until I’m comfortable with a decision, I tend to mull it over.”
The election is scheduled for Aug. 26.
Hughes
Reed
In the classroom
GET TO KNOW
Magnolia Elementary
School Principal Phyllis Faust
By STAFF
Q: What inspired you to work in education?
A: I’ve always enjoyed school. It’s just something that I have, you know, even when, when I was going through high school and whatnot, and it was like, OK, I can do this. I thought when he (son Justin) went back to kindergarten, it was a perfect time for me to start back to school, and so that’s what we did.
Phyllis Faust
Q: What’s something great about
your school?
A: The children, the relationships with Magnolia, everyone feels valued. Everyone feels [like] it’s a family.
Q: What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
A: I know I sound like a broken record, but it is just coming to love these children and to watch them grow. I mean, I walk out into this hallway, and we hug. I cannot tell you how many hugs I get every single day or how many I give.
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Hewitt-Trussville High School students honored ACCOLADES
By STAFF
Hewitt-Trussville High School senior Corinne Caprara earned a national Silver Medal in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards for her mixed-media piece, “Flowering.” The artwork previously won a regional Gold Key and was selected for national recognition based on originality, skill and personal vision — core values of the competition.
HTHS WINS FIRST PLACE
Hewitt-Trussville High School seniors Noah Pearson, Maddox Springer and Shubh Patel won first place in the energy category at the state Science and Engineering Fair at Auburn University. Their project featured shoe inserts that generate power while walking, using two designs that can be combined for increased output.
Hewitt-Trussville High School senior Corinne Caprara poses with her award-winning mixed-media piece, “Flowering.” Photo courtesy of Hewitt-Trussville High School.
HOT WEATHER CALLS FOR COLD
Business Buzz
HAPPENINGS
OPENINGS
Total Health Solutions celebrated the opening of its new location with a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday, April 16, hosted by the Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce. The wellness and weight management company moved to a new space at 3220 Edwards Lake Parkway, Suite 108, in Birmingham. The updated location features expanded services and an improved environment designed to help clients achieve their health goals through personalized care.
205-661-3015, solutionsweight.com
Magnolia Soap & Bath Company celebrated its
grand opening in Trussville with a ribbon cutting ceremony recently followed by grand opening festivities. The new store will be at 160 Morrow Ave., Suite 104. Magnolia Soap & Bath Company specializes in handmade soaps, bath products and personal care items, offering customers fresh, plant-based alternatives.
205-202-6143, magnoliasoapandbath.com
The city of Trussville and Amerex will host a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Amerex Miracle Field on Friday, May 30. The ceremony will begin at 5 p.m., with the ribbon cutting scheduled for 5:20 p.m., followed by the season-opening Miracle League game at 5:30 p.m. The new field will provide an inclusive space for athletes of all abilities to enjoy baseball.
The Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday, April 2, to mark a new chapter for The Peach Cobbler Factory under new ownership. Located at 5870 Trussville Crossings Blvd. in Birmingham, the dessert shop has continued to serve its signature cobblers and sweets while welcoming customers with refreshed décor and exciting updates from its new leadership team. 205-899-1562, thepeachcobblerfactory.com
BLUM Clothing officially opened its doors with a ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by the Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce Thursday, April 3. Located at 410 Main St. in downtown Trussville, the boutique offers a curated selection of modern apparel and accessories. BLUM Clothing aims to deliver a stylish
Cahaba Sun is spotlighting local businesses in print and online. Submit your business for consideration here: go.starnesmedia.com/business-spotlight
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shopping experience for locals looking to update their wardrobes or find the perfect gift. 205-567-2885, blumclothing.com
PERSONNEL MOVES
The YMCA of Greater Birmingham has named Chad Zaucha its new president and CEO. Zaucha brings more than 20 years of YMCA leadership experience and most recently served as CEO of the YMCA of Muncie, Indiana. He will succeed Dan Pile, who retired earlier this month. 205-655-2224, ymcabham.org
Artsy Studio opens in Trussville for artistic kids SPOTLIGHT GET TO KNOW
Taylor McGregor, co-owner
of Scarlet Raven Gaming
By STAFF
Q: Tell us briefly about your business.
A: The idea is that it would be a place for people to come play board games and make friends. Some of our more popular offerings are Magic: The Gathering and a place for people to come play Dungeons & Dragons.
Q: How did you decide to go into business?
A: It was, at its core, my wife Vaida’s idea. It comes from a
passion for board games and the social interaction that you get to have when you’re playing a game with people at the table.
Q: Give us your 30-second elevator pitch.
A: So a lot of people like to get together and hang out and play games, but sometimes your house isn’t ready or your group is too large to comfortably fit in your living room or at your kitchen table — and so we give you a good place to go when that is the case. McGregor
By STAFF
Artsy Studio, an art space for children, opened March 8 at 194 Main St. in Trussville, offering a place where kids are encouraged to explore and create freely.
“We’re really focused on basically giving creative control back to kids and their art experiences, developing really unique art experiences for kids, giving them the tools they need to create something wonderful without the pressure to produce a specific result,” said owner Brittney Wysong. “It’s our belief that everybody has an artsy side.”
Wysong said children have “complete control to get as messy as they want,” and parents are not expected to clean up.
“There’s nothing that they can’t touch, and we clean up everything,” she said. “Kids can paint on the walls, which they do. They can paint on
child shows off their painting skills at the new Artsy Studio in Trussville. Photo courtesy of Artsy Studio.
themselves. They can paint on their hands. They can use any of the different materials that we have out in any way that they choose to use it.”
A
Recently sold homes
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► ADDRESS: 6240 Kestral View Road
► BED/BATH: 4/2.5
► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 2,417 sq. ft.
► NEIGHBORHOOD: Hawk Ridge Estates
► LIST PRICE: $358,000
► SALE PRICE: $348,000
► ADDRESS: 2060 Overlook Place
► BED/BATH: 3/2
► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 1,735 sq. ft.
► NEIGHBORHOOD: Carrington Lakes
► LIST PRICE: $314,900
► SALE PRICE: $310,000
EVENTS
Community calendar
THE SEWING LAB
► Where: Artsy Studio, 194 Main St., Trussville
► When: Tuesday, June 3, 1–2:30 p.m.; Tuesday, June 17, 1–2:30 p.m.
► Cost: Check Artsy Studio for class fees; sibling discounts available
► Web: artsystudio.co
► Details: Kids ages 5–14 dive into the world of sewing with hands-on lessons using both needle and thread and sewing machines. Taught by fiber artist Savannah, the class teaches essential skills while promoting creativity, patience and problem solving. Students may use studio-supplied or personal fabrics, and upcycled materials are welcome. Classes are non-refundable but may be rescheduled with four hours’ notice.
CHEYLOE AND HER SLEEPLESS KNIGHTS
► Where: Ferus Artisan Ales, Trussville
► When: Friday, June 20, 6–9 p.m.
► Cost: Free admission
► Web: ferusales.com
► Details: Birmingham-based Cheyloe and her Sleepless Knights bring their blend of alternative country, gritty folk rock and genre-crossing sounds. Known for storytelling about getting lost, longing and haunting memories, their performances are colorful and dynamic. They headlined a Tuesday show at The World Games 2022 and are preparing to release their EP My Last Day on Earth. All ages welcome.
FBC TRUSSVILLE FINE ARTS CAMP
► Where: High School Space and Room 311, Building C, Trussville
► When: Monday–Thursday, June 9–12, 8:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
► Cost: $225
► Web: fbctrussville.org/events
► Details: Campers ages 6–12 (completed first through sixth grades) will experience small group instruction across classes in piano, art, voice and movement, violin, guitar, drums and musicianship. Camp includes opening sessions, recreation, lunch and chapel time. This year’s theme, “The Lion and the Lamb,” draws from C.S. Lewis’s “The Chronicles of Narnia” and Biblical imagery. The camp concludes with a student performance and teacher meet-and-greet.
FINE U FOUNDATION FUNDRAISER WITH BACK N BLACK & REBA’S FINEST
► Where: Ferus Artisan Ales, Trussville
► When: Saturday, June 21, 5–10 p.m.
► Web: fineufoundation.org
► Details: Join The Fine U Foundation for its fourth annual fundraiser, featuring live performances by Back N Black and Reba’s Finest. Enjoy great music, community connection and opportunities to win prizes. All proceeds support individuals in the special needs community.
JUNE CHAMBER LUNCHEON
► Where: Trussville Civic Center, 5381 Trussville-Clay Road, Trussville
► When: Thursday, June 19, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
► Cost: $23 by cash or check; $24 by card (includes 4% surcharge)
► Contact: Call 205-655-7535 or email heather.weems@trussvillechamber.com
► Web: trussvillechamber.com
► Details: Attend the Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce’s June luncheon, sponsored by Courtesy GMC. Speaker: Kristi Bradford, executive director of Leadership Trussville. Also includes networking and a catered lunch. Reservation deadline is noon Tuesday, June 17. Confirmation will be sent after registration.
SPORTS
THE NEW PLAYBOOK
CONTINUED from page 1
By KYLE PARMLEY
Deuce Alston is always on the move. Whether it’s football, wrestling or training, the rising senior at Hewitt-Trussville High School keeps striving.
Every move matters when attempting to garner the attention of college football coaches.
Alston is a 6-foot, 200-pound running back who aims to set himself apart from the other players of similar stature and ability in his class. As part of a talented Hewitt-Trussville offense, he won’t have the eyepopping statistics or the viral highlights, so the details are significant.
“For example, as a running back, college coaches want to see more than just running the ball,” Alston said. “They want to see blocking, pass protection, fakes and route running. These are the things that make you valuable as a running back.”
Alston has hopes of one day competing at the next level, and he knows this is a critical time for him.
“Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been setting up my official visits,” Alston said in mid-May. “At the beginning of this year, my recruiting started to pick up. I went from having two offers to 18.”
Alston dreams of being the next great running back, but competition is stiffer than ever to land at a top program out of high school.
“There are fewer scholarship spots,” said ESPN recruiting analyst Tom Luginbill. “Now instead of divvying up all their scholarships at the high school level, now they’re going to get 12-14 guys out of the portal. The spots have become limited.”
SHIFTING SAND
Coaches are no longer building around potential. They’re buying certainty. Between the rise of the transfer portal, the explosion of Name, Image and Likeness dollars, and the impending House v. NCAA court settlement that could allow direct revenue-sharing paychecks from schools to athletes, the entire scholarship model has changed.
For high school seniors, that means fewer opportunities. Unless you’re elite, the message is clear: wait your turn — or get left behind.
In place of the old system is a new billion-dollar industry in which high school prospects are still commodities — just ones with less value than they held before the money started flowing.
Not all college programs play on the same field. The “Power Four” conferences — the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC — have TV deals, booster collectives and NIL opportunities.
Below them are “Group of Five” schools like UAB or Troy — with fewer scholarships, smaller budgets and less exposure. Then come FCS, D2 and junior colleges, where many now land by necessity.
THE PORTAL JAM
For decades, high school football was the bedrock of college recruiting. Talent rose, coaches scouted, scholarships followed and dreams materialized on National Signing Day. That world is gone.
It started with COVID. In 2020, the NCAA granted all athletes an extra year of eligibility. That decision created a massive traffic jam. Fifth-year seniors stayed. Sixthyear players reclassified. Scholarships that would have gone to high school seniors disappeared.
Then came NIL. In July 2021, athletes could finally earn money off their name, image and likeness. But what was meant to reward marketability became a loosely disguised pay-for-play market.
“Monetary compensation is no longer based on results,” Luginbill said. “It’s not about ‘if I produce, schools will want me.’ Now, it’s ‘how much are you going to pay me to play here?’ There’s no accountability from the player’s side, and that’s not what NIL was intended for — certainly not in recruiting.”
At the same time, the transfer portal exploded. The NCAA removed the sit-out rule for first-time transfers, and a flood of player movement followed. A new reality emerged: Why recruit a high school senior you’ll have to develop when you can buy a 22-year-old with experience?
“Unless you've been tampered with or have significant production, you're either transferring down or walking on somewhere,” Luginbill said. “The math doesn’t add up. There just aren’t enough roster spots. There is a false level of value that the kids place on themselves or the people around them place on them. We’re talking about thousands of kids.”
Hewitt-Trussville running back
Deuce Alston is a 6-foot, 200-pound running back who aims to set himself apart from the other players of similar stature and ability in his class.
According to On3 Sports, more than 4,000 FBS football players entered the NCAA transfer portal during this cycle — and more than 1,600 are still looking for a home. In men’s basketball, 2,320 players entered the portal this spring, per Verbal Commits — a jump of more than 11 percent from last year, and nearly 2.5 times more than five years ago.
This isn’t just a revenue-sport issue. Since the NCAA eliminated its one-year sit-out rule in 2021, tens of thousands of athletes across all sports have entered the portal — many of them two, three or even four times. Each year of the NIL era has accelerated the cycle. In 2024, the NCAA opened the door to unlimited transfers. Combine that with the backlog of COVID players, and the result is a recruiting funnel that narrows further every season. And it’s about to get even tighter, as schools prepare for revenue sharing and potential roster caps tied to the House settlement.
Coach Trent Dilfer came to UAB with a plan to build his program through high school recruiting, but that vision didn’t hold. He watched promising redshirt freshmen get poached, impact players leave mid-development and recruiting calendars shift. Now, he’s saving scholarships for older transfers. Like most coaches, he’s frustrated by the chaos and eager for structure.
“All I need is guardrails; all I need is boundaries; all I
Photos by Shawn Bowles.
need is where it is,” Dilfer told Birmingham’s CBS 42. “I don't care where the goal post is, just keep it stationary… Because right now this goal post is going around 360 degrees because there’s zero leadership; there’s zero boundaries; there’s zero guardrails.”
MANAGING EXPECTATIONS
But this isn’t just about numbers. It’s about expectations — and the widening gap between what kids believe they’re walking into and what actually waits.
For years, high school athletes have been surrounded by talk of NIL money, brand building and recruiting leverage. Highlight reels and camp circuits — all of it reinforcing the same narrative: play well, get noticed, get paid. But most never make it that far.
“High school kids now believe they're entitled to compensation,” Luginbill said. “But the original intent was that if a college athlete… became a marketable commodity, they could earn income. That’s light years from what we’re doing.”
Even for players who eventually cash in, the road usually starts somewhere less glamorous — a Group of Five school, a redshirt year, a position change, a climb. That could hold true for Alston. Among his early offers were only two power conference schools: Kentucky and Minnesota.
“The transfer portal has made it harder for high schoolers to land spots at Power Four programs,” said Jim Cavale, CEO of Athletes.org. “Starting at a Group of Five school and working your way up may be the best path.”
BACK-END FALLOUT
While these dynamics affect every sport, the epicenter is football and men’s basketball — where the bulk of the money flows and the pressure to win immediately is highest.
According to research on signing day trends, oncepowerhouse programs are producing fewer high-major signees and more D2, JUCO and NAIA placements. In other sports — baseball, wrestling, lacrosse, even track — the scholarship slots are already shrinking. If roster caps go into effect, they may vanish altogether.
Whatever happens next — roster limits, direct pay, new NIL rules — the path for high school athletes is
Advice from the Players
These are five things athletes can still control in a portal-first world.
► Hewitt-Trussville running back Deuce Alston: Be proactive and take ownership of your exposure. Don’t wait around to be discovered; promote yourself through highlights, communication and consistent work.
► CEO of Athletes.org CEO Jim Cavale: Prioritize playing time and fit over logos and prestige. With Power Four spots tightening, finding the right place to play early may be the better long-term strategy.
► Spain Park running back Brock Bradley: If you get a committable offer, take it seriously. Hesitating for a bigger offer could mean missing your window entirely.
► ESPN Recruiting Analyst Tom Luginbill: Be skeptical of hype and inflated value. Don’t assume attention means opportunity. Many players are misled about their true market.
► Mountain Brook baseball player Caleb Barnett: Some of the smartest athletes are starting lower, proving themselves and transferring up. It’s becoming common for talented players to commit ‘below their level’ just to get on the field.
narrowing fast. And for players like Alston, that means more than just navigating offers. It means trying to stay in the game.
“It’s challenging to know which conversations are genuine and which are not,” he said. “I thought I would have until December to make my decision; however, everything moves so fast that if you hesitate, you might lose your spot.”
How We Got Here
How the recruiting model unraveled in just four years:
► 2020 – COVID Eligibility Freeze: The NCAA grants every college athlete an extra year of eligibility. Result: Rosters balloon with fifth- and sixth-year players. Scholarships that once went to high school seniors stay tied up.
► 2021 – NIL Goes Live: On July 1, athletes can officially profit from their name, image and likeness. What was meant for endorsements quickly turns into donor-funded, booster-driven pay-for-play — especially in football and men’s basketball.
► 2022–23 – The Portal Opens Wide: Legal pressure erodes transfer restrictions. Athletes can now move freely and play immediately — even multiple times. Coaches pivot from projecting potential to buying production.
► 2023–24 – House v. NCAA Settlement Takes Shape: A $2.8 billion class-action deal looms. Schools would be allowed to directly pay athletes. But in return? Scholarship limits go away — and roster caps come in.
► 2025 – The High School Squeeze: With the portal flooded and roster uncertainty ahead, high school recruits — especially in non-revenue sports — are getting left behind. The system they grew up chasing no longer has as many places for them.
At the same time, Alston realizes the importance of weighing the traditional factors — facilities, coaching staffs, rosters, etc. — alongside many of today’s pressing topics.
“You have to do your homework,” he said.
Left and right: Hewitt-Trussville running back Deuce Alston (2).
Huskies baseball, softball wrap up seasons
The Hewitt-Trussville High School baseball and softball programs have been among the state’s best for several years, and the 2025 season continued that trend.
The Huskies baseball team posted a record of 33-4, with two of those losses coming at the end of the season in a pair of one-run losses to Bob Jones in the second round of the Class 7A playoffs. Otherwise, the Huskies had an outstanding run, spending much of the season ranked as the No. 1 team in 7A.
Hewitt-Trussville’s softball team won 30 games yet again, winning consecutive elimination games in the Class 7A, Area 6 tournament to advance to the East Regional.
Photos by SHAWN BOWLES, KYLE PARMLEY
Hewitt-Trussville players warm up in a game against Oak Mountain at Phil English Field on April 10.
Cam Simpson (15)
Ryleigh Wood (2)
Ava Hyde (20) and Evie Andrews (16)
Hewitt-Trussville celebrates winning during the Class 7A, Area 6 Tournament on April 28 at Jim Brown Field in Hoover.
Erin Coleman (23)
Steele Hall (19)
Huskies girls golf team ties for third at state tournament
By KYLE PARMLEY
The Hewitt-Trussville High School girls golf team delivered two steady rounds to tie for third place at the Class 7A state golf tournament, finishing with a two-day total of 466 at RTJ Oxmoor Valley’s Valley Course on May 12–13.
The Huskies were consistent from start to finish, posting identical team rounds of 233 on both Monday and Tuesday. Merritt Daniel led the team each day with consistent rounds of 75. Her consistent play across both nines helped anchor the team’s scoring.
In the opening round, Emma Bark posted a 76, followed by Kiersten Riggins with an 82. On Tuesday, Riggins bounced back with a 78, while Bark added an 80 to complete the team total. Morgan Hopper shot 87 and 83, but her scores did not factor into the team total.
Daniel’s 150 paced the Huskies, while Bark finished with a 156 and Riggins posted a 160. Hewitt-Trussville matched UMSWright for third place, finishing 10 strokes
The Hewitt-Trussville High School girls golf team won the Class 7A North Sub-State and finished tied for third at the state tournament. Photo courtesy of Hewitt-Trussville Athletics.
behind runner-up Grissom and 29 behind champion Auburn, which ran away with the title with a two-day score of 437.
Hewitt-Trussville qualified for state by winning the North Sub-State tournament a week earlier. The Huskies finished 9-over par as a team and beat Grissom by one shot. Riggins led the way with a 73, followed by Daniel with a 74. Hopper added a 78, while Bark shot an 82.
Huskies finish strong at 7A state track meet
By KYLE PARMLEY
The Hewitt-Trussville High School track and field team finished a strong season at the Class 7A state outdoor meet in early May. The boys finished third as a team, while the girls placed eighth.
Senior Michael Igbinoghene led the way with a dominant win in the triple jump at 46 feet, 2 inches and a third-place finish in the long jump at 23 feet, 8 inches. Freshman Zion Westry finished third in the triple jump, while ninth-grader Caleb Billups scored in both the long and triple jumps.
Senior Shaw Helfrich capped off a standout career by winning the pole vault (14-6), placing fourth in the 110-meter hurdles, and seventh in discus. Junior Dylan Cope and Helfrich took third and fourth in the 110 hurdles, while sophomore Demetri Hall Jr. earned third in the 400-meter dash (48.75) and fourth in the 300 hurdles (38.72).
Sophomore Mary Durham earned the girls’ top finish, winning the 800 meters (2 minutes, 14 seconds) and placing ninth in the 1,600. Eighth-grader Hadley Turner scored in the 3,200 (sixth). Senior Haley Melton placed seventh in the 100 hurdles.
The girls 4-by-800-meter relay team finished third, while the boys were sixth. Seniors George Merchant and Caylin Kennemur swept the ambulatory events, each winning three titles.
Shaw Helfrich, left, and Dylan Cope were among several top performers for Hewitt-Trussville High School at the Class 7A state meet May 1-3 in Gulf Shores. Photo courtesy of Jimmy Johnson.
COMMUNITY
Building a life after the mission field
By BLAIR MOORE
When Mike and Lauren Deibert moved to Trussville in 2015, they were searching for a place to find purpose beyond their years as missionaries.
Their journey began thousands of miles away in Nicaragua where Mike, an Ohio native with a knack for blacksmithing and a heart for vocational training, spent over a decade building a school for young men to learn trades. Lauren, a former English teacher from Mountain Brook, arrived in Nicaragua fresh out of college, ready to teach, unaware she would soon meet her future husband.
“Mike and I met in 2005, but our love story took a minute,” Lauren said with a laugh. “Mike was sarcastic, and I didn’t get it. It took me a while to realize that was his sense of humor.”
After years of friendship and serving alongside each other, something changed.
Lauren had been accepted into a shared graduate program between Duke University and the University of North Carolina — a dual degree in social work and divinity. She had told her parents, made her plans and was packed to go. As the date of her departure approached, Mike had an epiphany.
“I suddenly realized I didn’t want her to leave,” Mike said. “I finally got my act together and told her how I felt.”
So, off Lauren went to North Carolina, spending a year at school while the two
navigated a long-distance relationship. The following year, she was back in Nicaragua. They married in 2008, had their first three boys in Nicaragua and continued their work.
“Having kids there was beautiful,” Lauren said. “Nicaraguans celebrate children in a way that is just incredible. Strangers in grocery stores would offer to hold my baby while I shopped. People would ask to take our kids next door to meet their family. It’s such a deeply connected culture.”
Mike’s work at the vocational school focused on blacksmithing. Lauren, meanwhile, started Nueva Imagen, a program dedicated to helping women transition out of trafficking and other difficult situations.
By 2015, their vocational school was thriving under the leadership of local Nicaraguans, and Nueva Imagen was making a difference — but the emotional and physical exhaustion was real. Their oldest son was approaching school age, and they faced a big question: Did they stay or start a new chapter?
Prayerfully, they chose Trussville.
“Trussville felt like a place where we could belong.”
The transition wasn’t easy. Leaving the mission field came with its own kind of culture shock. Purpose felt murkier. Community took time. But slowly, things started falling into place. Mike began teaching Spanish at
Fultondale Elementary before moving to Hewitt-Trussville Middle School. Lauren started part-time at Restoration Academy and Cornerstone Christian, eventually taking a full-time Spanish teaching position at Hewitt-Trussville High School.
Since moving to Trussville, the Deiberts have added two more sons, and life as a family of seven is full of energy, school, activities and friends.
“Our life is basically driving from one practice to another,” Lauren said with a laugh. “Football, basketball, tennis, soccer — there’s always somewhere to be.”
While settling into Trussville, Mike never lost his passion for blacksmithing. He set up a forge at their home, continuing to hone his craft, which led to an unexpected opportunity — a spot on the History Channel’s “Forged in Fire” reality show in 2018. Competing in the “Hollywood Edition,” he was challenged to forge a 1,000-layer Damascus katana inspired by “Kill Bill.”
Both Mike and Lauren have earned a reputation as outstanding Spanish teachers. Lauren was recently named Teacher of the Year at Hewitt-Trussville High School, an honor she insists is more about her students than about her.
Mike, meanwhile, enjoys the challenge of teaching a subject that once baffled him. “I was a terrible Spanish student in high school,” he said. “But now, I get to help kids realize that learning a language isn’t impossible. It just takes time and practice.”
After 10 years, Trussville has become home in every sense of the word — a place where they truly belong.
“We worried nothing would feel like home after Nicaragua,” Lauren said. “But Trussville took us in. The people here, the community, the way they’ve supported us — it’s been more than we could have hoped for.”
Mike and Lauren Deibert pose with their children in Nicaragua, where they met. After getting married, the two settled in Trussville where they both teach at HewittTrussville High School. Photo courtesy of Lauren Deibert.
By TIM STEPHENS
Let’s get this out of the way: Yes, I titled this one “Time to sprint, Fatboy.”
That’s how I used to motivate myself. Loud. Public. Funny — but not really. I’d manufacture pressure, raise the stakes and take off.
That mindset fueled big pushes: dropping 100 pounds, writing a book in 36 hours, salvaging semesters in a weekend. I could always dig deep — until I couldn’t.
This year’s goal is to lose 56 pounds by my 56th birthday, July 12. I started strong, then hit a wall. This month, I finally understood why.
It wasn’t just burnout. It was ADHD.
I wasn’t diagnosed until age 52. Looking back, it explains why I’ve started and stopped so many times. ADHD isn’t just distraction — it’s dysregulation. For me, it showed up in both work and health.
THE INVISIBLE CYCLE
Here’s how it plays out: I’ll hyperfocus on a new goal, system or challenge — and crush it. Then, the interest just disappears. The switch flips. I avoid it. Shame creeps in. I replace momentum with stress eating and bad sleep.
Then something painful jolts me back into action. The
cycle resets.
I’ve lived like this for 30 years. Without sustainable structure, the pattern wins.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF SPRINT
This month, I got back on track — gym, sauna, tracking, IV infusions. But the real battle is mental.
My ADHD therapist, Dalila Bass, is helping me reframe this: not as punishment, but commitment. We’re shifting from adrenaline-fueled sprints to consistency. One big change? My inner voice. I’ve always had a coach yelling at me to grind harder. It worked — until it broke me. Now, we’re aiming for a voice that pushes without punishment.
THE STATS — AND THE SHIFT
Adults with ADHD are nearly twice as likely to be obese. We binge, spiral, crash — often undiagnosed until our 40s or 50s. We’re not broken. We’re masking. It works — until it doesn’t.
So this month: show up anyway. Not perfectly. Just consistently.
I’ve dropped 10 pounds. Still behind pace — but reachable if I stay steady.
Dalila said: “It’s about building something that lasts.”
COMMUNITY
I didn’t choose ADHD, but I’m responsible for managing it. That’s the real transformation.
JOIN THE MISSION
If this resonates, talk to someone. You’re not broken. Nominate someone here: forms.gle/6CCxjcv3Rt7bEsvGA
It’s a Matter of Life & Breath
At Grandview Freestanding Emergency Department, we’re prepared for life’s critical moments. Our ER provides rapid evaluation and treatment for serious injury and illness – with 24/7 access to imaging and lab services. Patients also have access to Grandview Medical Center’s surgical and medical resources for continued specialty care if needed. From treatment for broken bones to care for life-threatening conditions, our dedicated team is ready.
For more information, visit GrandviewEmergencyRoom.com or scan the QR code.
Freestanding Emergency Department
5542 Vanlerberghe Lane, Trussville
In an emergency, call 911 or go to the closest ER.