Cullman's Lawson Schaffer is one of many talented players in the county.

I’ve watched and played an exorbitant amount of basketball in my 25-plus years on Earth.

I’ve been to countless games — prep, college, professional, girls, boys, you name it. I’ve watched thrillers and blowouts, made and missed a lot of shots, filled out an unhealthy number of brackets for March Madness and lost more 2K matchups that I care to remember.

Heck, I’ve been using the same basketball to shoot hoops with since I received it as a birthday gift back in 1998.

If I had a dime for every time I stepped onto a gym floor, let’s just say you wouldn’t be reading this column right now.

All that being said, I’m not the best basketball player who’s ever been born. I could probably coach, but I’d embarrass myself. The only decent thing I can still do is drain treys — looking right at you Baylee Johnson.

So what does that have to do with Cullman County, you ask?

Well, I’m here to tell those who aren’t leaving their houses or haven’t made it out to a boys’ game so far to fix it.

Our talent is that good.

The first contest I went out to this season was Holly Pond at Cullman. The gym was packed and the atmosphere was electric. Lawson Schaffer, Brontae Harris and Seth Swalve for Cullman? Austin Smith, Cody Jones, Drew Jones and Bailey Smith for Holly Pond? Stupid good, all of them.

Let me start with Schaffer — who, in my personal opinion, is one of the best players in the state. I find myself at times unable to take pictures or write down stats promptly because my jaw has hit the ground following one of the senior’s ridiculous basketball plays.

Drive, behind-the-back dribble and stepback jumper to seal a triumph against Class 7A, No. 1 Mountain Brook? Check. Countless “How in the world did he do that?” finishes at the rim? Check. Averaging close to an unbelievable triple-double stat line for the season? Check.

And he does it all never having a bad hair day? Color me impressed.

Harris showed everybody how good he could be with a fine showing versus Parker, eclipsing 2,000 points for his career after a 19-point first quarter and 25-point performance versus the defending 5A champions.

Smith has been a double-double phenom for Holly Pond, as his squad launched up to No. 1 in 3A this week with a 16-3 record. Smith and Co. have beaten stiff competition and played Cullman tightly in a couple of contests, which had to have ranked at the top of the sensational scale in the year 2014.

I could sit here and type adjective upon adjective about the wonderful play of Swalve, the two Jones’ and Smith, too. Swalve probably doesn’t get nearly enough credit for his work with the Bearcats. Cody and Drew can shoot with the best of them. Smith caught my eye during his junior varsity season and hasn’t given me reason to doubt his talent since.

So what does it matter if two teams hold all the talent?

Well, they don’t.

Enter Cold Springs’ Triston Chambers, a.k.a. White Chocolate.

I’ve been at various Eagle games this season. Chambers had 27 and 31 points in two of those … at the half. Not to mention his 53-point evening in a 95-88 loss to Holly Pond. When the junior is on, he’s on. From every single spot on the court.

His teammate, Josh Freeman, can be every bit as dominant from deep, too, averaging around 20 points per game.

West Point’s Ryder Jones, Hanceville’s Xavier Malcom and Vinemont’s Lance Stanley are other terrific county standouts. Throw in Fairview and its Austin Fletcher/Tyler Yearwood combo and Good Hope’s steady man, Tyler Vanderburg, and you’ve got talent to make it rain for days.

Those coaches, parents and fans who frequent their respective squad’s games know what they’ve got.

I’m not preaching to that choir.

Who I’m preaching to are basketball fans, students, alumni and really anyone else who resides in Cullman County. Go to a gym, help a school’s gate and watch these kids play.

Athletes here don’t garner the respect they should. That’s not quite the case on the hardwood right now.

The talent is there. It demands respect.