Shot Clock Coming to Alabama High School Basketball, New Board President Elected

AHSAA announces 35-second shot clock, extends mercy rule, and elects first female president

Apr. 16, 2026 at 12:21am

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a high school basketball game, with the players and court broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in vibrant colors representing the official team uniforms of the Alabama High School Athletic Association.The AHSAA's new shot clock and first female president will reshape the future of high school basketball in Alabama.Today in Birmingham

The Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) has announced that a 35-second shot clock will be implemented in both boys and girls high school basketball starting in the 2026-27 season. The AHSAA also voted to extend the mercy rule used in the postseason to include the state finals, and unanimously elected Kim Kiel as the new AHSAA president, making her the first female president in the organization's 105-year history.

Why it matters

The introduction of the shot clock is a significant change for high school basketball in Alabama, as it aims to modernize the game and create a faster-paced, more exciting experience for players and fans. Kiel's election as the first female AHSAA president also represents an important milestone for the organization and the broader high school sports community.

The details

The AHSAA's Central Board of Control (CBOC) voted to implement the 35-second shot clock, which will be in effect for both the boys' and girls' basketball seasons starting in the 2026-27 school year. The AHSAA also voted to extend the mercy rule, which establishes a running clock when a team takes a 30-point lead in the fourth quarter, to include the state finals in addition to the postseason. In addition, the CBOC unanimously elected Kim Kiel, the district 5 representative and a 2026 AHSAA Hall of Fame inductee, as the new AHSAA president, making her the first female president in the organization's history.

  • The 35-second shot clock will be implemented in the 2026-27 high school basketball season.
  • The mercy rule extension to include the state finals will also take effect in the 2026-27 season.
  • Kim Kiel will officially begin her one-year tenure as AHSAA president during the July 29, 2026 CBOC meeting.

The players

Heath Harmon

AHSAA Executive Director

Kim Kiel

The new AHSAA president, who is the district 5 representative, a 2026 AHSAA Hall of Fame inductee, and has spent her entire career in education with Pelham City Schools.

Brian Jett

The new AHSAA Central Board of Control (CBOC) vice president, who is the superintendent of Fort Payne City Schools and the district 8 representative.

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What they’re saying

“This is something we have been studying a good while, and our basketball coaches' leadership has been at the forefront of this decision. We think this is the right time. We felt it needed to be added at the beginning of a classification period and not in the middle.”

— Heath Harmon, AHSAA Executive Director

What’s next

The new AHSAA president, Kim Kiel, and vice president, Brian Jett, will officially begin their one-year tenures during the July 29, 2026 CBOC meeting.

The takeaway

The implementation of the shot clock and the election of the first female AHSAA president represent significant changes that aim to modernize high school basketball in Alabama and promote greater diversity and inclusion in the state's high school sports leadership.