Playing in the Alabama High School Athletic Associations’ North/South All-Star Football has been something that Tommy Kanaley has dreamed about for a long time, and next week the former Andalusia standout will make that a reality.

“It felt really great,” Kanaley said when he found out he was named to the South All-Star team. “Coach (Trent) Taylor called me into his office out of the blue one day and told me that I had been selected for the All-Star game. It felt great because it was something that I’ve wanted since I started playing football. It’s a great feeling that I get to represent Andalusia on a state level.”

Kanaley is the first Andalusia player to be selected to the team since 2014.

“It’s cool to be able to carry on this tradition at Andalusia,” Kanaley said. “I’m the first player to make it since my freshman year when Montel Lee and Michael McCalman made it. It’s really special for me to be able to follow in their footsteps because they are two guys that I really looked up to when I was younger player.”

In 2014, Lee was named defensive MVP for the South All-Stars.

Kanaley said that he is ready for the chance to step back on the field before heading to college.

“This is going to be a fun opportunity to see how Andalusia stacks up against the best players in state (Class) 1A-7A,” Kanaley said. “I’m just excited to get up there and get back on the field before heading to college.”

In August, Kanaley will report to the University of West Florida where he will play this upcoming season.

“I’m very excited about getting down to West Florida,” Kanaley said. “They sent me a workout program that I’ve been following this summer. It’s tough, but I’m seeing results.”

Kanaley is one of 37 players selected for the South All-Stars that will take on the North All-Stars July 20 at 7 p.m., at Montgomery’s Cramton Bowl.

There will be eight players in the All-Star game that played in December’s state championship games.

At 6-feet-5-inches and 285 pounds, Kanaley is the biggest player on the South roster.

Brantley wide receiver Tommy Spivey has also been named to the South roster.

G.W. Long High School’s Scott Horne will be the head coach for the South squad, and Parker High School’s Andre Robinson will be the head coach for the North.

The South holds a 30-25-2 overall record in the series, but the North won last year’s game 14-0 in a game called in the second quarter to due to the weather.

Kanaley and the other All-Stars will report Montgomery on Sunday and will then practice in the days leading up to Thursday’s game.

The game will by live-streamed by the NFHS Network and broadcast by the AHSAA Radio Network.