Who are Kentucky’s top 25 girls high school basketball players for 2024-25?

By Jared Peck

Updated December 1, 2024 11:06 AM

2024-25 Kentucky High School Basketball Preview

The Herald-Leader/Kentucky.com is publishing preview stories leading up to the start of the 2024-25 high school basketball season. You can read everything we’ve published to this point by clicking on this drop-down list. All of these stories will also available in our print and digital editions.

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Here is the preseason top-25 ranking of Kentucky high school girls basketball players for the 2024-25 season, as voted on by coaches in a statewide survey conducted by the Lexington Herald-Leader/Kentucky.com.

The poll asked every coach to rank their “top 10 players in the state.”

Tabulating the results, the Herald-Leader lists the overall top 10 along with No. 1 votes, school, grade level, height, last season’s points per game (in parentheses) and a brief comment. The next 15 players are listed with their school, grade level and last season’s points per game along with their choice of college, if known. All players appearing on at least two ballots received honorable mention.

Each top 25 player’s name has a link to her online highlight page or social media account.

Sacred Heart’s ZaKiyah Johnson (11) celebrated with a piece of game net after the Valkyries won the Girls’ Sweet 16 state championship game in Rupp Arena last March. Johnson will play college basketball at LSU after trying to lead SHA to a record fifth straight state title. James Crisp

TOP 10 PLAYERS

1. ZaKiyah Johnson (94), Sacred Heart (6-0 Sr., 18.9 points): Rated as the No. 13 senior in the nation by espnW HoopGurlz, the five-star LSU signee has been pivotal to Sacred Heart’s run of state championships. In addition to leading the Valkyries in scoring, she rebounds (7.2 rpg last season), makes 3-pointers (2.1 per game) and generally makes everyone better (18 assists in four state tourney games last year). That’s why she’s been Kentucky Gatorade player of the year and Girls’ Sweet 16 MVP for three years running.

2. Leah Macy (4), Bethlehem (6-3 Sr., 25 points): A double-double machine since eighth grade, Macy has been part of two region championship teams in stints with Mercy and Bethlehem. Rated by espnW HoopGurlz as the nation’s No. 19 senior, the five-star Notre Dame signee averaged 13.8 rebounds per game last season. Over her five-year varsity career, she’s grabbed 1,557 rebounds, already making her one of the greatest girls rebounders in KHSAA history.

Leah Macy, rated a top-20 senior nationally, is one of the top rebounders in Kentucky high school history. She averaged 13.8 per game last season. Silas Walker Herald-Leader File Photo

3. Ciara Byars, George Rogers Clark (6-2 Sr., 14.1 points): Byars is the third Kentucky player in the espnW HoopGurlz 100 recruiting chart. The four-star Michigan signee has started for the Cardinals since eighth grade and can play and guard any position. Her junior year was cut short midseason by a knee injury, but she’s back to help Clark try for a fourth straight 10th Region title.

4. Grace Mbugua (5), Danville Christian (6-4 Sr., 25.7 points): A sensational player who largely flew under the radar at tiny DCA until the Warriors captured the 12th Region championship last season, Mbugua has averaged a double-double since eighth grade and made a 61.8 percent of her shots in scoring 772 points as a junior. An offseason knee injury will keep the Louisville signee out until at least January.

Danville Christian’s Grace Mbugua, who recently committed to play college basketball at Louisville, was a sensation in last year’s Girls’ Sweet 16. To lead DCA back to Rupp Arena, she’ll need to overcome a knee injury. James Crisp

5. Peyton Bradley, Meade County (5-9 Sr., 23.2 points): One of the top scorers, 3-point shooters and free throw shooters in the state for the last three years, Bradley made 44% of her 3s as a junior until a knee injury ended her season 19 games in. She holds college offers including Murray State and Eastern Kentucky and is expected to be ready for the start of this season.

6. Ashlinn James, Assumption (5-7 Jr., 16.3 points): James made 48.3 percent of her 3-pointers at a rate of 5.6 makes per game last season in helping former team Manual reach the 7th Region finals. New coach Caryn Kovatch calls her Indiana commit a “must-see player.”

7. Lainey Johnson, Anderson County (6-0 Sr., 19.1 points): Johnson led the Bearcats in scoring, rebounding, made 3-pointers and blocks last season in helping Anderson win the 8th Region title. She’s committed to Campbellsville.

8. Kenleigh Woods (1), Ashland Blazer (5-8 Sr., 22.1 points): An Eastern Kentucky signee, Woods suffered a broken leg playing soccer in September that required surgery. But the player coach Stacy Davis calls “one of the best point guards in the state” could be back by mid-January.

Ashland Blazer’s Kenleigh Woods (3) is a top-10 player in Kentucky who won’t be able to play until after the New Year because of an injury she suffered during soccer season this fall. Ryan C. Hermens rhermens@herald-leader.com

9. Brooke Nichelson, North Laurel (5-11 Sr., 18 points): “One of the best athletes I have witnessed in girls basketball,” according to coach Eddie Mahan, the Murray State signee’s speed and determination helped the Jaguars win back-to-back 13th Region titles.

10. LaReesha Cawthorn, Franklin-Simpson (6-0 Sr., 17.3 points): Cawthorn also averaged 9.5 rebounds per game last season. She’s signed with Tennessee Tech.

THE NEXT 15

11. Kennedy Stamper, George Rogers Clark (5-5 So. 11.8 points): Undecided.

12. Halle Collins, Knox Central (5-11 Sr., 22.9 points): Pikeville.

13. Saylor Lowe, Calloway County (6-0 Jr., 20.7 points): Undecided.

14. Marissa Green, Highlands (6-4 Sr., 15.6 points): Illinois-Chicago.

15. Bri Wilkins, Sacred Heart (5-10 Jr., 22.2 points): Undecided.

16. Claire Marshall, West Jessamine (5-11 So., 17.5 points): Undecided.

17. Juliana Frazee, Franklin County (6-2 Sr., 9.8 points): Undecided.

Franklin County’s Juliana Frazee (33) is part of a veteran Flyers team back to defend its 11th Region championship this season. James Crisp

18. Caroline Eaglin, Newport Central Catholic (5-9 Sr., 21.9 points): Northern Kentucky.

19. Amirah “Tootie” Jordan, Sacred Heart (5-5 So. 6.5 points): Undecided.

20. Abby Reitzel, Mercy (5-8 Jr., 14.6 points): Undecided.

21. Noel Smith, Whitefield (5-7 Sr., 11.6 points): Cumberlands.

22. Kyra McAlarnis, Knott County Central (5-10 Sr., 21.1 points): Undecided.

23. Ella Buckman, Bardstown (5-7 Fr., 17.7 points): Undecided.

24. Kinsley Molden, Southwestern (5-7 Sr., 16.3 points): Campbellsville.

25. Teigh Yeast, George Rogers Clark (5-6 Jr., 10.1 points): Undecided.

Teigh Yeast (2) is a key contributor for a George Rogers Clark squad ranked No. 2 in the state entering 2024-25. James Crisp

HONORABLE MENTION

(Players mentioned on at least two ballots in points order)

NeVaeh Day, Christian County; Leighan Jackson, Pikeville; Madison Young, South Oldham; Hannah Glisson, Graves County; Haylee Noel, Cooper; Anaysia Bagwell, Christian County; Leia Hogan, Franklin County; Sophia Gibson, Notre Dame; Shalyn Sprinkles, Owensboro; Katy Smiley, Bowling Green; Kennedy Lane, Daviess County; A’Tylia Green, Henderson County; Sophie Adkins, Lawrence County; Jaelee Knowles, Frederick Douglass.

METHODOLOGY

Our annual survey was emailed to all 267 girls basketball head coaches using their email registered with the Kentucky High School Athletic Association. Multiple attempts were made to encourage every school to participate. Coaches were asked to select their top 10 teams and points were assigned based on a team’s position on the ballot (10 points for No. 1, nine points for No. 2, eight points for No. 3, etc.), and tabulated across all ballots received. Some schools participated in the survey but declined to vote due to unfamiliarity with players and teams outside of their own area. A total of 107 coaches (40 percent) voted in our top-10 players poll of the 168 coaches (62.9 percent) who responded to the survey and supplied information about their teams. Thanks to all.

This story was originally published November 27, 2024 at 10:30 AM.

Jared Peck

Lexington Herald-Leader

859-488-2883

Jared Peck, the Herald-Leader’s Digital Sports Writer, covers high school athletics and has been with the company as a writer and editor for more than 20 years. Support my work with a digital subscription