2025 Boys’ Sweet 16: A glance at every team and predictions for who could win it all
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2025 Boys’ Sweet 16 basketball preview
Click below to view more coverage from the Lexington Herald-Leader and Kentucky.com previewing the boys’ state high school basketball tournament to be held March 26-29 in Rupp Arena in Lexington.
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The 2025 UK HealthCare Boys’ Basketball Sweet 16 state tournament begins Wednesday at Rupp Arena in downtown Lexington.
All the bracket slots have been filled. Who made it through? Here’s a glance at all 16 region champions, who they’ve beaten, who’s beaten them, plus my predictions for what will happen this week.
Note that the KHSAA’s RPI standings are frozen at the end of the regular season and sometimes don’t accurately reflect a team’s strength or strength of schedule, especially if it played teams from outside Kentucky. That’s why we’ve included the Herald-Leader preseason poll rankings and the final rankings in the Kentucky Boys High School Basketball Media Top 15 Poll, as well.
1ST REGION: CALLOWAY COUNTY LAKERS
Record: 31-3.
Head coach: Brad Cleaver.
Leading scorers (ppg): Jonah Butler, 22.3; Eli Finley, 21.2.
Leading rebounder (rpg): Butler, 10.
Notable wins: Trinity (Louisville), 57-56, Dec. 27; North Laurel, 60-56, Dec. 29; Marshall County, 73-56, March 9.
Notable losses: LaRue County, 56-50, Dec. 28; Marshall County, 79-52, Jan. 14.
Win streak: 13, dating to 67-63 loss to McCracken County on Jan. 24.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: No. 21.
Final media poll rank: Unranked.
RPI rank: No. 6.
Sweet 16 history: Third appearance and first since 2015.
First-round opponent: 16th Region champion Ashland Blazer (23-7) at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Prior meeting: Last met on Dec. 28, 2021, a 75-59 Lakers loss.
2ND REGION: HENDERSON COUNTY COLONELS
Record: 25-6.
Head coach: Tyler Smithhart.
Leading scorers (ppg): Cooper Davenport, 14.3; Lacon McKinney, 11.3; Elijah Suggs, 11.
Leading rebounders (rpg): Suggs, 6.3; McKinney, 5.9.
Notable wins: Warren Central, 57-56, Feb. 1; Bowling Green, 63-57, Feb. 17.
Notable losses: Daviess County, 50-48, Dec. 3; Frederick Douglass, 69-39, Dec. 7; Trinity (Louisville), 53-39, Feb. 15.
Win streak: Six, dating to Feb 15 loss to Trinity (Louisville).
Herald-Leader preseason rank: Unranked.
Final media poll rank: Unranked.
RPI rank: No. 28.
Sweet 16 history: Fifth appearance, the last in 1999.
First-round opponent: 9th Region champion Cooper (23-5) at 8:30 p.m. Thursday.
Prior meeting: The two have not met in the KHSAA’s online era (since at least 1998).
3RD REGION: DAVIESS COUNTY PANTHERS
Record: 25-6.
Head coach: Neil Hayden.
Leading scorers (ppg): Jonathan Moss, 19.9; DeAaron Watkins, 16.2; Jaxon Brown, 12.9.
Leading rebounder (rpg): Watkins, 10.5.
Notable wins: Henderson County, 50-48, Dec. 3; Butler County 84-77, Jan. 14.
Notable losses: Male, 73-56, Dec. 27; Grayson County, 86-84 (3OT), Feb. 17.
Win streak: Six, dating to Grayson County loss on Feb. 17.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: Unranked.
Final media poll rank: Unranked.
RPI rank: No. 30.
Sweet 16 history: Ninth appearance and first since 2011.
First-round opponent: 11th Region champion Great Crossing (31-4) at 6 p.m. Thursday.
Prior meeting: This will be their first meeting.
4TH REGION: BOWLING GREEN PURPLES
Record: 28-6.
Head coach: D.G. Sherrill
Leading scorers (ppg): Luke Idlett, 14.6; Joseph Hurt, 14.2; Braylon Banks, 12.7; Jace Wardlow, 11.4.
Leading rebounder (rpg): Hurt, 5.3.
Notable wins: Ashland Blazer, 61-55, Feb. 1; Warren Central, 61-59, Feb. 28; Clinton County, 66-59, March 19.
Notable losses: Adair County, 61-57, Dec. 13; Warren Central, 62-51, Jan. 17; Henderson County, 63-57, Feb. 17.
Win streak: Seven, dating to Feb. 17 loss at Henderson County.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: No. 13.
Final media poll rank: Unranked.
RPI rank: No. 26.
Sweet 16 history: 19th appearance and first since 2021; 2017 state champions.
First-round opponent: 5th Region champion Adair County (30-5) at 11 a.m. Wednesday.
Prior meeting: Met on Dec. 14 at Barren County’s Hoops Classic, a 61-57 Purples loss.
5TH REGION: ADAIR COUNTY INDIANS
Record: 30-5.
Head coach: Deron Breeze.
Leading scorers (ppg): Connor Loy, 20.4; Isaiah Cochran, 16.6; Dawson Gilbert, 12.2.
Leading rebounder (rpg): Cochran, 7.8.
Notable wins: Bowling Green, 61-57, Dec. 14; George Rogers Clark, 62-61, Jan. 18.
Notable losses: Newport, 56-50, Dec. 21; Russell County, 66-64, Jan. 2; Warren Central, 58-56, Feb. 11.
Win streak: 10, dating to Feb. 11 loss to Warren Central.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: No. 6.
Final media poll rank: No. 14.
RPI rank: No. 15.
Sweet 16 history: Seventh appearance and second in a row; lost to Lyon County in last year’s quarterfinals.
First-round opponent: 4th Region champion Bowling Green (28-6) at 11 a.m. Wednesday.
Prior meeting: Met on Dec. 14 at Barren County’s Hoops Classic, a 61-57 Indians win.
6TH REGION: JEFFERSONTOWN CHARGERS
Record: 26-6.
Head coach: Richard Duncan.
Leading scorers (ppg): Camron Daniels, 22.3; Dayvonne Harrison, 16.8; Prince Kahnplaye, 15.4.
Leading rebounder (rpg): McDaniels, 7.2.
Notable wins: Butler, 60-51, March 11.
Notable losses: North Laurel, 54-53, Dec. 6; Butler, 78-66, Jan. 14; South Laurel, 70-65, Feb. 15.
Win streak: Seven, dating to Feb. 15 loss to South Laurel.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: No. 19.
Final media poll rank: Unranked.
RPI rank: No.29.
Sweet 16 history: Sixth appearance and third in four seasons; 2006 state champions.
First-round opponent: 7th Region champion St. Xavier (31-2) at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Prior meeting: Last met Dec. 7, 2023, a 95-75 Chargers loss.
7TH REGION: ST. XAVIER TIGERS
Record: 31-2.
Head coach: Kevin Klein.
Leading scorers (ppg): Jeremiah Jackson, 14.6; Chance Dillingham, 13.9.
Leading rebounder (rpg): Will Hanke, 5.6.
Notable wins: Great Crossing, 72-58, Dec. 15; Frederick Douglass, 72-55, Dec. 21.
Notable losses: Georgetown Prep (Bethesda Maryland), 64-59, Dec. 26; St. Francis Episcopal (Sammamish, Washington), 84-70, Dec. 28.
Win streak: 20, dating to Dec. 28 loss to St. Francis.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: No. 2.
Final media poll rank: No. 1
RPI rank: No. 3.
Sweet 16 history: 17th appearance and first since 1995. Four-time state champions (1926, 1935, 1958, 1962).
First-round opponent: 6th Region champion Jeffersontown (26-6) at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Prior meeting: Last met Dec. 7, 2023, a 95-75 Tigers win.
8TH REGION: SOUTH OLDHAM DRAGONS
Record: 29-5.
Head coach: Steve Simpson.
Leading scorers (ppg): Julian Miles, 22.4; Jake Fithian, 13.2; William Burnside, 10.2.
Leading rebounder (rpg): Burnside, 4.9.
Notable wins: Cooper, 73-68; Dec. 14; Butler, 69-62, Jan. 4; North Oldham, 53-50 (OT), March 18.
Notable losses: Marshall County, 71-66, Dec. 21; North Oldham, 66-53, Jan. 31.
Win streak: Three, dating to 61-53 loss to North Oldham on Feb. 28.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: No. 23.
Final media poll rank: Unranked.
RPI rank: No. 8.
Sweet 16 history: Fourth appearance and first since 2016.
First-round opponent: 12th Region champion Danville Christian (29-3) at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Prior meeting: This will be their first meeting.
9TH REGION: COOPER JAGUARS
Record: 23-5.
Head coach: Tim Sullivan.
Leading scorers (ppg): Andy Johnson, 23.3; Roman Combs, 10.3.
Leading rebounders (rpg): Johnson 6.5; Combs, 6.1.
Notable wins: Covington Catholic, 69-65 (OT), Jan. 22; Lloyd Memorial, 53-38, March 27.
Notable losses: South Oldham, 73-68, Dec. 14; Frederick Douglass, 63-61, Dec. 27; George Rogers Clark, 54-49, Jan. 4.
Win streak: Eight, dating to 64-57 loss to Walton-Verona on Feb. 8.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: No. 17.
Final media poll rank: Unranked.
RPI rank: No. 13.
Sweet 16 history: Second appearance. The other came in 2017.
First-round opponent: 2nd Region champion Henderson County (25-6) at 8:30 p.m. Thursday.
Prior meeting: This will be their first meeting.
10TH REGION: MONTGOMERY COUNTY INDIANS
Record: 22-10.
Head coach: Jason Mays.
Leading scorers (ppg): Cayden Reed, 22.1; Tyce Jarvis, 18; Luke Fawns, 11.8.
Leading rebounder (rpg): Jarvis, 7.1.
Notable wins: Covington Catholic, 64-62, Feb. 13; George Rogers Clark, 60-55, Feb. 27, and 59-56, March 19.
Notable losses: Great Crossing, 77-60, Dec. 4; George Rogers Clark, 73-47, Jan. 16, and 80-72 (3OT), Jan. 31.
Win streak: Five, dating to 67-50 loss to Trinity (Louisville) on Feb. 21.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: Unranked.
Final media poll rank: Unranked.
RPI rank: No. 59.
Sweet 16 history: Third appearance and first since 2013.
First-round opponent: 15th Region champion Lawrence County (23-10) at 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
Prior meeting: Last met on Dec. 22, 2015, a 65-62 Indians win.
11TH REGION: GREAT CROSSING WARHAWKS
Record: 31-4.
Head coach: Steve Page.
Leading scorers (ppg): Malachi Moreno, 21.5; Vince “Trey” Dawson III, 18.1; LJ Holman, 11.3.
Leading rebounder (rpg): Moreno, 14.8.
Notable wins: Ashland Blazer, 95-89, Dec. 2; Montgomery County, 77-60, Dec. 4; Bryan Station, 59-56, March 8; Frederick Douglass, 59-57, March 11.
Notable losses: St. Xavier, 72-58, Dec. 15.
Win streak: 23, dating to 74-62 loss to St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.) on Dec. 28.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: No. 1.
Final media poll rank: No. 2.
RPI rank: No. 5.
Sweet 16 history: Second appearance in a row. Lost to Lyon County in the semis last year.
First-round opponent: 3rd Region champion Daviess County (25-6) at 6 p.m. Thursday.
Prior meeting: This will be their first meeting.
12TH REGION: DANVILLE CHRISTIAN WARRIORS
Record: 29-3.
Head coach: Shaun Busick.
Leading scorers (ppg): Ateny Leek, 16.5; Titus Boyd, 14.5.
Leading rebounders (rpg): Leek, 9; Lual Ayiei, 6.9.
Notable wins: Hazard, 44-29, Jan. 25; Lyon County, 56-53, Jan. 26; Bryan Station, 45-44, Feb. 8.
Notable losses: Woodford County, 54-44, Dec. 3; Ashland Blazer, 54-43, Dec. 29; Lexington Catholic, 55-54, Feb. 18.
Win streak: Six, dating to Feb. 18 loss at Lexington Catholic.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: Unranked.
Final media poll rank: No. 9.
RPI rank: No. 7.
Sweet 16 history: First appearance. KHSAA member since 2018.
First-round opponent: 8th Region champion South Oldham (29-5) at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Prior meeting: This will be their first meeting.
13TH REGION: NORTH LAUREL JAGUARS
Record: 22-10.
Head coach: Nate Valentine.
Leading scorers (ppg): Reece Davidson, 20.6; Jordan Rawlings, 10.1.
Leading rebounder (rpg): Davidson, 9.4.
Notable wins: Jeffersontown, 54-53, Dec. 6; Harlan County, 53-47, March 8.
Notable losses: Calloway County, 60-59, Dec. 29; Trinity (Louisville), 50-43, Feb. 2.
Win streak: Five, dating to 55-49 loss to Taylor County on Feb. 22.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: Unranked.
Final media poll rank: Unranked.
RPI rank: No. 43.
Sweet 16 history: Fourth appearance and third in four seasons.
First-round opponent: 14th Region champion Breathitt County (24-8) at 11 a.m. Thursday.
Prior meeting: Last met Dec. 23, 2017, an 81-39 Jaguars win.
14TH REGION: BREATHITT COUNTY BOBCATS
Record: 24-8.
Head coach: Jeff Honeycutt.
Leading scorers (ppg): Austin Sperry, 23.5; Braxton Terry, 10.5.
Leading rebounder (rpg): Terry, 8.4.
Notable wins: Hazard, 61-59, March 10.
Notable losses: Hazard, 64-51, Dec. 2, 63-41, Dec. 13, and 68-59, Feb. 18; Harlan County, 78-59, Jan. 25.
Win streak: Five, dating to Feb. 18 loss to Hazard.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: Unranked.
Final media poll rank: Unranked.
RPI rank: No. 53.
Sweet 16 history: 13th appearance and second in three seasons.
First-round opponent: 13th Region champion North Laurel (22-10) at 11 a.m. Thursday.
Prior meeting: Last met Dec. 23, 2017, an 81-39 Bobcats loss.
15TH REGION: LAWRENCE COUNTY BULLDOGS
Record: 23-10.
Head coach: Chandler Thompson.
Leading scorers (ppg): Kaiden Harris, 18.8; Gunnar Woods, 18.7; Hayden Perry, 15.7; Kaden Johnson, 10.9.
Leading rebounder (rpg): Perry, 5.7.
Notable wins: Martin County, 97-84, March 11.
Notable losses: Pikeville, 81-59, Dec. 10; Ashland Blazer, 84-69, Feb. 14; Prestonsburg, 70-69, Feb. 25.
Win streak: Four, dating to Feb. 25 loss to Prestonsburg.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: Unranked.
Final media poll rank: Unranked.
RPI rank: No. 79.
Sweet 16 history: Second appearance. The other came in 2016.
First-round opponent: 10th Region champion Montgomery County (22-10) at 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
Prior meeting: Last met on Dec. 22, 2015, a 65-62 Bulldogs loss.
16TH REGION: ASHLAND BLAZER TOMCATS
Record: 23-7.
Head coach: Ryan Bonner.
Leading scorers (ppg): Zander Carter, 24; Caleb Clarke, 11.6; Drew Smith, 11.1.
Leading rebounders (rpg): Carter, 6.5; Clarke, 6.
Notable wins: Danville Christian, 54-43, Dec. 29; Lawrence County, 84-69, Feb. 14.
Notable losses: Great Crossing, 95-89, Dec. 2; Bowling Green, 61-55, Feb. 1.
Win streak: 10, dating to Feb. 1 loss to Bowling Green.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: No. 9.
Final media poll rank: Unranked.
RPI rank: No. 17.
Sweet 16 history: 38th appearance and seventh straight. Four-time state champions (1928, 1933, 1934, 1961).
First-round opponent: 1st Region champion Calloway County (31-3) at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Prior meeting: Last met on Dec. 28, 2021, a 75-59 Tomcats win.
KHSAA RPI STANDINGS
A complete look at the KHSAA’s RPI Standings as they were at the end of the regular season for teams in the Boys’ Sweet 16. The RPI score is computed with factors including winning percentage, opponents’ winning percentage and the opponents’ opponents’ winning percentage except in cases of out-of-state opponents who are given a generic value.
3. St. Xavier, 0.71031*
5. Great Crossing, 0.68874
6. Calloway County, 0.68719
7. Danville Christian, 0.68456
8. South Oldham, 0.67486
13. Cooper, 0.66781
15. Adair County, 0.66013
17. Ashland Blazer, 0.64982
26. Bowling Green, 0.63775
28. Henderson County, 0.63063
29. Jeffersontown, 0.63018
30. Daviess County, 0.62519
43. North Laurel, 0.6009
53. Breathitt County, 0.59522
59. Montgomery County, 0.58851
79. Lawrence County, 0.56756
*RPI No. 1 Frederick Douglass and No. 2 Marshall County were each eliminated in their respective region finals.
@HLPREPS PREDICTIONS
Elite Eight: Ashland Blazer, Bowling Green, South Oldham, St. Xavier, North Laurel, Montgomery County, Great Crossing, Cooper.
Final Four: Bowling Green, St. Xavier, Montgomery County, Great Crossing.
Title game: St. Xavier, Great Crossing.
Champion: Great Crossing.
2025 BOYS’ SWEET 16
What: Sixteen-team tournament to decide Kentucky’s high school basketball state champion.
When: March 26-29
Where: Rupp Arena
Tickets: Available for purchase at KHSAA.org.
Online bracket: Boys’ Sweet 16 schedule at KHSAA.org
WEDNESDAY’S FIRST-ROUND GAMES
11 a.m.: Bowling Green (27-6) vs. Adair County (30-5)
1:30 p.m.: Jeffersontown (26-6) vs. St. Xavier (31-2)
6 p.m.: South Oldham (29-5) vs. Danville Christian (29-3)
8:30 p.m.: Ashland Blazer (23-7) vs. Calloway County (31-3)
THURSDAY’S 27 FIRST-ROUND GAMES
11 a.m.: North Laurel (22-10) vs. Breathitt County (24-8)
1:30 p.m.: Lawrence County (23-10) vs. Montgomery County (21-10)
6 p.m.: Daviess County (25-6) vs. Great Crossing (31-4)
8:30 p.m.: Henderson County (25-6) vs. Cooper (23-5)
FRIDAY’S QUARTERFINALS
11 a.m.: Bowling Green-Adair County winner vs. Ashland Blazer-Calloway County winner
1:30 p.m.: South Oldham-Danville Christian winner vs. Jeffersontown-St. Xavier winner
6 p.m.: North Laurel-Breathitt County winner vs. Lawrence County-Montgomery County winner
8:30 p.m.: Daviess County-Great Crossing winner vs. Henderson County-Cooper winner
SATURDAY’S GAMES
11 a.m.: Semifinal 1: Winners of Friday’s afternoon session
1:30 p.m.: Semifinal 2: Winners of Friday’s evening session
7:30 p.m.: Championship game
This story was originally published March 24, 2025 at 9:40 AM.
