Who are Kentucky’s top 25 boys high school basketball teams for 2025-26?

Last season, Louisville’s St. Xavier ranked No. 2 in our Herald-Leader Preseason Boys High School Basketball Top 25.

A few weeks later, the Tigers knocked the shine off Great Crossing’s No. 1.

St. X’s convincing 72-58 home win over the Warhawks on Dec. 15 put a charge into a 31-3 season in which it lost to only one team in Kentucky.

Unfortunately, that loss came in the first round of the UK HealthCare Boys’ Sweet 16 to Jeffersontown three and a half months later. Great Crossing went on to win the state championship.

This year, St. Xavier is the overwhelming H-L preseason No. 1 based on ballots turned in by 111 of the state’s boys varsity coaches.

After a drought of 20 years between Sweet 16 appearances, the four-time state champion Tigers want to go back-to-back as 7th Region champs and see what happens if they return to Rupp Arena.

St. X coach Kevin Klein has a squad of talented players who remember that winning and losing feeling.

“When you have success, and you get to some places that you’ve never been before, you kind of get addicted to that feeling, and you really like it, and you want to come back,” Klein said. “Our mantra for our team this year is ‘Our future is going to be greater than our past.’ And are we working and building this team to the standards to try to make that happen?”

Challengers abound, including No. 2 Frederick Douglass and No. 7 Bryan Station, two 11th Region programs who gave Malachi Moreno’s Warhawks the closest games they faced all postseason.

There will be doubters and setbacks for every team on the road to the state tournament. But consider: The last two H-L preseason No. 1s, Lyon County and Great Crossing, dropped that ranking early and still claimed the banner and golden trophy at the end.

It won’t be easy. Bowling Green in 2017 is the only other H-L preseason No. 1 to accomplish the feat in the last 10 years. Three No. 1s since 2018, Scott County twice and George Rogers Clark, have fallen in the state finals. Two others, Male and Ballard, lost in overtime games in the 7th Region Tournament, the same postseason gauntlet St. X must navigate.

Here’s a look at this year’s Herald-Leader High School Boys Basketball Preseason Top 25 as voted on by the state’s coaches with a brief summary of what we know about the top 10 teams and some notes about each of the next 15. Our online version includes a link to each team’s schedule. Play begins Dec. 1.

THE TOP 10

(No. 1 votes, then last season’s record in parentheses.)

1. St. Xavier (70) (31-3): The 7th Region’s Tigers appear loaded for another run to the Boys’ Sweet 16, led by 6-foot-4 Southern Illinois commit Jeremiah Jackson (14.5 points per game) and Josh Lindsey (7.4 points), a 6-0 four-star sophomore whose offers include Auburn. St. X also adds size and rebounding with Jordan Jackson (12.1 points, 10.3 rebounds), a 6-7 sophomore transfer from Louisville Holy Cross.

2. Frederick Douglass (11) (25-5): The Broncos came within a long-distance 3-pointer off the rim from upsetting Great Crossing’s state title run and return the bulk of that roster, including Bellarmine signee DeMarcus Surratt (15.9 points), a 6-3 senior guard. Expect a bigger role for 6-3 senior Tate Robinson (8.9 points), who delivered some dramatic 3-pointers in his first year on The Farm. Woodford County transfer Thurman Wade (10.1 points), a 6-3 junior, adds depth and scoring.

3. Covington Catholic (13) (24-9): The Colonels add Braeden Myrick (19.1 points), a 6-4 junior Mason County transfer, to an already talented backcourt that includes a pair of 5-11 seniors in Athens McGillis (20.6 points) and Cash Harney (15.8). “All three can score from all three levels, make plays for others, and bring a high basketball IQ,” coach Jake Thelan said. Donovan Bradshaw (12.4 points), a 6-6 senior, anchors a formidable frontcourt, as well.

4. George Rogers Clark (4) (27-6): Three starters return, including 5-9 senior point guard Malachi Ashford (14.6 points), who coach Josh Cook believes is “one of the best on-ball defenders in the state.” The Cards will be bolstered by the addition of 6-3 sophomore Corbin transfer Ryder Akins (18.6 points). Montez Gay (12.6 points), a 6-6 junior forward, has offers including Ohio, Akron and Eastern Kentucky.

5. Madison Central (1) (20-12): The Indians return four starters, including 6-7 senior Belmont signee Jake Feldhaus (22.0 points, 11.3 rebounds), who ranked second in our H-L preseason player rankings and is the nephew of coach Allen Feldhaus Jr. and son of Kentucky Unforgettable Deron Feldhaus, and Luke Asher (15.4 points), a 6-4 senior. They also add a potential high-impact transfer from Knox Central with Grayson Burton (21.1 points), a 6-4 sophomore.

6. North Laurel (23-11): The Jags feature H-L preseason player of the year Reece Davidson (21.6 points, 9.4 rebounds), a 6-7 senior Liberty commit who made a splash in Rupp Arena with 77 points in two games during the Boys’ Sweet 16 last season. North Laurel returns all but one of the key players on that state quarterfinals team, including 6-4 senior Jordan Rawlings (9.8 points). Coach Nate Valentine expects 6-8 sophomore Corey Cunagin step up his game after a solid offseason.

7. Bryan Station (2) (25-7): Amari Owens (22.5 points), a 6-0 senior Eastern Kentucky signee, “does things with the basketball that just make you shake your head,” coach Champ Ligon said. That’s a good thing. Ligon praised the offseason development of fellow senior Taeshawn Adams (13.3 points), a 6-6 forward who is expected to take more pressure off Owens in the halfcourt this year.

8. Male (1) (17-12): Though veteran starter Cole Edelen transferred away first to prep school and then to Ballard, coach Tim Haworth likes the potential of this year’s team and its wealth of young talent that includes 6-4 sophomore Jordan Mitchell (15.2 points) and 6-10 freshman Trey Hillerich, who already has a three-star rating from Rivals. Senior leadership includes 6-4 wingman Jaymes Clark (8.5 points).

9. Ballard (5) (20-11): The Bruins got an injection of offense and experience when Western Kentucky signee Cole Edelen, a 6-2 senior formerly at Male, announced he was leaving his North Carolina prep school for Ballard in early November. They also added four-star sophomore Boogie Cook (10.1 points), a 6-7 transfer from Christian Academy-Louisville and 6-10 freshman Mason Grivna, who has already generated buzz as a top player.

10. Daviess County (25-7): A veteran group returns for another run at the 3rd Region title, including Chattanooga commit Jonathan Moss (19.9 points), a 6-0 senior guard, and McKendree commit DeAaron Watkins (16.2 points, 10.5 rebounds), a 6-8 forward. Three transfers bolster the lineup, including Michael Acton (19.3 points), a 6-3 junior guard last at Owensboro.

THE NEXT 15

(With last year’s record and a brief note.)

11. Caverna (17-13): The Colonels add 6-5 senior Gavin Lightning from Ohio and 6-8 senior forward Jaciyon Graves (9.3 points, 9.1 rebounds) from Danville to a lineup that already had 6-0 senior Jaylin Craine (19.7 points).

12. North Oldham (1) (22-8): Austin Sears (16.2 points), a 6-1 sophomore “do-it-all scorer,” and Tommy Gregg (9.2), a 6-7 junior, return.

13. Warren Central (23-7): Kaleb Prince (18.0 points), a 6-0 senior Warren East transfer, adds experience to go with 6-8 junior Armani Byrd (8.9).

14. Jeffersontown (27-7): Dayvone Harrison (16.8 points), a 5-10 point guard, returns for the 6th Region champions.

15. Montgomery County (24-11): The 10th Region champs return 6-5 junior Tyce Jarvis (17.6 points) and 6-8 sophomore Andrew Terry (9.9).

16. Trinity (Louisville) (17-15): The Shamrocks rebuild around 6-3 sophomore guard Garrison Gilvin (10.5 points) after the graduation of five key players and the prep school departure of Jayden Johnson.

17. Eastern (2) (13-15): The Eagles add 6-11 senior Northeastern signee Damian Jung, a transfer from Houston, Texas, to go along with top returning scorer Josh Brock (10.8 points), a 6-2 senior guard.

18. Bowling Green (31-7): The defending 4th Region champs and state runner-up graduated its top six scorers and will look to its younger players to step up.

19. Butler (26-5): The Bruins have a ton back from their 6th Region finalist team last season, led by 6-4 senior Kentucky State commit Adrian Wilder (14.7 points) and 6-3 senior Henrich Barjolo (11.1).

20. Boyd County (23-12): The Lions look primed to end Ashland Blazer’s seven-year run as 16th Region champs and will be led by their school’s all-time leading scorer, Jacob Spurlock (24.0 points), a 6-4 senior Youngstown State signee.

21. Lexington Catholic (23-10): Senior forwards Max Meagher (12.9 points) and Hank Woodall (11.0) check in at 6-6 and 6-4, respectively, for a team that lost only one major contributor from last season.

22. Green County (24-4): The Dragons return 6-0 senior guard Eric James Jr. (16.4 points) and 6-8 senior forward Modi Kouyate (7.4).

23. Marshall County (29-3): The Marshals reached the 1st Region finals with a veteran team last season and will rebuild around standout 6-7 junior forward Matthew Langhi (20.3 points).

24. (tie) Adair County (30-6): The Indians get a significant boost from University Heights transfer Tylin George (31.3 points), a 6-5 junior point guard.

24. (tie) Great Crossing (35-4): Brady Orem (4.4 points), a 6-7 sophomore, had breakout performances in last season’s state semifinals and finals for the defending 11th Region and Boys’ Sweet 16 champs. The rest of the roster is almost all new to varsity.

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES

(Teams mentioned on at least two ballots. In points order.)

Lyon County, Danville Christian, South Oldham, Ashland Blazer, McCracken County, Hazard, Manual, Newport, North Hardin, Grayson County, Pulaski County.

METHODOLOGY

Our annual survey was emailed to all 277 varsity boys 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, etc.). Some schools participated in the survey but declined to vote. A total of 111 coaches (40%) voted in our top-10 teams poll of the 178 coaches (64%) who responded to the survey and supplied information about their teams. Every region was represented. Thanks to all.

This story was originally published November 28, 2025 at 7:30 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