Herald-Leader 11: Names to know in 11th Region boys basketball this season

The 2025-26 Kentucky boys basketball season is scheduled to tip off Dec. 1. Here are 11 of the 11th Region’s best players in order of how they were voted for by the region’s coaches in our @HLpreps preseason survey.

Coaches were asked to rank the “top 10 players in the region,” and the Herald-Leader compiled the first 11 for this list, which includes their height, class, last year’s points per game and a brief note. Each player’s name has a link to their online highlights or social media.

THE BOYS HERALD-LEADER 11

1. Jake Feldhaus, Madison Central (6-8 Sr., 22 ppg): An all-region selection in his first year with the Indians as their leading scorer and rebounder, Feldhaus has gotten stronger in the offseason with the addition of about 20 pounds and has improved ability to handle the ball and play on the perimeter, uncle and coach Allen Feldhaus Jr. said. Coach Feldhaus believes mid-major Belmont got a steal in signing the basketball and golf standout. “I think he’s a Power 4 player,” Coach Feldhaus said. “But Belmont is a good fit for him.”

2. Amari Owens, Bryan Station (6-1 Sr., 22.5 ppg): Owens, an Eastern Kentucky signee, earned Lexington player of the year and all-region honors last season. This year, he has a chance to climb the record books as one of Lexington’s most prolific scorers. His 1,838 points through three varsity seasons lie just outside the city’s top 10 scorers of all time, which begins with a Defenders legend, Jaron Brown, at 2,066 points.

3. DeMarcus Surratt, Frederick Douglass (6-3 Sr., 15.9 ppg): Another all-region and first team all-city selection, Surratt, a Bellarmine signee, has led the Broncos in scoring each of the last two seasons. His leadership and defense rank among the reasons why the Broncos are favored to win the 11th.

4. Jackson Stephan, Henry Clay (6-5 Sr., 17.1 ppg): An Air Force commit, Stephan became a major contributor to the Blue Devils as a sophomore playing alongside his older brother Isaiah. Jackson has led Henry Clay in scoring and rebounding each of the past two seasons. Now the lone Stephan in the Devils’ Den, he could be set for his best season yet.

5. Taeshawn Adams, Bryan Station (6-6 Sr., 13.3 ppg): Adams has been a big-time playmaker on offense and defense alongside Owens as they’ve grown up together in the program. Coach Champ Ligon believes his second-leading scorer is set to have a breakout year with the improvements he’s seen so far this preseason.

6. Max Meagher, Lexington Catholic (6-6 Sr., 12.9 ppg): Meagher led a very young Knights team in scoring last season and made 58.4% of his field-goal attempts. LexCath coach Brandon Salsman labeled Meagher a “very athletic and strong guard/forward combo” who will be a primary weapon again this year.

7. Tate Robinson, Frederick Douglass (6-3 Sr., 8.9 ppg): Robinson quickly established himself as a 3-point scoring threat in his first season on The Farm, making 71 of his 158 3-point attempts at a rate of 2.4 makes per game with 44.9% accuracy.

8. Tyler Hunt, Lafayette (6-7 Sr., 14.7 ppg): Hunt had a breakout junior season in which he led the Generals in scoring and rebounding (7.8 rpg) and helped Lafayette earn a winning record against its 43rd District rivals for the first time since 2019.

9. Brady Orem, Great Crossing (6-7 So., 4.4 ppg): A contributor off the bench for the state champions last season, Orem had a star turn in the Boys’ Sweet 16 semis with 14 points and six rebounds against Montgomery County. He’ll be option No. 1 this year.

10. Grayson Burton, Madison Central (6-4 So., 21.1 ppg): The Indians get a whole lot better offensively with the addition of Burton, a Knox Central transfer who made nearly three 3-pointers per game last season for the Panthers at a 40.9% rate.

11. Hank Woodall, Lexington Catholic (6-4 Sr., 11 ppg): Woodall led the Knights in rebounding last season at 5.7 per game and held his own when they faced Danville Christian’s twin 7-footers in a 55-54 Knights win Feb. 18. His 12 points and six boards that game outperformed DCA’s senior center.

OTHERS NOMINATED

Berea: Finley Blevins; Frederick Douglass: Nate Coen, Terry Cayson, Dakari Talbert; Great Crossing: Travanti Cooper; Henry Clay: Colton Helton; Lexington Catholic: Everett Stuart; Sayre: Sayvion Staley, Kenji Berger, Ca’den Jones; Tates Creek: AJ Slaughter, Stephan Franklin; Madison Central: Luke Asher; Model: Riley Mollette; Paul Laurence Dunbar: Cage Taylor, Asher Horn.

METHODOLOGY

The 11th Region’s 19 coaches were asked to rank the 10 best players in the 11th Region. The list reflects all the players put forth by the 16 coaches who responded to the top-10 players question in the survey.

This story was originally published December 2, 2025 at 6:30 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