There’s a new No. 1 in the latest Elite 16 boys high school basketball poll
Below are the Kentucky Media Elite 16 boys high school basketball teams for the 2025-26 season, according to the latest (Feb. 3) poll of media members from each of Kentucky’s 16 regions as compiled by the Courier Journal’s Jason Frakes.
In addition, see how Herald-Leader high school sports writer Jared Peck (@HLpreps on X.com) voted and the media’s region-by-region top fives.
How @HLpreps voted
1. Covington Catholic; 2. St. Xavier; 3. Daviess County; 4. Madison Central; 5. George Rogers Clark; 6. Warren Central; 7. Male; 8. Bryan Station; 9. Frederick Douglass; 10. Jeffersontown; 11. North Oldham; 12. North Laurel; 13. Ballard; 14. Woodford County; 15. Ashland Blazer; 16. Lyon County.
Boys region-by-region top fives
1st Region (Steve Springer, Murray Ledger & Times): 1. McCracken County; 2. Marshall County; 3. Murray; 4. Carlisle County; 5. Christian Fellowship.
2nd Region (Edward Marlowe, WKDZ-FM): 1. Lyon County; 2. Henderson County; 3. Webster County; 4. Hopkinsville; 5. Hopkins County Central.
3rd Region (Mark Mathis, Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer): 1. Daviess County; 2. Grayson County; 3. Ohio County; 4. Apollo; 5. Meade County.
4th Region (Micheal Compton, Bowling Green Daily News): 1. Warren Central; 2. Clinton County; 3. Greenwood; 4. Glasgow; 5. Bowling Green.
5th Region (Josh Claywell, Bardstown Kentucky Standard/LaRue County Herald News): 1. Adair County; 2. LaRue County; 3. Caverna; 4. Taylor County; 5. Nelson County.
6th Region (Demetrius Stanton, DeadStock Visuals): 1. Jeffersontown; 2. Butler; 3. DuBois; 4. Evangel Christian; 5. Fairdale.
7th Region (Jason Frakes, The Courier Journal): 1. St. Xavier; 2. Male; 3. Ballard; 4. Manual; 5. Christian Academy-Louisville.
8th Region (James Weber, Cincinnati Enquirer): 1. North Oldham; 2. Spencer County; 3. South Oldham; 4. Woodford County; 5. Simon Kenton.
9th Region (Brendan Connelly, Cincinnati Enquirer): 1. Covington Catholic; 2. Highlands; 3. Ryle; 4. Lloyd Memorial; 5. Covington Holy Cross.
10th Region (Evan Dennison, LinkNKY.com): 1. George Rogers Clark; 2. Montgomery County; 3. Campbell County; 4. Nicholas County; 5. Bishop Brossart.
11th Region (Jared Peck, Herald-Leader): 1. Madison Central; 2. Bryan Station; 3. Frederick Douglass; 4. Lexington Catholic; 5. Great Crossing.
12th Region (Mike Marsee, Danville freelancer): 1. Wayne County; 2. Danville Christian; 3. Pulaski County; 4. Somerset; 5. Southwestern.
13th Region (Les Dixon, 13thRegionMediaNetwork.com): 1. North Laurel; 2. Bell County; 3. Clay County; 4. Whitley County; 5. South Laurel.
14th Region (Brendon Miller, Bluegrass Sports Nation): 1. Hazard; 2. Perry County Central; 3. Powell County; 4. Knott County Central; 5. Letcher County Central.
15th Region (Randy White, Appalachian News-Express): 1. Martin County; 2. Johnson Central; 3. Paintsville; 4. Pikeville; 5. Floyd Central.
16th Region (James Collier, WLGC-FM): 1. Ashland Blazer; 2. Boyd County; 3. Lewis County; 4. Russell; 5. East Carter.
This story was originally published February 3, 2026 at 5:05 AM.
