See the top boys basketball teams and players in each of Kentucky’s 16 regions

Before Kentucky’s boys high school basketball season tipped off, the Herald-Leader offered its annual preseason list of the state’s top 25 teams and players based on our survey of coaches.

But we also asked everyone to rank the top 10 teams and players in each of their respective regions. Here’s what the coaches had to say once their ratings were all tabulated in our region-by-region boys rankings.

1st Region

Teams: 1. McCracken County; 2. Marshall County; 3. Graves County; 4. Carlisle County; 5. Murray; 6. St. Mary; 7. Mayfield; 8. Calloway County; 9. Paducah Tilghman; t10. Ballard Memorial; t10. Christian Fellowship (Voters: 7)

Players: 1. Matthew Langhi, McCracken County; 2. Miles Woodfork, McCracken County; 3. Jackson Klope, McCracken County; 4. Wyatt Rickard, Carlisle County; 5. Tyshaun Cavette, Graves County; 6. Luke Armstrong, Calloway County; 7. Elijah Grigg, Christian Fellowship School; 8. Griffin Mayes, St. Mary; 9. Maddox Mitchell, Murray; 10. Ike Miller, Ballard Memorial (Voters: 6)

2nd Region

Teams: 1. Lyon County; 2. Hopkinsville; 3. Hopkins County Central; 4. Henderson County; 5. Union County; 6. Christian County; 7. Madisonville; 8. Webster County; 9. University Heights Academy; 10. Livingston Central (Voters: 7)

Players: 1. Bray Kirk, Lyon County; 2. Nolan Coffman, Lyon County; 3. James Bradley, Hopkinsville; 4. Daishawn Curry, Union County; 5. Logan Wring, Livingston Central; 6. Xavion Johnson, Henderson County; 7. Davonyae Butcher, Hopkins County Central; 8. Isaac DeFew, Lyon County; 9. Rahsean Stevenson, Christian County; 10. Jaydon Plunkette, Dawson Springs (Voters: 5)

3rd Region

Teams: 1. Daviess County; 2. Grayson County; 3. Meade County; t4. Owensboro Catholic; t4. Apollo; 6. Muhlenberg County; 7. Ohio County; 8. McLean County; 9. Breckinridge County; 10. Owensboro (Voters: 10)

Players: 1. Jonathan Moss, Daviess County; 2. Jack Logsdon, Grayson County; 3. Hayden Shouse, Meade County; 4. DeAaron Watkins, Daviess County; 5. Jagger Mardis, Grayson County; 6. Michael Acton II, Daviess County; 7. Landon Henning, Apollo; 8. Dre’Mail Carothers, Owensboro Catholic; 9. Spencer Langdon, Grayson County; 10. Tate Powers, Apollo; Landon Henning (Voters: 9)

4th Region

Teams: 1. Warren Central; 2. Clinton County; 3. Bowling Green; 4. South Warren; 5. Greenwood; 6. Barren County; 7. Metcalfe County; 8. Franklin-Simpson; 9. Glasgow; 10. Monroe County (Voters: 9)

Players: 1. Armani Byrd, Warren Central; 2. Kaleb Prince, Warren Central; 3. Cade Button, Metcalfe County; 4. Jaxson Mason, Clinton County; 5. Kyler Pedigo, Allen County-Scottsville; 6. William Beaty, Clinton County; 7. Kade Hardy, Barren County; 8. Jerrick Martin, Glasgow; 9. Ja’Kai Partinger, Franklin-Simpson; 10. Brison Nuckols, Monroe County (Voters: 10)

5th Region

Teams: 1. Caverna; 2. Taylor County; 3. Adair County; 4. Green County; 5. Central Hardin; 6. North Hardin; 7. Bardstown; 8. LaRue County; 9. Bethlehem; 10. Marion County (Voters: 12)

Players: 1. Jaylin Craine, Caverna; 2. Camdyn Hogan, Central Hardin; 3. Eric James Jr., Green County; 4. Landon Blakey, Adair County; 5. Tylin George, Adair County; 6. Gavin Lightning, Caverna; 7. Dawson Gilbert, Adair County; 8. Keriawn Berry, North Hardin; 9. Tylan Spalding, Bardstown; t10. Jayvyn Montgomery, Bardstown; t10. Tyson Martin, Caverna (Voters: 11)

6th Region

Teams: 1. Butler; 2. Jeffersontown; 3. Fairdale; 4. Pleasure Ridge Park; 5. W.E.B. DuBois; 6. Evangel Christian Academy; 7. Moore; 8. DeSales; 9. Fern Creek; 10. Bullitt East; (Voters: 14)

Players: 1. Dayvone Harrison, Jeffersontown; 2. Ja’Rye Brown, W.E.B. DuBois; 3. Adrian Wilder, Butler; 4. Brandon Heath, Butler; 5. Neyco Jenkins, Pleasure Ridge Park; 6. Michael Ray Stinnett, Fairdale; 7. Larron Westmoreland, Jeffersontown; 8. Moses Bedell, Moore; 9. Kamari Roberts, Fairdale; 10. Cameron Bischoff, DeSales (Voters: 12)

7th Region

Teams: 1. St. Xavier; 2. Ballard; 3. Male; 4. Eastern; 5. Trinity; 6. Christian Academy-Louisville; 7. Manual; 8. Seneca; 9. Waggener; 10. Atherton (Voters: 12)

Players: 1. Jeremiah Jackson, St. Xavier; 2. Josh Lindsay, St. Xavier; 3. Jermaine “Chief” Cameron, St. Xavier; 4. Jordan “Boogie” Cook, Ballard; 5. Jayden “JJ” Washington, Christian Academy-Louisville; 6. Jordan Mitchell, Male; 7. Trey Hillerich, Male; 8. Jaymes Clark, Male; 9. Jayden Johnson, Trinity; 10. Prestyn Wheatley, Seneca (Voters: 9)

8th Region

Teams: 1. North Oldham; 2. South Oldham; 3. Spencer County; 4. Woodford County; 5. Simon Kenton; 6. Oldham County; 7. Henry County; 8. Collins; 9. Anderson County; 10. Walton-Verona (Voters: 12)

Players: 1. Austin Sears, North Oldham; 2. Baylor Nolin, Henry County; 3. Ty Bryant, Oldham County; 4. Omari Jointer, Woodford County; 5. Tommy Gregg, North Oldham; 6. Caden Gaither, Collins; 7. Kolton Wuchterl, South Oldham; 8. Samuel Seawright, Spencer County; 9. Noah Beasley, Anderson County; 10. Braylon Bilton, Simon Kenton (Voters: 10)

9th Region

Teams: 1. Covington Catholic; 2. Highlands; 3. Covington Holy Cross; 4. Ryle; 5. Conner; 6. Lloyd Memorial; 7. Beechwood; 8. Dixie Heights; 9. Cooper; 10. Newport (Voters: 12)

Players: 1. Athens McGillis, Covington Catholic; 2. Anthony Blaackar, Lloyd Memorial; 3. Finn Louden, Conner; 4. Cash Harney, Covington Catholic; 5. Brady Gabbard, Covington Holy Cross; 6. Amontae Lowe, Newport; 7. Anthony Coppola, Ryle; 8. Luke Arlinghaus, Covington Holy Cross; 9. Vinny Listerman, Highlands; 10. Nate Rominger, Covington Holy Cross (Voters: 11)

10th Region

Teams: 1. George Rogers Clark; 2. Montgomery County; 3. Campbell County; 4. Nicholas County; 5. Bourbon County; 6. Pendleton County; 7. Scott; 8. Harrison County; 9. Paris; 10. Bishop Brossart (Voters: 9)

Players: 1. Montez Gay, George Rogers Clark; 2. Tyce Jarvis, Montgomery County; 3. Austin Davie, Campbell County; 4. Malachi Ashford, George Rogers Clark; 5. Andrew Terry, Montgomery County; 6. Ryder Akins, George Rogers Clark; 7. Braxton Martin, Nicholas County; 8. Amari Bartleson, George Rogers Clark; t9. Noah Earlywine, Bourbon County; t9. Dawson Gentry, Montgomery County (Voters: 8)

11th Region

Teams: 1. Frederick Douglass; 2. Madison Central; 3. Bryan Station; 4. Lexington Catholic; 5. Henry Clay; 6. Great Crossing; 7. Tates Creek; 8. Scott County; 9. Lafayette; 10. Lexington Christian Academy (Voters: 17)

Players: 1. Jake Feldhaus, Madison Central; 2. Amari Owens, Bryan Station; 3. DeMarcus Surratt, Frederick Douglass; 4. Jackson Stephan, Henry Clay; 5. Taeshawn Adams, Bryan Station; 6. Max Meagher, Lexington Catholic; 7. Tate Robinson, Frederick Douglass; 8. Tyler Hunt, Lafayette; 9. Brady Orem, Great Crossing; 10. Grayson Burton, Madison Central (Voters: 17)

12th Region

Teams: 1. Danville Christian Academy; 2. West Jessamine; 3. Lincoln County; 4. Wayne County; 5.Southwestern; 6. Pulaski County; 7. Somerset; 8. McCreary Central; 9. Boyle County; 10. Rockcastle County (Voters: 13)

Players: 1. Kendall Phillips, Wayne County; 2. Walker Craig, Rockcastle County; 3. Peyton Higginbotham, McCreary Central; 4. Geu Leek Ateny, Danville Christian Academy; 5. Zach Hutchinson, Southwestern; 6. Aedyn Absher, Somerset; 7. Carson Fraley, Pulaski County; 8. Seneca Driver, Boyle County; 9. Cash Baird, Lincoln County; 10. Luk Tut, West Jessamine (Voters: 11)

13th Region

Teams: 1. North Laurel; 2. Bell County; 3. Clay County; 4. Corbin; 5. Harlan County; 6. South Laurel; 7. Whitley County; 8. Knox Central; 9. Harlan; 10. Barbourville (Voters: 9)

Players: 1. Reece Davidson, North Laurel; 2. Blake Burnett, Bell County; 3. Adon Grubb, Clay County; 4. Ethan Buell, Bell County; 5. Reggie Cottrell, Harlan County; 6. Evan Ellis, Corbin; 7. Eli Pietrowski, Corbin; 8. Bryson Mahan, Whitley County; 9. Jordan Rawlings, North Laurel; 10. Cooper Elza, North Laurel (Voters: 9)

14th Region

Teams: 1. Perry County Central; 2. Hazard; 3. Powell County; 4. Knott County Central; 5. Letcher County Central; 6. Leslie County; 7. Wolfe County; 8. Owsley County; 9. Lee County; 10. Breathitt County (Voters: 8)

Players: 1. Seth Caudill, Hazard; 2. Daulton Combs, Perry County Central; 3. Corey Flinchum, Lee County; 4. Bryson Edwards, Powell County; 5. Caleb Creech, Wolfe County; 6. Chance Amburgey, Knott County Central; 7. Terry Delaney, Letcher County Central; 8. Jayden Hacker, Perry County Central; 9. Cameron Hayes, Letcher County Central; 10. Conner Morguson, Powell County (Voters: 8)

15th Region

Teams: 1. Martin County; 2. Johnson Central; 3. Lawrence County; 4. Paintsville; 5. Pikeville; 6. Shelby Valley; 7. Belfry; 8. Floyd Central; 9. Magoffin County; 10. Betsy Layne (Voters: 7)

Players: 1. Braxton Keathley, Martin County; 2. Austin Slone, Johnson Central; 3. Ethan Cole, Paintsville; 4. Jackson Keene, Pikeville; 5. Brayden Shepherd, Johnson Central; 6. Carter Parsons, Pikeville; t7. Kaiden Harris, Lawrence County; t7. Walker Russell, Magoffin County; 9. Brody Little, Belfry; t10. Gavin Hamilton, Shelby Valley; t10. Brock Woods, Paintsville (Voters: 6)

16th Region

Teams: 1. Boyd County; 2. Ashland Blazer; 3. Raceland; 4. Morgan County; 5. Russell; 6. Elliott County; 7. East Carter; 8. Lewis County; 9. Rowan County; 10. Fleming County (Voters: 8)

Players: 1. Jacob Spurlock, Boyd County; 2. Caleb Clarke, Ashland Blazer; 3. Elijah Neel, Ashland Blazer; 4. Caleb Rimmer, Boyd County; 5. Gunnar Woods, Boyd County; 6. Drew Smith, Ashland Blazer; 7. Julian Puente, Lewis County; 8. Malachi Payne, Boyd County; 9. Lake Adkins, Elliott County; 10. Jonah Arnett, Raceland (Voters: 7)

This story was originally published December 1, 2025 at 7:30 AM.