These top high school basketball recruits are playing in boys’ Sweet 16 tournament
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- UK HealthCare Boys’ Basketball Sweet 16 state tournament starts Wednesday at Rupp Arena.
- This year’s Sweet 16 includes several top high school basketball recruits from Kentucky.
- This includes Reece Davidson of North Laurel and Joshua Lindsay of St. Xavier.
When the 2026 UK HealthCare Boys’ Basketball Sweet 16 state tournament begins Wednesday at Rupp Arena in downtown Lexington, it will offer a showcase of some of the best high school basketball talent in the commonwealth.
High school basketball prowess doesn’t always equate to projected success in college hoops, but several of the state’s top recruits will be in action as part of the Sweet 16 festivities.
Four players listed in the 247Sports Composite rankings across the 2026, 2027 and 2028 college recruiting classes will take part in this year’s Sweet 16.
In recent years, some of the best college players to come from the commonwealth have starred in the Sweet 16: Zander Carter (Ashland Blazer), Vince Dawson III (Great Crossing), Jasper Johnson (Woodford County), Malachi Moreno (Great Crossing), Trent Noah (Harlan County), Travis Perry (Lyon County), Reed Sheppard (North Laurel) and Brady Shoulders (Lyon County) are among them.
This week, four more prospects who could be future college stars themselves will take center stage at Rupp.
Who are the top boys’ basketball recruits in 2026 Sweet 16 tournament?
The 247Sports Composite lists five players from Kentucky high schools among the top 358 prospects in the nation for the 2026 recruiting group. Two will be in action at the Sweet 16.
North Laurel’s Reece Davidson and St. Xavier’s Jeremiah Jackson are each looking to cap their high school careers with a state championship.
Davidson — a 6-foot-7 power forward who is ranked as a three-star recruit — is signed to play at Liberty next season. Davidson is averaging a team-best 19.9 points per game for North Laurel this season. Davidson also leads the 13th Region champion Jaguars with 8.8 rebounds per game.
Davidson is a cousin of former North Laurel and UK star Reed Sheppard, who is currently in his second NBA season with the Houston Rockets.
North Laurel begins its Sweet 16 with a first-round matchup against 4th Region champ Warren Central on Wednesday afternoon.
Jackson — a 6-foot-4 small forward who is ranked as a two-star prospect — will begin his college career at Southern Illinois. For 7th Region champion St. Xavier, Jackson averages team highs in points (16.5) and rebounds (6.8).
Jackson and St. X begin their Sweet 16 tournament against 9th Region winner Covington Catholic on Wednesday morning in the opening game of the Sweet 16.
Seniors aren’t the only star recruits at this season’s Sweet 16.
From the 2027 recruiting class, three-star prospect Matthew Langhi is a major reason for the success of 1st Region champion Marshall County. Langhi — a 6-6 small forward whose father, Dan, was a second-round selection in the 2000 NBA draft — leads Marshall County in scoring at 27 points per game. Langhi also contributes 5.3 rebounds per contest.
Still just a junior, Langhi has reported a Division I scholarship offer from Indiana State. In September, Langhi took a visit to Illinois. Marshall County opens its Sweet 16 journey with a Thursday afternoon game against 16th Region winner Boyd County.
An underclassman who has taken the state’s high school hoops scene by storm is also in this year’s Sweet 16 field.
It’s early, but sophomore guard Joshua Lindsay of St. Xavier is the top-ranked player from Kentucky in the 2028 recruiting class. The 247Sports Composite has the 6-foot Lindsay rated as a five-star prospect. That makes Lindsay one of only 28 prospects to currently have a five-star designation from that service.
Lindsay is averaging 14.3 points and 3.8 rebounds per game for the Tigers while shooting 52.1% from the field and 35.1% on a high-volume of 3-point tries.
Lindsay’s college recruitment has already taken on high-major status. He has early offers from Auburn and Virginia Tech, among other programs.
