Freshmen Dominating for Top Teams in KY
There are a lot of really talented young players that have been doing big things for their high school teams this season, but I wanted to take a moment to highlight some of the freshmen who are absolutely killing it…
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Continue ReadingThere are a lot of really talented young players that have been doing big things for their high school teams this season, but I wanted to take a moment to highlight some of the freshmen who are absolutely killing it across the Bluegrass. Please note, these players are all on teams that are in the top 50 RPI (per KHSAA).
Leah Macy Leah Macy 6'3" | PF Bethlehem | 2025 State KY | PF | Mercy
Macy is long, athletic, and extremely skilled. She has shown why she is consistently viewed as one of the top players in the state in the first half of her freshman year. Macy has been very dominant in her first 12 games with Mercy, averaging a double-double and shooting at an elite level (63.6% overall and 44.4% from 3, to be exact).
Halle Collins Halle Collins 5'11" | SF Knox Central | 2025 State KY | SF | Knox Central
Collins has great size and strength, especially for a freshman. She can score in so many ways – post moves, 3-pointers, pulling up and elevating over her defender- you name it. She is also averaging a double-double as she reaches the midway point of her freshmen season.
ZaKiyah Johnson ZaKiyah Johnson 6'0" | SF Sacred Heart | 2025 State KY | PF | Sacred Heart
Versatile, athletic, strong, and skilled. Johnson continuously puts up monstrous numbers for the top team in the state. There are usually some obvious weaknesses in a freshman’s game, but opposing coaches have been unable to find the weakness in Johnson’s game so far which speaks volumes to her skill level.
Hayden Barrier Hayden Barrier 5'6" | SG Montgomery County | 2024 State KY | SG | Montgomery County
Barrier has a great all-around game, but I love her pull-up game because of how hard it is to guard. She can stop on a dime and has a really quick to release to her shot, but she can also shoot the ball from deep and makes some great moves to the basket. She’s got really good length and I would expect her to continue to put up big-time numbers for Montgomery County this season.
Peyton Bradley Peyton Bradley 5'9" | CG Meade County | 2025 State KY | CG | Meade County
I’ve said this before, but when I watched Bradley play for the first time, I was shocked to learn she was only a freshman. She is super skilled and has a great basketball IQ. On top of that, Bradley has made the most 3-pointers in Kentucky so far this season, and to make that stat even more impressive, she is shooting 44.5% from 3 in Meade County’s first 14 games.
Niah Rhodes Niah Rhodes 5'7" | CG Frederick Douglass | 2025 State KY | CG | Frederick Douglass
Rhodes is super quick and can really put the ball in the basket. She really shoots the ball at an elite level from deep. In the start of her freshman season, she is shooting 40% from 3 and will likely put up 20+ in multiple more games this season.
Ciara Byars Ciara Byars 6'2" | CG George Rogers Clark | 2025 State KY | CG | George Rogers Clark
Byars is strong, has good size & length, and can score the ball at all 3 levels. She has so much upside to her game. Byars is helping lead one of the top teams in the state alongside her older sister, Brianna.
Alyssa Murphy Alyssa Murphy 5'5" | PG Corydon Central | 2025 State IN | PG | Mercy
Murphy can handle the ball at an elite level, but she is a true point guard who can put the ball in the basket. She isn’t big, but her game is certainly big. Quick, great shooter, high IQ – really has all the skills you would want from a point guard and that is rare to see in a freshman.