2023 Class Rankings: The Top Ten

With our first ever 2023 class rankings, there is a lot to break down. We’ll start with the basics and that’s to cover the top ten players in the rankings. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="164384" first="Haven" last="Ford"], Rowan County - </strong>One of the top players in the state this season regardless of class, Ford is already a hot name with college coaches. Haven has an offer from Marshall University and already has over 1300 points in her career after averaging 19.9 this season to go along with 9.1 rebounds per game. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="164385" first="Timberlynn" last="Yeast"], Mercer County - </strong>One of the best scorers in the 12th region as a freshman, Yeast has been an impact player for the last two seasons for the Lady Titans. In her freshman season, she averaged 17.3 points and pulled down over 8 rebounds per game. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="164386" first="Brianna" last="Byars"], George Rogers Clark - </strong>Byars doesn’t have the gaudy stats of the two players ranked ahead of her but that’s because she plays on one of the most balanced teams in the Commonwealth. Brianna has great size and her ability to score around the bucket and grab two handed rebounds are skills that should translate well to the next level. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="164387" first="Triniti" last="Ralston"], Sacred Heart - </strong>Another player on a loaded high school team, Ralston will be the go to player for the Valkyries starting next season. An extremely talented guard who can play either spot in the backcourt, Triniti is likely to fill [player_tooltip player_id="80496" first="Erin" last="Toller"]’s role next season as the leader for the Sacred Heart offense. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="164388" first="Saniyah" last="Shelton"], Bowling Green - </strong>The young core at Bowling Green is really good and only going to get better. They were likely a little ahead of schedule as they made it to Rupp this season and will be favored to get back again for the foreseeable future. Shelton started her career as an 8th grader and averaged 13 points and 6 rebounds in her freshman campaign. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="158174" first="Destiny" last="Thomas"], McCracken County - </strong>Destiny is a long and athletic wing player who continues to expand her game and is in the conversation for best college prospect in this class. She led McCracken with 15 points and 6 rebounds per game this season and can shoot the ball well already and will only improve. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="164389" first="Xaviara" last="Smalley"], Elizabethtown - </strong>She missed 15 games this season but with her size and ability, Smalley was averaging just shy of a double double this year with 11 points and 9 rebounds per contest. At 6'2, she may be the best pure post player in the class. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="164390" first="Whitney" last="Lind"], Cooper - </strong>One of several players in this class already holding a college scholarship offer, Lind was offered by Northern Kentucky just recently. Another tall forward in the class, Whitney led her team in scoring and rebounding this year and established herself as the top 2023 in Northern Kentucky. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="164391" first="Jakayla" last="Thompson"], DuPont Manual - </strong>Jakayla, like others on this list, is part of a very talented program where she's waiting her time to shine brightest. As a freshman, Thompson posted almost 10 points per game on an efficient 47% shooting and as she becomes a better shooter from three, her ceiling as a college prospect will continue to rise. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="164392" first="Abby" last="Holtman"], Ryle - </strong>Continuing the theme of young players on veteran teams, Abby and her Ryle teammates could very well have been back to back state champs by now but she'll have to wonder what might have been. As a freshman, she was a very capable third option for the Lady Raiders and should see an expanded role moving forward.