L.I.T. Players to Watch from the Top 4 Seeds
The Louisville Invitational Tournament kicks off this week with 4 games played at host sites around the Louisville Metro area before it moves to Valley High School. On Tuesday and Wednesday at 4 pm the 1st of four games for…
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Continue ReadingThe Louisville Invitational Tournament kicks off this week with 4 games played at host sites around the Louisville Metro area before it moves to Valley High School. On Tuesday and Wednesday at 4 pm the 1st of four games for each evening will begin with the final game of the night slated to begin at 8:3O and the top 4 seeds in the tournament will play during those opening and closing time slots.
With opponents yet to be determined the defending State Champions, and 1 seed in the LIT. Sacred Heart Valkyries will participate in the first game followed later in the nightcap by the 4 seed the Mercy Jaguars. Wednesday’s opening game features 2 seed Bullitt East Lady Chargers and 3 games later the Central Yellow Jackets take the court.
ZaKiyah Johnson ZaKiyah Johnson 6'0" | SF Sacred Heart | 2025 State KY – ’25 6’0″/CG – Sacred Heart
Johnson is the #1 ranked player in the class of ’25 and leading an offense that has six players who make more than 50% of their field goals. She leads the Valkyries in points (17.3 per game) and rebounds (7.1) and runs the show as Point Guard or whatever position she needs to play to deliver the win, She had over 20 Division 1 college basketball offers before the season started and is considered by many to be the best player in the State.
Reagan Bender Reagan Bender 5'9" | SF Sacred Heart | 2024 State KY – ’24 5’10″/SF – Sacred Heart
From what little I have seen, Bender is somewhat of the glue for the offense. She fills in where she is needed from game to game to help piece things together. At times she can seem to disappear when I have seen her play until she eventually steps forward and makes a few good plays in a row to help turn the tide of the game.
Maybe that doesn’t happen when I am not there. Because she is averaging a stat line of 12.9 points, 41.1% three-point, 70.5% free throw shooting, and 4 rebounds. That is a ton of production from a player that to me seems to be somewhat of a quiet contributor. Then again, with such a loaded team around her (11 players with College Basketball offers) perhaps any player could seem to disappear at times.
Leah Macy Leah Macy 6'3" | PF Bethlehem | 2025 State KY – ’25 6’2″/PF – Mercy
Macy is the #2 ranked player in the class of ’25 and also has over 20 Division 1 college basketball offers. When talking to a D-1 Coach earlier in the year who is looking for an athletic post player she remarked that “ Leah Macy Leah Macy 6'3" | PF Bethlehem | 2025 State KY can come to play for us right now.” But didn’t think they had any shot at landing her.
She is scoring 19.4 points, shooting 35.1% from three-point range, making 78.4% of her free throws, and grabbing 12.2 rebounds per game.
Emma Barnett Emma Barnett 6'2" | PF Mercy | 2023 State KY – ’23 6’1″/PF – Mercy
Barnett has the size and shooting ability (34.7% from the three-point range) to be a Stretch Four on the next level. She is averaging 11.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game for the Jaguars.
Gracie Merkle Gracie Merkle 6'6" | C Bullitt East | 2022 State KY – ’22 6’6″/C – Bullitt East
Merkle dominates in the paint for the Lady Chargers and will move on to play at Bellarmine next season. She is averaging 16.5 points, 9.5 rebounds on the season and is making 70% field goals the 2nd highest shooting percentage in the KHSAA.
Emma Egan Emma Egan 5'8" | SF Bullitt East | 2022 State KY – ’22 5’8″/SF – Bullitt East
Egan is an athlete with great speed and agility and will take her talents to LaSalle next season in part. she once told me, because of her love of the “Rocky” movies, She is averaging 15.4 points, 8.5 rebounds a game on the season while leading her team to a 16-3 record.
Amaya Asher Amaya Asher 5'7" | PG Central | 2023 State KY – ’23 5’7″/PG – Central
Asher is not a perfect Point Guard but she is perhaps the perfect player to hold that position on the team she plays for. The is great cohesion on this Yellow Jackets team and her leadership on the court is an essential element in that. She is averaging 11.2 points, 5.4 rebounds per game.
Destiny Jones – ’24 5’10″/SF – Central
Jones is extremely quick with great leaping ability she is very tough to defend in a full-court game and just as hard to keep off of the glass in the halfcourt. She is averaging 17.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, and shooting 58.6% from the field. She is currently unranked but not by the time of our next update.