PGH Top 250 Expo: Kentucky On The Rise

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">The MidAmerica Sports Center was the place to be this weekend in Louisville, KY. Over 120 prospects throughout the state of Kentucky showed up for the Prep Girls Hoops Top 250 Expo. Being in attendance is the only way you can truly understand the magnitude of this historic event. Below are the players who stood out to me the most.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6328f09981d35","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["376799"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-63e17c961ca3a"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">After her stellar performance at the expo [player_tooltip player_id='376799' first='Kennedy' last='Lane'] is in a lane of her own and she is undoubtedly one of the best in the class of 2026 in Kentucky. She shined against some of the top players in the state and never backed down from the competition. Lane could not miss from long distance she knocked down a three pointer on almost every offensive possession, when the ball came her way. Lane has tremendous potential and a real passion for the game. You can look for her to make a big impact for Apollo this season. (Photo Above).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6328f15981d37","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["329425"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-63e17c961ca86"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">[player_tooltip player_id='329425' first='Emily' last='Estes'] is a force to be reckoned with in the interior. Her size and strength made her a complete mismatch for any defender in the low post. She was dominant inside, and once she established deep position she scored every time. Estes runs the floor very well and is always aware of putting herself in position to score in transition. With her efforts on offense combined with her ability to rebound at a high level we can look for her to lead in both categories this season for Lincoln County.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6328f17a81d38","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["258407"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-63e17c961cab4"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Madison Central has a roster loaded with young talent. Their leading scorer from last season [player_tooltip player_id='258407' first='Bailey' last='Hensley'] really knows how to put the ball in the basket. Hensley played incredible at the expo, and her killer instinct on offense was very impressive. Hensley can score at all three levels but the mid range is where she is most effective. She really elevates on her jump shot making it easy for her to pull up on a dime. Her high volume scoring ability will indeed make her a top player in a already stacked 11th region this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6328f1b381d39","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["290221"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-63e17c961cae3"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">[player_tooltip player_id='290221' first='Bailey' last='Poole'] is an absolute marksman from the three with a limitless range on her shot. She is a green light shooter with extreme confidence. I watched her hit several three's in a row with a high level of shot difficulty, but she made it look easy. Poole also played adequate on the defensive end getting scrappy by putting her hands in passing lanes and hitting the floor for loose ball tie ups.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6328f1f981d3a","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["502278"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-63e17c961cb0e"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">[player_tooltip player_id='502278' first='Natajia' last='Alexander'] has supreme speed and athleticism. She is probably the fastest guard in Kentucky if you ask me. She is most effective with the ball in her hand due to her superb ability to handle and distribute the ball. On the fast break she pushed the pace and was often finding open teammates for layups at the rim. Alexander can also pull up and shoot as well and she demonstrated that as she hit multiple shots from mid range and from three.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6328ef1581d31","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":506474,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='255502' first='Ma'kiya' last='West']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12124","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Male High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Kentucky ICE","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-63e17c961cb5e"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">[player_tooltip player_id='255502' first='Ma'kiya' last='West'] is another prospect I believe is undoubtedly one of the top in her class, 2023, in Kentucky. Her performance at the expo set her a part from the rest. West played with a ton of energy, intensity and physicality. Her relentless effort on the boards provided a lot of scoring opportunities in transition and she made the most of it more times than not. She stayed in attack mode going coast to coast with the ball and finishing with a layup at the other end. West played excellent on-ball defense and protected the rim extremely well with her high level defensive awareness and elite shot blocking ability. Except a big senior year for her at Male this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6328edb681d30","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations":"","_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-63e17c961cb7e"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6328efc081d33","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["502109"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-63e17c961cba4"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">[player_tooltip player_id='502245' first='Baylee' last='Fortner'] has made major improvements to her game and she is always looking for ways to get better. Fortner showed off some nice post moves that she used to score inside, while also displaying her ability to stretch the floor with her three point shooting. She is a post player with skills like a guard, being able to push the ball in transition and see the floor so well. Fortner is the perfect teammate as she brings her leadership qualities to the court and she knows how to set the tone with intense and physical play on both ends of the floor. Fortner will be one of the top players in the 5th region this year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->