Top 2027 Prospects in Kentucky (Part 1)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have a ton of young talent in this state. ESPNw released their initial 2025 rankings back in April of this year and Kentucky had 2 of the top 25 players on that list (<a href="http://www.espn.com/high-school/girls-basketball/recruiting/rankings/_/class/2025">currently ranked #2 and #17</a>). The class of 2026 is also talented, but the class of 2027 has the chance to be really special as well. We even saw a few 2027 players make huge impacts at the Varsity level as 7th graders last season, so let's take a look at some of those players (in order by PPG last season). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Note: <em>This is going to be a multi-part series covering several different young players.</em></em> <em>We do not have a class of 2027 database yet, so if any of the player information below is incorrect, please message me on Twitter (@alyxwhite_) or email me at alyxwhitegraphics@gmail.com so I can get it updated.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_633f16d0d5443","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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='649948' first='Jaelyn' last='Dye']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'6u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12123","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Somerset","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"KY Premier 15U EYBL","_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":"Dye was Somerset's leading scorer last season as she averaged 11.9 ppg. As if that wasn't impressive enough for a 7th grader, she also led the Briar Jumpers in assists. Oh and Somerset finished with a 19-11 record, so it's not like she was putting up those numbers in a bunch of blowout losses. The lefty guard showed her ability to score at all 3 levels consistently. Dye's ball handling skills and basketball IQ are also very advanced for her age. This past weekend, she led her middle school team at the KBC Middle School Girls State Tournament, scoring 38 of her team's 48 points in one of the best matchups of the weekend. She brings intensity on both ends of the floor and I'd expect to see multiple college offers soon.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='557203' first='Claire' last='Marshall']","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"12124","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"West Jessamine","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"KY Premier 15U EYBL","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Another player from the 12th Region, [player_tooltip player_id='557203' first='Claire' last='Marshall'], was West Jessamine's 2nd leading scorer and rebounder as a 7th grader last season. She also led the team in steals and blocks. She helped the Colts finish with an impressive 21-10 record. The young star nearly averaged a double-double in her 1st Varsity season (11.7 ppg and 9.3 rpg). Marshall plays like a veteran - poised, high IQ, solid handles, strong, and can score inside or out. She's got good height and length as well. One of the best parts about Marshall is that she's clearly willing to put in a lot of extra work to continuously improve her game. For a 7th grader, her percentages were solid, but as she increases those numbers, I'd be shocked if she doesn't break multiple records throughout her high school career.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='747650' first='Skeeter' last='Mabe']","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"12121","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"South Laurel","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"KY Dream","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"You only have to move one region over to get to the next player on this list which is South Laurel's [player_tooltip player_id='747650' first='Skeeter' last='Mabe']. Mabe has good strength and skills for a guard or post, and she plays with the poise of an experienced upperclassman. I know people that were familiar with her were expecting her to make the impact she did in her 1st Varsity season, but from an outsider's point of view, what she was able to do as a 7th grader was impressive. Mabe averaged 7.6 ppg and 2.9 rpg as the starting point guard. South Laurel finished last season 24-9 and after graduating their 2nd leading scorer and rebounder, you can expect Mabe to make an even bigger splash this season.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Maggie Simons","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"12121","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Nicholas County","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"WV Thunder","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"I feel like Simons probably spends most of her free time in a gym either working on her game or watching high level talent. For that reason alone, I know she'll be as successful as she wants to be. However, she also has excellent skills on the court. Simons can handle the ball and she can handle pressure well. She can put the ball in the basket in a variety of ways as well. She is very crafty around the basket and she doesn't shy away from contact. Simons can finish floaters and knock down jump shots as well. She shot over 30% from 3 last season as she averaged 7.2 ppg and 1.8 rpg for Nicholas County (15-13) as a 7th grader. This season, I expect her to produce big numbers for the Lady Jackets.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='747640' first='Amirah' last='Jordan']","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"5'6u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"12123","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Male","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"Indy Lady Gymrats EYBL","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Jordan already has 2 D-I offers for a reason. She truly showed her talent and how much she's improved at the KBC Middle School Girls State Tournament this past weekend, which happened to be the 1st time her JCTMS team played together this season. She dropped 40 of her teams 51 points in a win over Meece. Jordan has elite point guard skills and she possesses the qualities you need from your floor general. She has such a high IQ and is a difference maker on both ends of the floor. She averaged 7.1 ppg and 2.4 rpg for a very good Male (21-6) team. Male graduated their 2nd and 3rd leading scorers from last season, so as long as Jordan is on the Bulldog's roster again this season, expect her numbers to go up quite a bit.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["502130"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Speaking of elite point guard skills, Stamper certainly possesses all the skills you would want from your PG.  The young star started for an extremely talented GRC squad that went 31-3 last season. Stamper does all of the little things well - she can handle pressure and double teams so well because her handles and floor vision are so advanced, she makes great passes, and she can score at all 3 levels. Stamper averaged 5.2 ppg and 2.3 rpg last season. While she doesn't need to score to impact any game she plays in, she has the ability to score whenever her team needs a basket and she will be a big key for GRC going into this season. u003cemu003e(Side note: I'm unable to edit her profile to fix her class, but she is indeed a 2027 player.)u003c/emu003e","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='747671' first='Sadie' last='Johnson']","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"12122","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"Shelby Valley","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"KY Dream","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_6_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"I have not seen Johnson play, but I have heard quite a bit about her. I've been told that she has a lot of skills down low, but she also possesses guard skills that make her a tough match-up. She has excellent size and a strong frame. Johnson can shoot and handle the ball on top of finishing strong inside on both sides of the rim. She averaged 3.8 ppg and 3 rpg last season for Shelby Valley who graduated 2 star players in Cassidy Rowe (University of Kentucky) and Alyssa Elswick (Thomas More). Combined, Rowe and Elswick averaged 32.6 ppg and 11.7 rpg, so expect Johnson's numbers to rise exponentially this season as she helps make up some of their production.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_7_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='747645' first='Haylee' last='Noel']","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_7_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_7_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_7_player_details_position":"12121","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_7_player_details_school":"Cooper","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_7_player_details_club_team":"WV Thunder","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_7_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"If you ask those familiar with girls basketball in Kentucky who the top 2027 players are, you're certainly going to hear Noel's name. She has excellent size to go along with her advanced skillset. Noel is a very versatile player who can do a little bit of everything on the floor. She can handle the ball, she keeps her eyes up, she delivers solid passes, she rebounds, she defends, she can score at all 3 levels, and the list goes on. Noel plays for a Cooper team who made it to the semifinals of the state tournament last season, finishing 25-10. She averaged 2.9 ppg and 1.8 rpg as a 7th grader. They return their core group, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Noel make a bigger impact this season for their talented team.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":8,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-64bc5b01a3c50"} /-->