Kentucky’s Top 10 Freshmen Watch List
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The Class of 2026 in Kentucky is full of talented prospects from all over the state that are sure to play at the collegiate level. Producing these type of high caliber players will soon make Kentucky a hot bed recruiting…
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Continue ReadingThe Class of 2026 in Kentucky is full of talented prospects from all over the state that are sure to play at the collegiate level. Producing these type of high caliber players will soon make Kentucky a hot bed recruiting state for girls basketball. Below I have listed ten of the top freshmen in the state that have been major contributors for their team all season and should be on everybody’s watch list.
The Apollo E-Gals have arguably the one of the best freshman in Kentucky. I took notice of the sharpshooting guard over the summer at the PGH 250 Expo. She put on a dominant scoring display against some of the top prospects in the state, at that point I knew she was capable of having a big freshman campaign. Sure enough Kennedy Lane Kennedy Lane 5'7" | SF Daviess County | 2026 State KY is doing just that averaging 19.3 points per game leading the 9th district in scoring. She’s put up 30 point performances in three of the last five games for Apollo. She is leading the state in 3pt field goals for freshman making 54 out 148 of her 3pt tries. Lane is also the one you want at the free throw line with the game on the line she has made 88 out of 109 free throws attempted. Lane is a 3-level scorer with the ability to get a bucket at any given moment I expect her to continue her stellar play as we approach the latter part of the season.
Highlights
Sayler Lowe Sayler Lowe 6'0" | SG Calloway County | 2026 State KY could make her own case as the best freshman in the state. She’s a prospect with a very unique skill set, her style of play puts the “V’ in versatility she can really do it all. Lowe already has significant size and length at the guard position plus she can handle the ball well enough to take defenders off the dribble to get to the rim for a bucket. She can also score from the perimeter as well as with her back to the basket on in the low post. Lowe is averaging a double-double for the season with 20.5 points per game and 10.7 rebounds leading Calloway County in both categories. Her best game was against Caldwell County she had 36 points and grabbed 18 rebounds. Lowe is an elite scorer and rebounder that can can carry the load and put a team on her back.
Brianna Wilkins Brianna Wilkins 5'10" | SF Christian Academy of Louisville | 2026 State KY is well-known in Kentucky as a freshman phenom. She is averaging 18.5 per game and is the leading scorer for one of the top teams in the state. Wilkins plays primarily at the point guard position she can score with the ball in her hand and spot up from three. She is a rhythm shooter that can light it up when she has the hot hand. I have watched her play twice this season and she is indeed a high volume scorer but her defense is what stood out to me most. She is a lockdown on-ball defender that thrives off of applying pressure and causing turnovers. Wilkins is having a strong season after becoming Kentucky 2A Champions for the 4th year in a row CAL looks prepared to make a run for a state championship.
Madison Young Madison Young 5'8" | PF South Oldham | 2026 State KY is undoubtedly one of the top 2026 prospects in Kentucky. Young is a high IQ player with good fundamentals and loads of potential. She has incredible footwork on the low block and she uses a variety of post moves to score in the paint and around the rim. Young is a top scorer in the 8th region with 15.5 points and rebounder with 7.4 per game. With her level of talent and ability she will most likely end up the all-time leader in multiple categories for South Oldham.
Highlights
Freshman guard Naomi Maynard has carried the scoring load for the Lady Rams all season long. She’s putting up 17.5 points a game which is the most by a freshman in the 16th region. The left hand shooting guard is a marksman from beyond the arc with serious range on her shot. She’s effective coming off of screens and she often makes tough shots look easy. Maynard has good instincts on defensive end, she knows how to play the passing lanes well coming up with multiple steals each game doing so. She has come alive this season and will more than likely be a well-known commodity at Raceland for years to come.
Laci Tackett
Laci Tackett
The Tackett family have a reputation for producing multi-sport athletes that compete hard at any sport they play. Freshman point guard Laci Tackett is having quite a season for the Lady Panthers. She leads the team in scoring with 16.2 points per game and she is 3rd in rebounds with 5.6. Tackett is a shoot first point guard that can really light it up from three. She has incredible range and a quick release that makes it difficult for defenders to contest her shot. Tackett can facilitate the ball as well and always looks to get her teammates involved. Augusta has had a subpar season with a 7-10 record so far with Laci Tackett playing the way she is they look to finish above at least above .500.
Highlights
Hadley French Hadley French 5'4" | PG Madison Southern | 2026 State KY is a absolute magician on the basketball court she plays with so much flare it makes her really exciting to watch. She is a super skilled point guard that excels with the ball in her hands. French has the ability to create her own shot off the dribble and catch and shoot from three. She is also a gifted passer with phenomenal court vision that thrives off putting her teammates in position to score. French averages 13.7 points per game while dishing out several assist. Her natural feel for the game is something special I am eager to see what’s to come from this prospect.
North Bullitt is having a very successful season posting a record of 17-7. The standout freshman Kylie Downey Kylie Downey 5'7" | PG North Bullitt | 2026 State KY has been a major contributor for the Lady Eagles all season. She is a high volume scorer with lethal long range shooting ability. Downey can knock down shots from the perimeter and get to the rim to score. She leads the team in scoring with 14.4 points per game. Downey has left no doubt that she can perform at a high level and deliver for her team on a nightly basis.
The Mercer County star freshman Teigh Yeast Teigh Yeast 5'6" | CG George Rogers Clark | 2026 State KY is having a solid season so far for the Titans. She plays with a high motor and level of intensity that is hard to match. Yeast shows flashes of elite speed and athleticism and she plays hard on both ends of the floor. She’s scoring 11.5 points a game while grabbing 5 rebounds. Yeast has tremendous upside and the future looks very bright for the young combo guard.
Dixie Heights is having a solid season with a record of 16-6. Freshman guard Coralee Pelfrey Coralee Pelfrey PG Dixie Heights | 2026 State KY is doing whatever necessary for her team to win. She is a 3-level scorer with a knack for finding her spots on the floor to be effective. She is also very good rebounder. Pelfrey averaging 5.7 points per game while leading the team in rebounds with 5.