Grassroots Preview: Kentucky Blue Devils UA Rise 17U

The Bluegrass State is one of the most passionate states in the nation on the subject of basketball. This is the case at the college level with Kentucky and Louisville, with the numerous high schools that take to the court and at the club level.    AAU will rule the roost for the next several months and among the many travel teams across Kentucky that is set to take the court is [program_tooltip program_id='716034' first='Kentucky' last='Blue Devils'] UA Rise 17U.    The team is coached by Jonathan Nelson and is based in Covington just outside of Cincinnati. Without further adieu, here is a look at this year's KBD UA Rise 17U assembling.   [player_tooltip player_id='874993' first='Ashley' last=''] Pate – As expected, a team based in the Cincinnati area would have players representing both Ohio and Kentucky. Pate is part of the Ohio contingency for [program_tooltip program_id='716034' first='Kentucky' last='Blue Devils'] UA Rise 17U and recently completed her first full season with Badin HS who went 18-7 in 2023-24. Pate recently landed an offer from Anderson University in Indiana.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/04/B205E557-565C-4420-A03F-B8F20E86B781.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-633447" style="width:502px;height:auto" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='743650' first='Asia' last='Carner'] – Carner is part of the Kentucky contingency and is playing up in class given she is the lone 2027 that exists on this year's roster. She recently completed her first season with Dixie Heights.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/04/IMG_0887-crop-3226x2118-1681738736.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-637855" style="width:501px;height:auto" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='885312' first='Aumani' last='Nelson'] – Nelson is coming back for one more go-round through the AAU realm with [program_tooltip program_id='716034' first='Kentucky' last='Blue Devils'] UA Rise U17. She was a top performer when her team made an appearance at last season's Prep Girls Hoops Triumph Region Kickoff.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/05/Ella-Gabbert-1-scaled.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-291582" style="width:500px;height:auto" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='885360' first='Ella' last='Gabbert'] – Gabbert was part of a 2023-24 Lexington Christian rendition that finished with a 19-10 record – a remarkable season by the Eagles' recent standards. She has also played softball throughout her career.   Ella Lehmkuhl – Lehmkuhl is another part of the Holy Cross contingent that makes up this year's [program_tooltip program_id='716034' first='Kentucky' last='Blue Devils'] UA Rise U17 roster. She has also played soccer throughout her career alongside her basketball exploits.   Kaitlyn Barber – Lakota West has recently been one of the winningest programs recently in the state of Ohio. Barber was part of another winning Firebirds assembling in 2023-24 as they finished with a 16-6 record.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/09/93-Camryn-Andrus-scaled.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-504689" style="width:502px;height:auto" /></figure>   Camryn Andrus – As Andrus' place on this roster denotes, [program_tooltip program_id='716034' first='Kentucky' last='Blue Devils'] UA Rise U17 has representatives from all three states that make up the Cincinnati Tri-State area. She was part of an Eastern Hancock team that finished 25-2 this past season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1003210' first='Mya' last='Holden'] – Holden stands at an even six feet which gives a rebounding edge to the Lloyd Memorial team she plays for. In addition to her foray into basketball, she also thrives in the volleyball realm.   Onyx O'Neill – O'Neill is one of three from this year's [program_tooltip program_id='716034' first='Kentucky' last='Blue Devils'] UA Rise U17 roster that is playing up in class. The 2026 was part of a Purcell Marian program that recently won its third consecutive state championship. O'Neill also plays volleyball.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/10/Ashlee-Williamson.jpg?w=683" alt="" class="wp-image-778085" style="width:282px;height:auto" /></figure>   Ashlee Williamson – North Dakota is a bit of a way away from Cincinnati, but Williamson will join this year's [program_tooltip program_id='716034' first='Kentucky' last='Blue Devils'] UA Rise U17 roster from the upper Midwest. Along with playing for Minot North, she will also play for Team USA as part of the United World Games in Austria.   [program_tooltip program_id='716034' first='Kentucky' last='Blue Devils'] UA Rise U17 Schedule   April 6-7: Queen City Classic – Cincinnati, OH   April 12-14: 2024 Tip-Off Classic – Pittsburgh, PA   April 19-21: Girls UA Rise Session 1 – Manheim, PA (NCAA Live Period)   May 4-5: The Prime Event Midwest – Indianapolis, IN   May 17-19: The Classic – Louisville, KY (NCAA Live Period)   July 6-7: July Jamboree – Cincinnati, OH   July 11-13: Run 4 The Roses – Louisville, KY (NCAA Live Period)   July 14-16: Girls UA Rise Session 2 – Indianapolis, IN (NCAA Live Period)   July 19-22: Girls UA Rise Championships – Hamilton, OH (NCAA Live Period)

The Bluegrass State is one of the most passionate states in the nation on the subject of basketball. This is the case at the college level with Kentucky and Louisville, with the numerous high schools that take to the court and at the club level.