They Got Next: 2028s Ready to be Great (Part 5)

From McCracken County to Floyd Central and from Monroe County to St. X, it is sure to be another exciting season of high school girls basketball all across Kentucky.    One of the reasons why it will be such a great season is the large list of freshman talent across the Bluegrass State that is sure to make their presences known across the Commonwealth's high school girls hoops landscape.    Conventional wisdom can dictate that freshman may feel nerves upon that first game. These up-and-coming stars did not get the memo. We continue to place a spotlight many of those 2028s here.     So many of the standouts on this list first hooped at the varsity level as a seventh grader. Burkhart is another one of those. She completed a stellar season at Garrard County in 2023-24 as she averaged 12.6 points for the Golden Lions. It appears that she will take her talents next door to Lincoln County for the upcoming season. Burkhart would be a worthwhile addition to a Patriots team that has aspirations on continuing its upward trajectory in the 2024-25 season. Burkhart primarily plays as a one guard can particularly wreak havoc on defense and has a 3-point shot as part of her arsenal.     Creekmore is poised and ready to do more as she steps into her freshman season. As an eighth grader for McCreary Central, Creekmore averaged 12.1 points per contest. She has no problems getting her teammates involved on the flow of the game. If she has the ball behind the 3-point arc, there is a good chance she will take – and make – said ensuing shot attempt. Creekmore is an efficient runner of the floor, will deliver strong finishes at the rim and has no issues drawing contact to find herself at the free throw line. Defense is another area of her overall game that she excels at.     To the eastern part of the Commonwealth. Our lists have featured plenty of products from the Kentucky Premier program and here is another. Breathitt County finished with a record of 18-12 and Combs was a major reason for that success. She averaged 14.6 points as an eighth grader in 2023-24. Combs plays the game on contact meaning she does not shy away from physicality as that can give her opportunities via the free throw line. She also can be efficient as a 3-point shooter and also excels as a rebounder. One can have her play at either the one or the two in the backcourt and she – and her team – will benefit greatly.     Another standout who happens to play two sport – both during the spring semester. As much as Yates has shown out on the basketball court, she does the same on the softball diamond. And as much as she showcases her talents at Boyle County, she does the same with Kentucky Premier EYBL 14U. Yates averaged 10.4 points a game last season. Yates' outstanding play also contributed to the Rebels finding its first 19-game winning season since 2013-14. As much as Yates thrives as an outside shooter, she can also do the same as a passer and in the transition game. Yates' shooting capabilities certainly make it fitting that she plays primarily as a shooting guard, but her 5-foot-9 is something that is indicative of many threes and fours.     When one sees Miller play, it becomes very apparent why she took home 3rd Region Newcomer of the Year honors. She averaged 12.6 points per game and wore the [program_tooltip program_id='716239' first='Lady' last='Vision'] Elite 2028 uniform throughout the spring and summer months of AAU ball. If one reaches the 1,000-point plateau as a seventh grader at the middle school level then they must be on the right track. She particularly excels in the 3-point shooting game and will do plenty of work on the glass. Defensively, she is a consistent threat to collect steals and create extra possessions for her team. One of Miller's signature performances from last season came in a 3OT contest against Butler County where she had a double-double of 27 points and 17 rebounds plus six steals – as an eighth grader.

From McCracken County to Floyd Central and from Monroe County to St. X, it is sure to be another exciting season of high school girls basketball all across Kentucky.