Replacing Top 2025s: Regions 5-8

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Class of 2025 is now in the rearview but it was one of the best high school classes that Kentucky has ever seen, from top to bottom. The top of the class is in the discussion for the best group of female hoopers that has come out of the Commonwealth. Looking ahead, there is a lot to replace after graduation and here are some players who could replace those top graduating Seniors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Fifth Region:</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Regional POY: [player_tooltip player_id='254279' first='Leah' last='Macy'], Bethlehem</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Next Up: [player_tooltip player_id='743671' first='Loren' last='Macy']. We got a preview of life after Leah when her season was ended early with a knee injury. In her absence, her little sister Loren stepped up and was comfortable in a bigger role. The younger Macy averaged 9 points and 8 rebounds last year and could be a 16 and 10 per night type of player as a Junior.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Sixth Region:</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Regional POY: [player_tooltip player_id='254282' first='Noel' last='Smith'], Whitefield Academy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Next Up: [player_tooltip player_id='747666' first='Mia' last='Braffet']. As a Sophomore, Mia averaged 7 points and 3 rebounds per game but she should be expected to double (at least) that production as a Junior. Whitefield is on one of the best stretches of basketball in their school history and it will be up to Braffet and Senior [player_tooltip player_id='493162' first='Riley' last='Ring'] to keep the program rolling along.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Seventh Region:</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Regional POY: [player_tooltip player_id='254273' first='ZaKiyah' last='Johnson'], Sacred Heart</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Next Up: [player_tooltip player_id='376791' first='Brianna' last='Wilkins']. There are SEVERAL players who are primed to step up for SHA with Z gone but I lean towards Brianna as I think she has potential to show some things that she's not been able to do yet for the Valkyries. [player_tooltip player_id='747640' first='Amirah' last='Jordan'] is another top player who will be looked to so they can help carry a reloading Sacred Heart team to another state title run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Eighth Region:</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Regional POY: [player_tooltip player_id='254281' first='Lainey' last='Johnson'], Anderson County</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Next Up: [player_tooltip player_id='1176101' first='Emily' last='Jarrard']. Anderson County is another team that has consistently been at the state tournament in recent seasons. They're graduating quite a bit but there are some very talented young ladies waiting in the wings to step up for Anderson. As a freshman, Jarrard averaged 8 points and 6 rebounds. As a Sophomore, it's not unreasonable to expect her to double those averages.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->