Preseason Preview: Top Prospects in Regions 9 and 10

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Regular season practice has officially tipped off across Kentucky, and scrimmages are underway. As we gear up for another exciting year of high school hoops, I've broken down the top college prospects in each region heading into the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Note:</strong>&nbsp;This list is not a ranking of the top overall players. Instead, it highlights the best&nbsp;<em>college prospects</em>&nbsp;in each region based on their potential to succeed at the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Take a look at the top prospects in the 9th and 10th region!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Region 9:</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1060383' first='Jayden' last='McClain'], <strong>Ryle (2029) </strong>- The No. 1 ranked prospect in the class of 2029, she already stands an imposing 6'6” and brings rare size, length, and versatility to the floor. Last season with the Ryle Lady Raiders, she averaged 10.2 points and 8.8 rebounds per game while setting the program's single-season blocks record with an incredible 128. She enters her freshman season holding over a dozen Division I offers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='747645' first='Haylee' last='Noel'],<strong> Cooper (2027)</strong> - She averaged a team-leading 16.4 points and 7.5 rebounds per game on highly efficient shooting splits of 47/41/86, guiding Cooper to its fourth consecutive 9th Region Championship and a Sweet 16 appearance. Her standout play earned her recognition as the Region Player of the Year. Heading into her junior season, she holds over 13 Division I offers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='571230' first='Jaelyn' last='Jones'], <strong>Ryle (2026) </strong>- Committed to Western Illinois University, Jaelyn was one of the top scorers in the 9th Region last season, averaging a team-leading 18 points per game for Ryle. She surpassed the 1,000-point career milestone and earned All-NKY Division I Team honors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='747665' first='D'Myah' last='Williams'], <strong>Holy Cross Covington (2027)</strong> - The 5'11" wing averaged 10.2 points and a team-leading 5.8 rebounds per game, helping the Indians finish with an impressive 25-8 record. She carried that momentum into a standout spring and summer on the EYBL circuit, where she picked up six Division I offers, bringing her total to seven. Poised for a big junior campaign, she continues to elevate her game as one of the most promising two-way wings in Kentucky's 2027 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Region 10:</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='739686' first='Kennedy' last='Stamper'], <strong>George Rogers Clark (2027) </strong>- Committed to the University of Cincinnati, she is the No. 1 ranked player in Kentucky's 2027 class. Last season, she averaged a team-high 12 points per game and shot an impressive 87.4% from the free-throw line for the state runner-up GRC. Her play will be instrumental to the Lady Cardinals' success this season as she continues to establish herself as one of the premier guards in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='743672' first='Maggie' last='Simons'], <strong>Nicholas County (2027) </strong>- A top-10 prospect in the class of 2027 and the No. 1 combo guard in Kentucky, she led the state in scoring last season with an impressive 30.4 points per game, helping the Lady Jackets capture the 38th District Championship. She currently holds a Division I offer from Mercyhurst University.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='605643' first='Lilly' last='Paige Ashcraft'], <strong>Pendleton County (2026)</strong> - A top-20 player in Kentucky's class of 2026, she led Pendleton County as a junior with 12.8 points per game. Following a strong spring and summer where she earned six college offers, she now enters her senior season with over 1,000 points in her career.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='818840' first='Isabella' last='Jayasuriya'], <strong>Campbell County (2026)</strong> - Committed to Thomas More University, she is coming off a strong junior season where she led Campbell County in both scoring (14.5 PPG) and rebounding (7.8 RPG). She also surpassed the 1,000-point career milestone and earned First Team All-Region honors for her standout play on both ends of the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->