Next Up: 2030s Turning Heads This Season Pt.1

Kentucky's class of 2030 is shaping up to be a very talented group. In this article, I highlight eighth graders who are playing meaningful minutes at the varsity level and have been productive contributors for their teams this season.    The future is bright at Nelson County, and it starts with Bailey Paulley. The talented young guard is averaging 5.2 points per game and has already become a meaningful contributor for the Lady Cards. She shoots the ball at a high clip from deep, is a skilled and confident ball handler, and brings consistent value on the defensive end as well. Paulley recently picked up her first Division I offer from Bellarmine University, a major milestone that further cements her status as a rising D-I prospect.     [player_tooltip player_id='1284160' first='Kathryn' last='Cline'] is a name you're going to be hearing a lot as her career continues to take shape. Just an eighth grader, she already leads Christian Academy of Louisville in scoring at 16.6 points per game while shooting 30% from three and an impressive 83% at the free-throw line. Cline shows a tremendous feel for the game at a young age. She knows how to put the ball in the basket, plays with great instincts on the defensive end, rebounds well for her position, and has the vision to get others involved. All signs point to Cline being a star in the making, and she's only scratching the surface of her potential.     [player_tooltip player_id='1237865' first='Elly' last='Ingels'] has been a key piece for the Rowan County Lady Vikings, serving as the team's second-leading scorer at 12.6 points per game. Ingles is a lead guard you can trust with the ball in her hands, showing poise, decision-making, and confidence as a primary handler. She's also high-volume three-point shooter who isn't afraid to let it fly and brings value on the defensive end as a solid perimeter defender. I see big things ahead for the young point guard. (Featured Image)     [player_tooltip player_id='1234261' first='DeMyiah' last='Allen'] is a young prospect at Russellville High School who continues to generate plenty of buzz and for good reason. She leads the Lady Panthers in both scoring (14.1 PPG) and rebounding (7.7 RPG) this season, establishing herself as the focal point on both ends of the floor. Allen is a powerful post presence who dominates the interior. She converts at a high rate around the basket, is a force on the glass on both ends, and brings rim-protection ability defensively. A walking double-double, she put together her best performance earlier this season with a career-high 36 points and 17 rebounds, a clear glimpse of her upside and impact.     Bethlehem sit at 11–6 on the season and are a team that gets production from a variety of contributors. One of those impact pieces is eighth grader [player_tooltip player_id='1304352' first='Evelyn' last='Ehringer'], who is averaging 8.1 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. Ehringer gets downhill like a freight train in transition and is extremely difficult to stop once she gets a full head of steam. She plays with a high motor, works hard on the glass, can stretch the defense with her outside shooting, and brings versatility on the defensive end. She put together a breakout performance last week against Nelson County, finishing with a career-high 20 points.

Kentucky's class of 2030 is shaping up to be a very talented group. In this article, I highlight eighth graders who are playing meaningful minutes at the varsity level and have been productive contributors for their teams this season.