The Veteran All-State Returners in the 2A-8

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Every one of the all-state players from the 2A-8 that is returning for 2026/27 is an upperclassman. Experience runs this conference, and these players have shown time and time again how to get the job done.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1244344"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ad83d95967a6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1244344' first='Jakayla' last='Stephens'] is without a doubt the best big in the 2A classification.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When Stephens has the ball in her hands, there is nothing the defender can do to stop her. She will back her defender down and hit an easy jump hook or layup. Despite being a center, she can take the ball in the open floor, drive to the basket, and finish over any defender. She is a highlight machine inside, especially on defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If Stephens is guarding you, might as well pass the ball away, because there is a great chance she will strip it from you as she is not afraid to get in someone's face on defense. If you somehow get past her, she is sending your shot into the stands. While she's in the paint, there is no rebound she can't go up and get, using her impressive length and athleticism to dominate the glass.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1244344' first='Jakayla' last='Stephens'] is a highly versatile basketball player, and she is certainly dominant in the post.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1180575"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ad83d959683e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Junction City could have a big year with [player_tooltip player_id='1180575' first='McKenzie' last='Flowers'] back at the helm of the offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Flowers had some stellar scoring games this past season. She had 22 points against Gurdon in a December matchup. She also put up 16 points against Parkers Chapel in a tough loss last season. But her scoring averages are jaw-dropping. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>During Flowers' freshman season, she averaged 20.4 points per game, which is no surprise. Flowers can shoot the lights out from the perimeter, but if she slinks into the paint, she can find creases in the defense and finish through traffic. Her stop-and-go ability is also impressive, as she is able to keep defenders guessing when she has the ball in her hands while she's creating shots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1180575' first='McKenzie' last='Flowers'] has already made a name for herself in just the first two seasons of her high school basketball career. Her junior and senior years should be fun to watch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1811626"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ad83d95968b9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1811626' first='Keyaijah' last='Harris'] has improved year after year, and I think she is in store for a massive 2026/27 campaign.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last season, Harris put up 12.9 points, 9.1 boards, 2.5 assists, and 2.5 steals per game. She shot 51% on her shots inside the arc and was converting at the charity stripe at a 69% clip. When it comes to scoring, Harris is going to go into the chest of her defender and find a way to score. She has no problem taking on contact in the paint, but she is more than capable of stepping back and knocking down jumpers from mid-range and three.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Besides scoring, Harris' 2.5 assists per game as a forward show just how valuable she is to her teammates when she's in the game. She has good court vision, able to find cutters or open teammates. Harris is also fantastic at crashing the glass on both sides of the ball, and playing exceptional defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Keyaijah "Keke" Harris is a great talent in Lafayette County, and her all-state selection is proof of that.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1244419"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ad83d9596951"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Taylor brings back a dynamite squad for this coming season, and it all starts with [player_tooltip player_id='1244419' first='Macy' last='Downs'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This past season, Downs averaged 15 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals a game. She seemingly plays every position on the floor, as she has the ability to handle the ball and facilitate like a guard, but rebound and defend like a forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When Downs has the ball in her hands, she is looking to attack. She doesn't mind putting her head down and running through a brick wall to go score inside, but she has a little bit of swagger to her game, as she can use moves like a hop step to get around taller defenders and finish past them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1244419' first='Macy' last='Downs'] is an intriguing player to watch, but the impact and ability is clearly there. Taylor should be in good hands this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1220731"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ad83d95969c7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1220731' first='Adley' last='Buford'] earned all-state after a fantastic sophomore season, and she is in store for another great campaign.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Buford has a bit of an old-school game. Taylor positions her in the high post or at the elbow, and from there, she is used like the Spurs used Tim Duncan and Boris Diaw; she keeps the ball high and scans the paint for cutting teammates. She can then find them and hit them with a slick pass.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If passing is not an option, Buford is more than capable of creating her own offense. She can hit her defender with a couple of jab steps, and then pull back and knock down a mid-range jumper, even with a defender draped all over her. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1220731' first='Adley' last='Buford'] is a great facilitator for her position and a walking double-double, as she averaged 12 points, 10 boards, and 4 blocks per game for a well-rounded Taylor team last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1244420"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ad83d9596a3d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Surprise, surprise, Taylor has another all-state returner, this time in [player_tooltip player_id='1244420' first='Kendall' last='Hamlin'], one of the best defenders in the 2A classification.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>During her sophomore campaign, Hamlin put up 10 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 6 steals per game. Clearly, opposing guards can do nothing against Hamlin when she is on them, as her active hands lead to strips and passes being picked off. She also showed that she could contribute to her team by crashing the glass and making the extra pass.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>During that same sophomore season, Hamlin was truly a pest. She etched her name in the state high school record books that year with her 188 steals that season, which was 4th most ever. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I just know there are some players in the 2A-8 who are having [player_tooltip player_id='1244420' first='Kendall' last='Hamlin'] nightmares whenever they are set to play Taylor, because she thrives on making life unbelievably difficult for her opponent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1806218"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ad83d9596aac"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1806218' first='Trystan' last='Westfall'] rounds out the all-state performers from Taylor, and she helps mold this team into the well-oiled machine that it is.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Westfall is the type of player every coach wants: a do-it-all player who finds a way to impact the game no matter what. She can score the ball, whether from the perimeter or from inside, but she can also crash the offensive glass and get some easy putback buckets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On defense, Westfall contributes to Taylor's stifling on-ball pressure. She clogs passing lanes, plays angles, and uses her quickness to stay in front of her opponent. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1806218' first='Trystan' last='Westfall'] is no doubt a name you'll be hearing more about this coming season, so stay tuned.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->