Taylor County was one of the top teams in the state, finishing with a 29–7 record while capturing the 20th District and 5th Region championships once again and advancing to the Final Four of the Sweet 16. The run was fueled by a stellar freshman campaign from Kennedy Deener Kennedy Deener 5'7" | PG/SG Taylor County | 2029 State KY , who averaged 22.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.9 steals per game. Her standout season earned her 5th Region Player of the Year honors as well as the 2025–26 Kentucky Gatorade Player of the Year award. (Featured Image)

Kennedy could be the most athletic guard in the state and pure explosion on the defensive end. Her speed and lateral quickness let her erase space in an instant. One second you think you have an angle, the next she is cutting it off and taking the ball the other way. She thrives in chaos, jumping passing lanes and turning steals into momentum swinging plays. Her energy is contagious and it fuels her entire team.

DAWG! An elite athlete with a complete offensive skill set! Kennedy loves attacking downhill, putting pressure on defenses, and creating easy looks for herself and her teammates! She could impact a college game right now and already holds multiple Division I offers!

She is averaging 27.9 points per game, shooting 59.1% from the field, 48.8% from three, and 84% at the line!

Taylor County is off to a 2–0 start, opening the season with a pair of dominant wins. Leading the charge is their fabulous freshman Kennedy Deener Kennedy Deener 5'7" | PG/SG Taylor County | 2029 State KY , who has been nothing short of electric. She opened the year with 24 points, 4 rebounds, and 8 steals against Marion County, then followed it up with a staggering 43 points, 6 rebounds, 5 steals, and 4 assists in a breakout performance against Central. The Lady Cardinals will look to keep the momentum rolling as they hit the road for a two-game stretch against Wayne County and Campbellsville.

At No.3 on the list is Kennedy Deener Kennedy Deener 5'7" | PG/SG Taylor County | 2029 State KY . As an 8th grader she played a pivotal role in guiding Taylor County to a historic season that included a 25-9 record, 20th District and 5th Region championships, and the program’s first Sweet 16 state tournament appearance in more than 40 years. Kennedy has a competitive streak you simply can’t teach. She’s extremely good at getting to the rim, can take on contact and finish, and shoots it really well from the mid-range and from three. After averaging a team-leading 19 points per game with impressive 48/42/82 shooting splits and picking up two Division I offers over the summer, she looks poised to once again be the catalyst for the Lady Cardinals’ success as a freshman.

Deener was, in my opinion, the best player at camp and likely the best player in the 2029 class in Kentucky. Kennedy is great in the open floor and can score on about anyone. She’s a good passer and often played off the ball on Saturday because there were so many guards in the camp. Kennedy could not be stopped from getting into the paint and she never seemed like she was forcing offense for herself. The games looked easy for her!

Kennedy showed why she’s already considered one of the top incoming freshmen in the state. She finished strong at the rim, knocked down a three from the top of the key, and played solid on-ball defense. Even when her shot wasn’t falling, Kennedy stayed aggressive, attacking the basket at will, was unafraid of contact, also made smart reads off screens.

Kennedy brought great energy on defense and showed her ability to finish in transition, getting out and running the floor with purpose. She’s a vocal leader who communicates well and flat-out competes every possession. Offensively, she drilled a three, drove to the rack hard, and made the most of her trips to the free-throw line. Kennedy also showed good court vision, delivering a nice kick-out to an open shooter. She plays with an edge and leads by example on both ends of the floor.