Preseason Preview: Top Prospects in Regions 7 and 8

<!-- 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 7th and 8th region!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>Region 7:</strong></span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='376789' first='Ashlinn' last='James'], <strong>Assumption (2026)</strong> - Committed to Indiana University, she is arguably the best player in the state and is ranked No. 64 on the SC Next 100. Last season, she averaged a team-leading 12.2 points per game, helping guide Assumption to a 23–6 record and a 26th District Championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='376791' first='Brianna' last='Wilkins'], <strong>Sacred Heart (2026)</strong> - Committed to Marshall University, she is the No. 2 ranked prospect in Kentucky's class of 2026. She averaged 11.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, helping lead Sacred Heart to a state championship last season. Heads into her senior year, she has already surpassed 2,000 career points and 500 rebounds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='747640' first='Amirah' last='Jordan'], <strong>Sacred Heart (2027)</strong> - One of the top juniors in the state, she was the second-leading scorer for the Valkyries as a sophomore, averaging 13 points per game while shooting an elite 88% from the free-throw line. She delivered in the clutch on the biggest stage, knocking down 19 consecutive free throws in the Sweet 16 to help secure her second straight state championship with Sacred Heart. She now holds five-plus Division I offers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='657816' first='Se'Rae' last='Bundrent-Palmer'], <strong>Assumption (2028)</strong> - Ranked No. 3 in the class of 2028, she is already one of the best defenders in the state and played a key role for Assumption as a freshman. She holds a Division I offer from the University of West Georgia and is primed for a big sophomore season as her role continues to expand.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>Region 8:</strong></span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='376802' first='Madison' last='Young'], <strong>South Oldham (2026)</strong> - Committed to Illinois State University, she is a top-five prospect in Kentucky's class of 2026. She led South Oldham in both scoring (18.2 PPG) and rebounding (8.5 RPG) and surpassed 1,500 career points as a junior. Heading into her senior season, she looks to be the frontrunner for Region Player of the Year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='494689' first='Elin' last='Logue'],<strong> Walton-Verona (2027)</strong> - She led Walton-Verona to a 20–10 season while averaging 15 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. She shot an impressive 43% from three and 87% at the free-throw line, reached the 1,000-point career milestone, and earned All-Region and All-Conference honors. She also holds an offer from the University of Charleston.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='739708' first='Brynli' last='Pernell'], <strong>Simon Kenton (2027)</strong> - She led Simon Kenton in scoring with 14.7 points per game and played a pivotal role in helping the Lady Pioneers capture the 8th Region Championship and earn a state tournament appearance. Her strong play throughout the season also earned her Second Team All-State honors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='729575' first='Olivia' last='Ginn'], <strong>Grant County (2027) </strong>- Committed to Southeastern University, she averaged 9.2 points a game and helped guide Grant County to a 32nd District title and a Region Championship game appearance in the 2024-2025 season. She will carry a much heavier scoring load this season as she looks to be the focal point of the offense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->