Eastern Kentucky’s Top 10 Prospects

We’re here to answer the question of, “Who are the 10 best prospects in the Eastern Kentucky area?” What are the stipulations? None, really. Regardless of class and regardless of positions, what’s our top 10? <strong>#1 [player_tooltip player_id="164384" first="Haven" last="Ford"], Rowan County (2023) - </strong>It’s early but Haven has the look of an elite college prospect. She does a little bit of everything on the court and is a big time scorer. Her potential is way up there and if she reaches her ceiling, Ford will be a top 100 or better player nationally. Her early D1 offers are legitimate and she is likely to be a prized recruit for both Kentucky and Louisville before long. <strong>#2 [player_tooltip player_id="31850" first="Harley" last="Paynter"], Boyd County (2021) - </strong>One of the state’s top pure scorers, Harley recently decommitted from Morehead State and could end up a mid major plus signee if she ever gets a chance to show her skills to coaches with an AAU season this summer. Continuing to work on her handles, Paynter is looking to prove she’s more than a catch and shoot player. <strong>#3 [player_tooltip player_id="167099" first="Shaelyn" last="Steele"], Russell (2024) - </strong>Another young guard with elite potential, Steele is a dynamic scorer who can also set up her teammates. A good athlete, Shaelyn is only going to get better over the next few seasons, especially as she adds some bulk to help her become better at finishing through contact. <strong>#4 [player_tooltip player_id="106138" first="Cassidy" last="Rowe"], Shelby Valley (2022) - </strong>The only committed player on this list (to Kentucky), Cassidy was playing up 2 age groups and dominating competition before her first knee injury. Since then, she suffered another ACL tear but came back last season and should be back to her old self soon. If she can get back to the form she showed when she was younger, Rowe should be a dominant player again and could be the best prospect in the mountains. <strong>#5 [player_tooltip player_id="31851" first="Hayley" last="Caudill"], Hazard (2021) - </strong>This list is heavy on point guards and more are on the list as we go. Caudill is a scoring point who is very effective at getting to the rim and finishing. At 36% from three, she’s also a capable shooter from downtown who can keep defenses honest. She has a high IQ and a knack for making the right pass at the right time. <strong>#6 [player_tooltip player_id="167106" first="Trinity" last="Rowe"], Pikeville (2024) - </strong>Another talented lead guard, Rowe holds multiple scholarship offers already and is the best facilitator on this list. Next season will be a little different as Trinity will need to take a bigger scoring role for her team but she is capable. With so many good point guards on this list, Rowe could be as high as #3 on the list but we’ll wait another year and see how her freshman season goes. Regardless of ranking, she’s a true talent. <strong>#7 [player_tooltip player_id="106136" first="Mia" last="Hale"], Estill County (2022) - </strong>Mia is a volume scorer who is able to get buckets despite seeing double teams nearly every night out. She’s one of the players who could most use an AAU season as she just doesn’t get to play alongside the amount of talent in high school that she would in AAU. <strong>#8 [player_tooltip player_id="106135" first="Alyssa" last="Elswick"], Shelby Valley (2022) - </strong>One positive to [player_tooltip player_id="106138" first="Cassidy" last="Rowe"]’s injury is that Elswick has been given a bigger role and embraced it as she has become a go-to scorer for the Lady Kats. She still needs to improve her shooting from deep but she has the potential to be the top slasher in the area and becomes an even better college prospect as she improves her perimeter shooting. <strong>#9 [player_tooltip player_id="106140" first="Allie" last="Stone"], West Carter (2022) - </strong>Another scoring point guard on the list, Stone is very shifty and excels at getting to the free throw line and converting. In her Sophomore season, Allie shot 88% from the line while making 4 per game and while she had a good year shooting the 3, the potential is there for her to be a lights out shooter from deep as well. <strong>#10 [player_tooltip player_id="88440" first="Sammi" last="Sites"], Johnson Central (2021) - </strong>There are about 10 different players who could make the bottom of this list but the nod goes to Sites. Sammi had a great Junior season and is among the best outside shooters in the state after hitting 44% from three this season. Sites led Johnson Central in almost every category this season and is set up for a great Senior season. She should get some scholarship offers in the near future.