Former Kentucky High School Basketball Stars Become Top Performers Going into NCAA Tournament
NCAA March Madness starts tonight (Mach 14th) with the “First Four” bracket in Dayton, Ohio. Prep Hoops Kentucky decided to take a look at top performers going into the tournament that were also stars here in the Bluegrass State.
Kelan Martin – Butler University (Louisville Ballard High School, 2014)
Kelan Martin has helped lead Butler to one of it’s greatest regular season records in program history, averaging 16.1 points per game and 6 rebounds. In high school, he was a finalist for Kentucky Mr. Basketball, scoring over 2,000 career points. In college, he has earned Second Team All-Big East honors and been named Big East player of the week numerous times. Butler, a 4 seed – will take on Winthrop March 16th.
Quentin Snider – University of Louisville (Louisville Ballard High School, 2014)
Snider won Mr. Basketball in 2014, playing alongside Butler’s Kelan Marin. Had they not lost in the regional final to Trinity by 1 point, who knows that the duo may have accomplished together in the state tournament. Snider is averaging 13 points per game and is a starting guard on Louisville’s championship contending team this year. #2 Louisville will take on #15 Jacksonville State – who ironically enough also has a Kentucky connection. Head Coach Ray Harper is a Kentucky native and coached NCAA Division II Kentucky Wesleyan to multiple national championships, as well he was the head coach at Western Kentucky University last season.
Ray Spalding – University of Louisville (Louisville Trinity High School. 2015)
Spalding has started 8 games for the Cardinals this year and is averaging just over 5 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 block per game. His season’s best game came against Syracuse – he pulled down 11 rebounds to go with his 18 points on 8-9 shooting.
Quentin Goodin – Xavier University (Taylor County High School, 2016)
Having started 14 games this season and the last 13 consecutively, Goodin is averaging 5 points per game. He has scored in double-digits six times on the season, including a career high 16 against St. John’s. #11 Xavier will take on #6 Maryland on March 16th. Gooding helped guide Taylor County to multiple state tournament appearances.
Mason Faulkner – Northern Kentucky University (Caverna High School, 2016)
Faulkner had a reputation in high school of filling it up from the field at Caverna, where he was a finalist for Mr. Basketball. As a freshman, his career high is already 29 points (against Detroit Mercy). He is currently averaging just over 7 points per game. He earned one start this season against Cleveland State. #15 Northern Kentucky will face off against #2 Kentucky on March 17th.
Carson Williams – Northern Kentucky University (Owen County High School, 2016)
(AP Photo/Raymond Thompson)Last year’s Mr. Basketball award winner, Williams is averaging 11 points and 6 rebounds per game as a freshman for the Norse and has started every game but one. He scored a career high 22 points against Cleveland State and pulled down a career high 14 rebounds against Big Ten foe Illinois.
Drew McDonald – Northern Kentucky University (Newport Catholic Central, 2015)
If you haven’t noticed, Northern Kentucky University has taken advantage of some really good recruiting in the Bluegrass State lately. McDonald, although a Mr. Basketball candidate at Newport Catholic Central, flew under most D-1 schools radars. Since arriving at NKU, he was named to the All-Freshman team and has been named Horizon League Player of the Week a number of times. He scored a career high 37 points this season and is averaging 16 points and 8 rebounds.
Dominique Hawkins – University of Kentucky (Madison Central High School, 2013)
The 2013 Mr. Basketball award winner and Kentucky Sweet Sixteen state champion, Hawkins 20 points per game as a senior for the Indians. Hawkins has started in 4 games for the ‘Cats this year, averaging 4 points per game – but leading Kentucky in defensive intensity and leadership. In the SEC championship game, Hawkins dropped 14 points and was named to the all tournament team. Kentucky received a #2 seed and was considered the fifth ranked team going into the national tournament.
Derek Willis – Unviersity of Kentucky (Bullitt East High School, 2013)
Willis averaged 17 points and 9 rebounds per game as a senior with the Chargers. He and Dominique Hawkins also played together in the annual Kentucky/Indiana All-Star game. At Kentucky, Willis is averaging 7 points and 5 rebounds as a senior, with season highs in scoring coming against Kansas and Tennessee (18 and 16 points respectively).