Kentucky Straight Apparel Classic Players to Watch

The first ever Kentucky Straight Apparel Classic takes place tomorrow in Bardstown and it is loaded with talent. Here’s a breakdown of the players to watch in each game.

Elizabethtown vs CAL

CAL has limped out of the gate this season to a 2-2 start but have some nice pieces and are capable of making a postseason run if they can get some shots to fall. Kirk Lemons Kirk Lemons 6'0" | SG CAL | 2023 State KY is their go to shooter but he has struggled through the first 4 games. A breakout on Saturday would go a long way towards getting a win. Junior Nolan Wahl Nolan Wahl 6'6" | SF Christian Academy Of Louisville | 2024 State KY is a do it all forward who will have to guard Ayden Evans Ayden Evans 6'9" | C Elizabethtown | 2024 State #160 Nation KY and Senior Joshua Sangalli is off to a hot start. He’s averaging 15 points on 55-41-80 shooting splits thus far.

E-town is powered by a strong starting 5 but doesn’t have a ton of depth yet. They’re also off to a 2-2 start with losses to Western and Bowling Green. Ayden Evans Ayden Evans 6'9" | C Elizabethtown | 2024 State #160 Nation KY is the bell cow of the offense and he’s averaging 15 points and 11 rebounds per game. JuJuan Williams and JQuan Williams are combining for 22 points per game and Junior Alex Evans Alex Evans 6'4" | PF Elizabethtown | 2024 State KY is chipping in 7 points and 4 boards per game as a versatile forward.

Green County at Bardstown

The Dragons are very young and are led by Sophomore Hayden Blakeman Hayden Blakeman 6'5" | SF Green County | 2025 State KY with 24 points and 8 rebounds per game. Fellow 2025 Jayden Marr Jayden Marr 6'2" | SG Green County | 2025 State KY is kicking in 12 points per game and is 5-7 from three this season. Green County is 1-3 to start the year but don’t sleep on their offensive firepower.

The host Tigers are off to a 2-1 start and have been missing football players. The majority of their scoring is coming from the three headed monster of Jay Trell Curtsinger, Donovan Stone Donovan Stone 6'1" | PG Central Hardin | 2024 State KY and Grant Bowling as their combining for nearly 50 points per game thus far. Coach Brewer’s squad is always tough and they are likely heavy favorites on Saturday.

Evangel Christian vs Lincoln County

Tramane Alcorn Tramane Alcorn 6'0" | CG Lincoln County | 2023 State KY and Colton Ralston are two long time starters for Lincoln and have been doing most of the heavy lifting on offense for the Patriots in their first two games. Junior Will Bishop Will Bishop 6'8" | PF Lincoln County | 2024 State KY is averaging close to a double double and starting to show flashes of the player he was before injuries slowed him down.

Evangel is probably the biggest team in the state thanks to Cyr Malonga Cyr Malonga 6'10" | C Evangel Christian | 2023 State KY , Ben Mukadi Ben Mukadi 6'8" | C Evangel Christian | 2025 State KY and Johnny Djema Johnny Djema 6'8" | PF Evangel Christian | 2024 State KY provide them plenty of rim protection and 15 fouls per game to use as needed. Malonga is joined by Christian Doerr Christian Doerr 6'3" | SG Evangel Christian | 2024 State KY and Kyran Tilley Kyran Tilley 6'1" | PG Evangel Christian | 2024 State KY to score an average of 58 points per game for the high powered offense.

Warren Cental vs Western

The featured game of the day has a ton of talent on both sides. The Dragons are 3-0 with wins of 45, 22 and 39 points. The 2022 runners up are on a mission. Led by 4 Seniors ( Chappelle Whitney Chappelle Whitney 6'4" | SF Warren Central | 2023 State KY , Izayiah Villafuerte, Demarion Walkup and Omari Glover Omari Glover 6'3" | PG Warren Central | 2023 State KY ) combining to average 54 points per game and Junior Kade Unseld Kade Unseld 6'5" | SF Warren Central | 2024 State KY at 15 per game, WC is shooting an insane 56% as a team through 3 games and 48% from behind the 3 point line. Super impressive start for Coach Unseld’s team.

Perhaps no team in the state has more hype right now than the Western Warriors as they come off a 100 point win on Tuesday night. Sophomores Julius Edmonds Julius Edmonds 6'6" | SF Trinity | 2025 State KY , Elijah Clinton Elijah Clinton 6'6" | CG Western | 2025 FL and Jayden Miles Jayden Miles 6'8" | C Chi-Prep | 2025 State IL all have multiple D1 offers while Seniors Trent Hinkle Trent Hinkle 5'11" | PG Western | 2023 State KY , Ondre Wicks Ondre Wicks 6'5" | SF Western | 2023 State KY and Anthony Lawrence Anthony Lawrence 5'10" | PG Western | 2023 State KY all hold offers from the NAIA or D2 levels. There will be small college games played this weekend that don’t have as much talent on the floor as this Warren Central vs Western matchup has.

Male vs Woodford County

The Bulldogs are coming off their first win of the season this week and have their sights set on another one against the Jackets. The vast majority of the Male offense comes from the Edelen brothers as they combine to score 38 points per game. Senior Meechie White Meechie White 6'3" | CG Male | 2023 State KY is an X factor as he can disrupt defenses and get open shots for teammates. Male is shooting 40% from three as a team this season and that’s their key to winning on Saturday.

At the time of this writing, Woodford hasn’t won a game yet this season (losses of 4,4 and 3 points) but they could get their first win at Anderson County tonight. They are without Senior (and Murray State commit) John McCrear John McCrear 6'8" | PF Woodford County | 2023 State #219 Nation KY who is recovering from injury. Without him, the team becomes much smaller and guard oriented. Look for 2025 star Jasper Johnson Jasper Johnson 6'5" | PG Woodford County | 2025 MO to get his fair share of the shots on Saturday. Aden Nelson, Makhi Smith Makhi Smith 6'3" | SF Woodford County | 2025 State KY , Santonio Waide Santonio Waide 6'0" | PG Woodford County | 2025 State KY and Jaunte Jenkins all play big roles for the Jackets.