Sweet 16 Preview ~ Wednesday’s Matchups

Sweet 16 Region Preview. A brief overview of each team and top performers. It is the final chance to scout high school players before transitioning to the travel season. Prep Hoops staff will be locked in to every game.

Below is a spotlight of Wednesday’s four opening round match-ups: 

11:00am

Jeffersontown (17-12)

Cantrall’s Rating: 73.5

State RPI #115 .535

6th Region Champion

24th District Champion

2023 Postseason Victories vs Bullitt East, Fern Creek, Moore, Butler, DeSales

Previous Sweet 16 Appearance: 2022

Ranked Prep Hoops Players: Brandon Gatewood Brandon Gatewood 6'0" | PG Pleasure Ridge Park | 2023 State KY (Senior), Brenton Moore Brenton Moore 6'2" | SG Jeffersontown | 2024 State KY (Junior)

Woodford County (20-12)

Cantrall’s Rating: 80.2

State RPI #80 .568

5th Region Champion

17th District Champion

2023 Postseason Victories vs Anderson County, Collins (2x), Owen County, North Oldham

Previous Sweet 16 Appearance: 1986

Ranked Prep Hoops Players: John McCrear John McCrear 6'8" | PF Woodford County | 2023 State #219 Nation KY (Senior), Jasper Johnson Jasper Johnson 6'5" | PG Woodford County | 2025 MO (Sophomore), Makhi Smith Makhi Smith 6'3" | SF Woodford County | 2025 State KY (Sophomore), Santonio Waide Santonio Waide 6'0" | PG Woodford County | 2025 State KY (Sophomore), Jaunte Jenkins Jaunte Jenkins 6'2" | PG Woodford County | 2025 State KY (Sophomore)

1:30pm

Elizabethtown (23-9)

Cantrall’s Rating: 73.5

State RPI #73 .574

5th Region Champion

17th District Champion

2023 Postseason Victories vs John Hardin, Central Hardin, Adair County, Bardstown, Larue County

Previous Sweet 16 Appearance: 2021

Ranked Prep Hoops Players: Ayden Evans Ayden Evans 6'9" | C Elizabethtown | 2024 State #160 Nation KY (Senior), Obian Howard Obian Howard 6'0" | PG Elizabethtown | 2023 State KY (Senior), Alex Evans Alex Evans 6'4" | PF Elizabethtown | 2024 State KY (Junior)

McCracken County (29-5)

Cantrall’s Rating: 72.1

State RPI #12 .665

1st Region Champion

2nd District Champion

2023 Postseason Victories vs Christian Community, Paducah Tilghman, Marshall County, Carlisle County, Mayfield

Previous Sweet 16 Appearance: 2021

Ranked Prep Hoops Players: Jack McCune Jack McCune 6'5" | SG McCracken County | 2023 State KY (Senior), Ian Hart Ian Hart 6'7" | PF McCracken County | 2023 State KY (Senior), Jackson Klope Jackson Klope 6'4" | C McCracken County | 2026 State KY (Freshman)

6:00pm

Warren Central (32-1)

Cantrall’s Rating: 84.3

State RPI #1 .725

4th Region Champion

14th District Champion

2023 Postseason Victories vs Greenwood, Bowling Green (2x), Franklin-Simpson, Warren East

Previous Sweet 16 Appearance: 2022

Ranked Prep Hoops Players: Chappelle Whitney Chappelle Whitney 6'4" | SF Warren Central | 2023 State KY (Senior), Omari Glover Omari Glover 6'3" | PG Warren Central | 2023 State KY (Senior), Damarion Walkup Damarion Walkup 6'1" | SG Warren Central | 2023 State KY (Senior), Kade Unseld Kade Unseld 6'5" | SF Warren Central | 2024 State KY (Junior)

Pulaski County (27-6)

Cantrall’s Rating: 70.5

State RPI #22 .631

12th Region Champion

47th District Champion

2023 Postseason Victories vs Casey County, Rockcastle County, Mercer County, McCreary Central, Lincoln County

Previous Sweet 16 Appearance: 2017

Ranked Prep Hoops Players:  Barek Williams Barek Williams 6'2" | CG Pulaski County | 2023 State KY (Senior), Cayden Lancaster Cayden Lancaster 6'5" | SF Pulaski County | 2023 State KY (Senior), Carson Fraley Carson Fraley 6'1" | PG Pulaski County | 2026 State KY (Freshman)

8:30pm

Owensboro (19-10)

Cantrall’s Rating: 72.4

State RPI #79 .568

3rd Region Champion

9th District Champion

2023 Postseason Victories vs Daviss County, Owensboro Catholic (2x), Ohio County, Butler County

Previous Sweet 16 Appearance: 2019

Ranked Prep Hoops Players: Kenyata Carbon Kenyata Carbon 6'1" | SG Owensboro | 2023 State KY (Senior),  JiAirius Webb JiAirius Webb 6'7" | PF Owensboro | 2023 State KY (Senior), Jonathan Moss Jonathan Moss 5'10" | PG Daviess County | 2026 State KY (Freshman)

Ashland Blazer (22-11)

Cantrall’s Rating: 73.5

State RPI #73 .574

16th Region Champion

64th District Runner-Up

2023 Postseason Victories vs Rose Hill Chrisitan, Russell, Morgan County, Boyd County, 

Previous Sweet 16 Appearance: 2022

Ranked Prep Hoops Players: Rheyce DeBoard Rheyce DeBoard 6'1" | PG Ashland Blazer | 2023 State KY (Senior), Zander Carter Zander Carter 6'6" | SG Ashland Blazer | 2025 State KY (Sophomore)

Make sure you are following @PrepHoopsKY on Twitter for weekly top games & top performers!