Gary Moore Classic Standouts
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I attended the last two games of the Gary Moore Classic as host Franklin County took on Scott County and a top five battle in the state between Great Crossing and Lexington Catholic. In this article I’ll break down the…
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Continue ReadingI attended the last two games of the Gary Moore Classic as host Franklin County took on Scott County and a top five battle in the state between Great Crossing and Lexington Catholic. In this article I’ll break down the standout performers from the event.
Xyier Wray
Xyier Wray
A big week for Wray as he had a nice performance in an upset win over Bryan Station earlier and again played well in a tight loss to Franklin County. A rhythm shooter off the bounce, Wray looks to get to his spots in the mid-range and rise up even when contested. Also finishing a couple acrobatic layups at the rim, Wray was a quick guard who got to the rim often. Finally, Wray made some impressive passes against pressure and set his teammates up well when he was trapped or in the open floor. One area of improvement for Wray will be becoming more confident with his left hand. If he can be a threat to attack going both ways, he’ll be able to increase his scoring production.
Daylyn Redden
Daylyn Redden
Franklin County was led by DuRi Trahan with a game-high 20 points, but I wanted to highlight Redden, who was second on the team with 10 points. Redden set strong screens and got himself open by setting his teammates up off the bounce to attack. Capable of attacking off the bounce with quick moves, a spin move into a floater touch shot was his most impressive bucket of the day. In a tie game in the fourth quarter, Redden had a two dribble drive attacking a closeout that led to a scoop layup to take the lead. With his size and motor, Redden looks like a potential small college target when those programs start targeting more class of 2025 players this summer.
Great Crossing at the moment looks like the top team in the state and it’s largely because of their 7 foot monster in the paint, Malachi Moreno Malachi Moreno 6’11” | C Great Crossing | 2025 State #21 Nation KY . Offered by Western Kentucky following the game, Moreno already holds dozens of Division I offers including numerous high major programs around the country. A stat sheet stuffing stat-line of 20 points, 19 rebounds and 8 blocks, Moreno was everywhere on Saturday. His hands are maybe his best attribute as Moreno catches every pass thrown to him and every rebound that touches his hands are secured. His ability to protect the rim without fouling also allows him to stay on the floor for long stretches. While his scoring will take the headlines, it’s the little skills that separate Moreno from other high major bigs and have him climbing up national rankings.
A utility player for Great Crossing, Richardson threw some great passes for alley-oop slam dunks and set the table for his team. A wing with solid size and a fast release, Richardson hit a couple huge shots from the perimeter. His leadership on the floor also stands out on a team that has a core of Juniors leading the charge. As Great Crossing was starting to pull away late, a cut by Richardson got him open for an easy look at the rim off a BLOB. Really liked what Richardson brought to the court in addition to his shooting ability. Finding ways to impact the game besides just spacing the floor.
Lexington Catholic had a comfortable lead in the third and it was built off the back of Doyle. The Bellarmine commit is tough to stop when he’s attacking downhill and has the strength to finish through contact. With elite touch at the rim, Doyle knocked down some tough layups and floaters at the basket. A better athlete than you think, Doyle’s first step allows him to get past the primary defender and attack the rim. Playing with an elite feel, Doyle sets his teammates up in positions to score and is the engine of the Lexington Catholic offense. It would be exciting to see a rematch of this game in the state playoffs.