Top Five Preview: Region Fifteen

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are only a few weeks away from the first scrimmages in the lead up to the 2025-26 KHSAA basketball season. The excitement level for this year is high. This is the first time in a few years that we haven't had a few teams that are clearly ahead of the pack in the race for the state title. I am going to be previewing all 16 regions by breaking down the top 5 teams and the top 5 college prospects in each region. Being a top 5 college prospect and being a top 5 player in the region are not the same thing. There are a lot of really good high school players in Kentucky who are not necessarily great college prospects. Here's a look at the top 5 teams and prospects in the fifteenth region, where several schools should compete to be the top team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Top 5 Teams:</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Martin County</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lawrence County</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Paintsville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Belfry</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Top 5 Players:</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1745583"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69016f7606b99"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The state's leading scorer last season, Keathley made a move to Martin County and should be surrounded with a lot more talent than he had at Prestonsburg the last few seasons. Capable of scoring from all over the court, Braxton should get to show off his playmaking skills and be more of a facilitator and not have to score 30+ for his team to be competitive.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2726638"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69016f7606c14"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A new name in the state after a transfer over from West Virginia, CJ has a very high prospect ceiling and looks like he's still got some growing to do. Waller has tended to float around the perimeter a little too much when I've seen him play but he is a good shooter and offers some good rim protection on the defensive end. A potentially big impact player in the region this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1745584"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69016f7606c6e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A really good athlete who can score in waves, Slone is primarily a slasher who excels at getting to the rim. One of the top scorers in the region last season, Austin is deadly in the open floor. More of a natural two guard, Slone plays with the ball in his hands on offense quite a bit for JC and is starting to come into his own as a playmaker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2900459"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69016f7606cc9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the top shooters in the state, Shepherd knocked down nearly half of his three point attempts as a Sophomore. Brayden is known for his baseball abilities but is likely a scholarship level prospect in basketball as well. There is not a better duo in the mountains than Shepherd and Slone.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2121733"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69016f7606d28"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Little is a player who has really improved over the past two years. He's also gotten much stronger which allows him to finish through contact at the rim and get to the free throw line. Brody gets overlooked because the 15th is LOADED in the Junior class but now that Belfry has a strong supporting cast, Little could make a big leap in year three.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Most Likely Mr. Basketball Finalist:</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Walker Russell, Magoffin County</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->