Top Five Preview: Region Sixteen

<!-- 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 sixteenth region where Ashland has reigned supreme for years now.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Top 5 Teams:</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Boyd County</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ashland</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Russell</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Raceland</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Elliott County</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Top 5 College Prospects:</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1359133"],"_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-68fea949702c3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the best pure scorers that Kentucky has seen over the last few seasons, Spurlock had an injury derail his summer. Committed to Youngstown State, Jacob is anxious to get Boyd County a regional title before graduation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1745587"],"_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-68fea94970371"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Neel is overlooked, in my opinion. A good shooter who is comfortable playing with the ball in his hands or playing as a shooting guard, Elijah knows how to fill up a score sheet in a hurry and is a tough cover for regional foes no matter where he is on the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2392296"],"_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-68fea949703f6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A transfer into Boyd from Huntington, West Virginia, Payne is a good athlete for his size and should make an explosive back court next to [player_tooltip player_id='1359133' first='Jacob' last='Spurlock']. Keep an eye on Malachi as the potential X factor in the regional title chase.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2809202"],"_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-68fea9497047a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Clarke has added several non-D1 offers in the last few months and looks to be firmly in the mix as the best Senior in the region this year. In order for Ashland to make it 8 straight regional championships, Caleb will need to help carry Ashland in life after Zander Carter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1745586"],"_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-68fea949704fb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Yet another impact transfer in the arms race between Ashland and Boyd, Rimmer moved to Boyd from Russell after averaging 15 points and 8 rebounds per game in his Sophomore season. Caleb is a bruising forward that should be hard to handle since defenses can't double him and leave Spurlock or Payne uncovered.</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>[player_tooltip player_id='1359133' first='Jacob' last='Spurlock'], Boyd County</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->