Top Five Preview: Region Nine

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are only a week away from the first games of 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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Top Five Teams:</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Covington Catholic</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lloyd Memorial</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Highlands</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Holy Cross (Covington)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Newport</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Top Five College Prospects:</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2248846"],"_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-692607bf2d3af"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A bigger point guard who is explosive and really impacts winning for the Juggernauts, Anthony is matchup problem for ninth region foes. While Blaackar isn't a great shooter, he shoots well enough to keep defenses honest. His quick first step allows Anthony to live in the paint on the offensive end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1575699"],"_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-692607bf2d418"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">There may not be another player in Kentucky who gets more done than McGillis. He's tough and plays with a super high basketball IQ. Athens should be the regional player of the year and has Covington Catholic as the HEAVY favorites to get to Rupp Arena in March.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2828341"],"_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-6926087b95acd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Myrick is a big time shooter. He transferred to Covington Catholic from Mason County and should benefit from playing on the wing with McGillis and [player_tooltip player_id='1359135' first='Cash' last='Harney'] handling the ball and distributing. Braeden is extremely skinny and has a long way to go with his adding weight to his frame but he's one of the top catch and shoot threats in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2694621"],"_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-692607bf2d4b4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gabbard is a bruising power forward who had a big AAU summer and looks to ride that momentum into his Senior season. Brady can score around the bucket but has also shown he can stretch out away from the rim as well as put the ball on the floor and attack the paint.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2326411"],"_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-6926087b95b46"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lowe is the last man standing at Newport after the mass exodus that occurred over the last two summers. Amontae should have the ball in his hands at all times for the WIldcats and will need to produce at a high level for them to remain relevant in the regional title discussion.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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='1575699' first='Athens' last='McGillis'], Covington Catholic</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->