KY Expo '26: Team 8 Standouts

The Prep Hoops Kentucky Expo brought talent from across the state to Louisville this past Sunday. Over 85 athletes were divided into 10 teams for 5-on-5 action. Let's reflect on a few standouts from Team 8.    Jonah was the most prolific player on Team 8's roster, earning his way onto my overall <a href="https://prephoops.com/2026/09/ky-expo-26-doneahs-top-performers/">Top Performers</a> list. He got to the rim off the dribble often and was comfortable with adjusting his shot against taller defenders. I gave a lot of praise to his court vision this past weekend in my first write up but I'm not sure enough can be said about it. He has a keen ability for setting his teammates up for success by drawing the defense's attention and opening up space for others. There was one game in particular during which he either scored, assisted, or contributed a hockey assist on nearly every point scored while he was in the game. To put it plainly, Team 8's offense didn't run efficiently without Jonah's initiation.     Joel is a great athlete who played with exceptional pace at the KY Expo. He deployed his ability to accelerate in a split second throughout the day and showcased a crafty handle when getting downhill. For a player who is as speedy as he is, I was impressed with his body control and shot selection in the paint as he alternated between getting all the way to the rim and stop and popping in the midrange when he needed to. Excited to see what he, [player_tooltip player_id='2534900' first='Stephon' last='Darden'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2532050' first='Dexter' last='Mcatee'] can do together for Central's backcourt.     I've watched Dex's game evolve over the years and he has continuously put the the work in to get better. He was most effective in the open court at the KY Expo this past Sunday. He operated well at the helm of fast break situations, more often than not finishing buckets at the rim but also finding cutting teammates when he needed to. He also found success as a lane runner who was rewarded for his hustle and effort to get up the court in a hurry. Beyond that, Dex's jumper has pleasantly matured which could be indicative of a better year beyond the arc in terms if efficiency.     River was in the right place at the right time a lot at the KY Expo which resulted in a lot of buckets for him to finish. He consistently moved well without the ball and made himself available to bail his teammates out on several occasions by cutting hard through the lane or sneaking behind the defense near the baseline. He showed great patience around the rim in his willingness to use ball fakes to get his defender in the air to create space for a shot. He also flashed some confidence as a facilitator on the top of the key. On one play he notably snagged a defensive rebound, handled ball pressure the full length of the court and swished a deep 3-ball off the dribble.     Another up and coming Central guard, Ka'mari showed a lot of promise at the KY Expo. A bit small and wiry at the moment, he'll have to add a significant amount of weight over the next few years to compete at a high level. What he may lack in size, however, he makes up for with speed, agility, and pure guts. If a defender didn't have a hand in his face, Ka'Mari took that as disrespect and pulled from wherever he stood on the court, managing to connect on more than a few deep attempts. Once his 3-ball demanded respect, he proved that he can get his offense going in other ways by using one or two dribbles to blow by his man and get all the way to the rim.

The Prep Hoops Kentucky Expo brought talent from across the state to Louisville this past Sunday. Over 85 athletes were divided into 10 teams for 5-on-5 action. Let's reflect on a few standouts from Team 8.