McGillis will be on center stage with his Covington Catholic teammates in the most anticipated opening round game at the state tournament this week. Athens is a pure point guard in the sense that he takes pride in setting up his teammates and running a team. If he needs to score, he can but Athens does a lot for his team, every night out. He’s headed to D2 Power Nova Southeastern for college.

A Mr Basketball candidate, McGillis was impressive as a downhill slasher who got to the lane when he wanted in the half court and as usual found easy buckets in transition thanks to the frantic pace Covington Catholic plays at which allowed them to score 62 first half points! Watching the pace and pressure Covington Catholic plays at reminds me of Nova Southeastern, the school McGillis will play at next season.

Athens McGillis Athens McGillis 5'11" | PG/CG Covington Catholic | 2026 State KY averages 2.3 three-pointers per game while shooting 40.4% from deep (69-for-171) this season. McGillis has deep range and the confidence to take, and make, difficult shots. He uses his handles, speed, and agility to create space, but is just as dangerous in catch-and-shoot situations. He’s capable of knocking down tough, off-balance threes and isn’t afraid of the moment, consistently stepping up to hit big shots in crucial, momentum-swinging situations.

It’s not often you see a player go 10/11 from the floor scoring 26 points in the first half, but that’s what McGillis did in Covington Catholic’s 95-50 opening round victory. McGillis is extremely skilled as he can change hands, speed and direction on the ball in an instant, splitting traps from all areas of the court. His shooting range has extended even further with multiple 3-pointers from NBA range. A Mr basketball candidate, McGillis is arguably the most skilled player in Kentucky.

Athens McGillis Athens McGillis 5'11" | PG/CG Covington Catholic | 2026 State KY opened his senior season with an impressive 34-point outing against St. Joseph’s College (Australia), shooting a strong 60.9% from the field. On a floor loaded with talent and defensive pressure, he consistently flowed back into the offensive end, showcasing his ability to absorb contact and finish at the rim. His perimeter shooting remains a known strength, and he again displayed reliable catch-and-shoot mechanics throughout the game.

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.

McGillis has continued to trend up our rankings over the last couple of years and shows no signs of slowing down. A crafty playmaker, Athens has steadily added offers to his list over the past year and is one of the leaders for 9th region player of the year heading into the season. Athens is also underrated as a passer. He has made some really impressive passes at games I’ve been able to watch.

One of the biggest individual stock boosters over the past year, McGillis is knocking on the door of being a op ten player in this class after a July where he showed his continued ability to be both a scorer and a playmaker for Ohio Champion AAU. I expect Athens to be the 9th region player of the year and Covington Catholic to be the top ranked or second ranked team in the state, preseason.

One of the most talented offensive players on the UA Rise circuit, McGillis had some bright moments as a scorer and playmaker on Sunday against TLBA. When McGillis was able to turn the corner in the pick and roll, he hit a couple floaters and also found teammates for kickout passes. Add in the fact McGillis hit a sidestep 3-pointer and a give and go 3-pointer and McGillis was scoring to help his team stay competitive for a majority of the game. Look for McGillis to be a Kentucky Mr Basketball candidate this season on a Covington Catholic squad that should start near the top of preseason state rankings.

Athens McGillis Athens McGillis 5'11" | PG/CG Covington Catholic | 2026 State KY may be the best player in the entire northern Kentucky area. What sets him apart is his high basketball IQ. His ability to read the floor and make adjustments in real time is impressive. Even when facing double teams, McGillis finds ways to score with ease, whether it’s knocking down shots from deep or using his explosive first step to get to the rim. When the shot isn’t there, he quickly identifies the open man and rarely makes a bad decision with the ball. Last season, he averaged 20.6 points and 3.8 assists per game.