It had been since last summer since we had the chance to see Shouse play live. The versatile 6’8″ forward quickly caught our attention and showcased significant improvements on Sunday at UAA Session II. Shouse showed off a smooth stroke as a catch-and-shoot threat, finished an athletic reverse layup when attacking a closeout, and scored out of the mid-post for Stars Basketball 17u in an impressive win over Atlanta Xpress.

Hayden is a big body who has shown his versatility over the past couple of seasons. Shouse averaged 22 points and 9 rebounds per game for a Meade County squad that made it all the way to the regional title game. Hayden previously announced a reclass to the 2027 class with a post grad year. It will be interesting to see how his recruitment could end up after next year.

Shouse earned some D1 offers late this summer but chose not to commit before his Senior season started. A versatile forward who can score the ball inside and out, Hayden is able to face up and knock down threes from range or post up smaller defenders. If not for Moss, Shouse would likely be considered the top Senior in the region.

Not many players in Kentucky have had a better summer than Hayden Shouse Hayden Shouse 6'8" | SF/CG KY . Hayden climbs from 30th to 11th in this update on the heels of earning D1 offers from UNC-Wilmington and EKU. Shouse has really good positional size and has some clear skill. He tends to have a really good motor too. He’s worked hard to bulk up in the last 12-18 months also. He’s built himself into a really good player over the course of his career.

Prior to the live period, Meade County’s Hayden Shouse Hayden Shouse 6'8" | SF/CG KY was offered by UNC Wilmington.

Hayden is another player who is underrecruited, in my eyes. A big body at 6’7, Shouse averaged 22 and 9 last season and shot 45% from three and 58% overall. Scholarship level programs all across Kentucky and surrounding states would be wise to make it a priority to see Hayden play this summer.

Putting up averages of 20 and 8, Shouse is off to a good start to the season for Meade County and the Green Wave have started the season 5-1 heading into Christmas break. Hayden is doing a great job of getting to the foul line and converting when he gets there. The only shortcoming for Shouse so far is his three point shooting as he’s only 1-8 from three in 5 games played. As that number comes up, Hayden should be one of the harder players to guard in the 3rd region.

Shouse was a really good player for the Green Wave last season but if they want to be a contender this season, Hayden needs to take the next step and be the best player on the floor, every night. At 6’7, he’s going to draw defensive matchups with the likes of DeAaron Watkins DeAaron Watkins 6'8" | PF Daviess County | 2026 State KY and Landon Henning Landon Henning 6'10" | C Apollo | 2027 State KY on a nightly basis and he’ll need to hold his own. On the offensive end, Shouse needs to showcase his ability to score both inside and out. As long as he’s not parked on the block and doesn’t settle for threes, Hayden is capable of ripping and attacking the rim off the bounce. He’s got a truckload of potential and I’m excited to see if he can elevate his game as a Junior.

Hayden had a very good day on Saturday. In past viewings of Shouse, I felt like he was thinking too much instead of just playing basketball. At camp, Hayden was the best I’ve seen him and it was because he was just being a basketball player. His motor was running at a high level and he wasn’t robotic with the ball in his hands like I’ve seen before. Definitely left with a really good impression of the 6’7 wing after Saturday.