KSR's 2021-22 Kentucky High School Basketball Preview

High school basketball in the Bluegrass starts on Monday, November 29, over a month earlier than last season’s January 4 start.  The reigning champion Highlands Bluebirds will try to repeat despite the graduation of state tournament MVP Sam Vinson, who is now at Northern Kentucky University.  Let’s hope for a much more normal year than the 2021 season that was filled with COVID cancellations and late starts.

Preseason High School Basketball Top 25

1. Ballard (21-3) — Chaunte Marreo’s (8.2) decision to return for a fifth season means the Bruns will have every key player back who played on last year’s Final Four team.  Big man Maker Bar (14.6) is in the mix for Mr. Basketball, Keno Hayden (13.6) is dynamic, and Gabe Sisk (18.1) is one of the best players in the state’s loaded junior class. They also added transfers Miles Franklin (10.2 ppg at Trinity) and Kaden Stanton (14.0 ppg at New Albany, Indiana).  Bar recently signed with the University of Missouri-Kansas City.  The Bruins will play in the prestigious City of Palms Tournament in Ft. Myers Florida in December.  

2. Covington Catholic (24-4) – The top three scores (Evan Ipsaro, Mitchell Rylee, and Chandler Starks) return from last year’s team, which was ranked near the top of the state all season.  Ipsaro (15.8), a junior guard, is already becoming a star and elite scorer while Rylee (15.9) and Starks (11.3) will provide a strong inside presence.  Rylee is a Miami (Ohio) commit.

3. Ashland (22-5) — Three double-digit scores (Cole Villers, Colin Porter, and Ethan Sellars) from last year’s Final Four team return.  The trio helped Ashland achieve a perfect 33-0 record in 2019-2020.  Porter (17.8), one of the top point guards in 2023, is the maestro in the Tomcats’ high-powered offense.  Villers (22.7) is a great scorer and Sellars (13.5) is a knock-down shooter. 

T4. Male (8-3) – UofL commit Kaleb Glenn (20.5) is one of three top 100 players Kentucky players in the Class of 2023.  He is among the state leaders in rebounds and field goal percentage.  Dez Lindsay (11.6) also returns and the Bulldogs added Ballard transfer point guard Jack Edelan, who missed last year with an injury.

T4. George Rogers Clark (20-5) – Jerone Morton (22.6) returns to lead the loaded Cardinals, who will also rely on Aden Slone (11.8), Stanley Smothers (5.9), and Trent Edwards (9.7).  New players Tanner Walton (leading scorer at LCA with 20.1 ppg) and Sam Parrish (leading scorer at Tates Creek with 16.9) will provide big additions to the squad that will look to go even deeper than the 2021 quarterfinal run.

6. North Laurel (25-3) – Reed Sheppard (30.1), who moved up inside the Top 25 in the 2023 national rankings, is one of five starters returning for the Jaguars.  He committed to Kentucky on Saturday!  Sheppard and Ryan Davidson (20.2), who are cousins, form one of the state’s top duos.  North Laurel will be one of the top-scoring teams in Kentucky.  Clay Sizemore (11.4) is a lethal shooter.

7. Madison Central (21-10) – Several key players return from last year’s squad that upset #1 ranked Lexington Catholic in the 11^th region tournament.  Jaylen Davis (14.2) and Will Hardin (16.2) are both excellent shooters.  

8. Dunbar (13-6) – Despite would be Mr. Basketball candidate Tim Hall (20.8) transferring to Vertical Academy in Charlotte, the Bulldogs are expected to be one of the favorites in the loaded 11^th region.  Guard Nick Spalding (16.7) is a tremendous scorer that can take over a game.  Max Vandyke (8.5) provides 3-point shooting and Lionel Kumwimba (5.7) will be relied on inside even more now that Hall has left.

9. Knox Central (18-6) – Jevonte Turner (25.1) is returning for a second senior season.  Turner, who was picked by coaches ahead of Reed Sheppard as the 13^th region’s top player this preseason, helped the Panthers defeat North Laurel 78-63 in the 2021 region finals.  Starters Isaac Mills (14.4), 13^th region tournament MVP Gavin Chadwell (8.7), and Abram Brock (7.4) also return.  Chadwell, a sophomore, is a tight end with an offer from Kentucky.

T10. Lexington Catholic

T10. McCracken County

12. Mason County

T13. Lyon County

T13. Highlands

15. Boyle County

16. John Hardin

17. Lincoln County

18. PRP

19. Owensboro

20. Dixie Heights

21. CAL

T22. Muhlenberg County

T22. Evangel Christian

24. Frederick Douglass

25. Bullitt East

Also Receiving Votes: Owensboro Catholic, Western, South Laurel, Bardstown, Woodford County, Paintsville

You can see my final rankings from last season here. Thanks to Clark Howell for collaborating with me on the rankings.

Premier High School Sports Podcast

Check out our season preview podcast episode:

Check out the Premier High School Sports podcast episode introducing our Preseason All-State Teams:

Note: These podcasts were recorded before Reed Sheppard committed to Kentucky.

Loaded Junior Class

While the senior (2022) class is not elite, the 2023 class may be the best Kentucky has ever produced.  Reed Sheppard (North Laurel), Kaleb Glenn (Male), and George Washington (Christian Academy Louisville) are all rated in the Top 100 nationally, with Sheppard (Kentucky) cracking the Top 20 in some rankings.  Glenn (UofL) and Washington (Ohio State) are also elite players.

The Class of 2023 also features Colin Porter (Ashland), Evan Ipsaro (Cov Cath), and now Jerone Morton (GRC) after Morton reclassified from 2022 to 2023. The sophomore class is also good.  Travis Perry (Lyon County) and Trent Noah (Harlan County) are two names to watch out for.

King of the Bluegrass

Want to see six of the top eight teams in the state play?  Make plans to attend the King of the Bluegrass tournament at Louisville Fairdale High School December 17-22.  No. 2 Cov Cath, No. 3 Ashland, No. 4 Male, No. 4 GRC, No. 6 North Laurel, and No. 8 Dunbar headline the loaded field.

White Greer & Maggard Orthodontics 2021 Holiday Classic

The December 26-29 tournament at Lexington Catholic High School also features several elite teams.  No. 1 Ballard, No. 4 George Rogers Clark, No. 6 North Laurel, No. 7 Madison Central, No. 8 Dunbar, and No. 10 Lexington Catholic headline the 15-team field.

Watching Reed Sheppard

Want to watch Reed Sheppard play?  In addition to playing in the King of the Bluegrass and the Holiday Tournament at Lexington Catholic the week after Christmas, North Laurel’s schedule includes four Top 10 matchups:

• Jan. 8: No. 1 Ballard (Location and time are not currently listed on KHSAA website)
• Jan. 10, 7:30 PM: vs. No. 7 Madison Central
• Feb. 11, 7:30 PM: at No. 2 Covington Catholic (this game may be moved to a larger venue)
• Feb. 15, 7:30 PM: at No. 9 Knox Central

See North Laurel’s full schedule here.