News » Area & State Report

Area Report: Kentucky Midseason Player Rankings

With help from Next Level’s Darnell Johnson we have put together lists of the top players in Kentucky for the classes of 2008-2013.  Today we’ll take a look at the senior class-- a class that is considered one of the most talented in the state’s history with All-Americans Darius Miller and Scotty Hopson at the top. 

Both Miller and Hopson are 6’6 wings with uncanny combinations of athleticism and skill.   Miller has signed with the University of Kentucky while Hopson committed to Mississippi State last year but has not signed and is still being recruited by schools like Tennessee, Kentucky and Louisville. 

Bud Mackey, a former Indiana-recruit that led Scott County to the state championship last season, was supposed to be mentioned in that same elite group with Miller and Hopson but legal trouble has kept him off the court.

In Mackey’s absence two other players have stepped up this season as legit high-major talents: Lexington Catholic’s Taylor Stewart and Bryan Station’s Shelvin Mack. 

Stewart, a 6’5 do-it-all guard that has signed with Air Force, was recently named tournament MVP of the Lexington Catholic Holiday Classic when he helped the host school to the championship, including an overtime win over Mason County (and Darius Miller) in the title game.

Mack, one of the nation’s top unsigned senior point guards, took home an MVP trophy of his own recently when he tallied 27 points, nine rebounds, six steals and five assists to lead his team to the championship of the Daytona Beach Sunshine Classic.

While there is little doubt that there is a slight drop-off in talent after Stewart and Mack, there are a number of players that have improved their stock this season.  University Heights’ Tyshaun Edmonson, Scott County’s Tyler Portwood and Mason County’s Trevor Setty are just a few of the other guys that have people talking.

In the Bluegrass, though, reputations are really made in the state tournament so just as Preston Knowles (Clark County) did last year, any player on this list could make a big rise in the rankings with a strong finish to their season.  So without further ado, here are the midseason rankings of the top 40 players in the class of 2008 in Kentucky:

Top 40 Seniors in Kentucky
(Based on current production and college potential)

1. Darius Miller 6'6 WF Maysville (Ky) Mason County
2. Scotty Hopson 6'6WF Hopkinsville (Ky) University Heights
3. Taylor Stewart 6'5 SF Lexington (Ky) Lexington Catholic
4. Shelvin Mack 6'3 PG Lexington (Ky) Bryan Station
5. Aaron Morris 6'6 WF Richmond (Ky) Madison Central
6. Victor Moses 6’5 PF Lexington (Ky) Henry Clay
7. Tyler Brown 6’2 PG Owensboro (Ky) Apollo
8. Arrez Henderson 5’11 PG Covington (Ky) Holmes
9. Clark Stepp 6’3 PG Pippa Passes (Ky) June Buchanan
10. Nathan Novosel 6'5 PF Lexington (Ky) Lexington Catholic
11. Tyshaun Edmonson 6'4 CG Hopkinsville (Ky) University Heights
12. Tyler Portwood 6’5 SG Georgetown (Ky) Scott County
13. Isaac McClure 6’6 PF Paducah (Ky) Tilghman
14. Darnell Moore 6’6 PF Madisonville (Ky) North Hopkins
15. Jordan Smart 6'6 WF Lexington (Ky) Lexington Catholic
16. Jordan Lee 6'6 PF Georgetown (Ky) Scott County
17. Adam Decker 5'11 PG Louisville (Ky) PRP
18. Dante Stewart 6'0 CG Lexington (Ky) Lafayette
19. Allen Murray 6'7 C Louisville (Ky) PRP
20. Aaron Boyd 6’5 WF Lexington (Ky) Henry Clay
21. Antonio Sullivan 6'0 SG Louisville (Ky) Iroquois
22. Aaron Williams 5'11 PG Louisville (Ky) Manual
23. Landon Slone 6'3 SG Paintsville (Ky) Paintsville
24. Trevor Setty 6’6 SG Maysville (Ky) Mason County
25. Michael Sparks 6’4 SF Lexington (Ky) Tates Creek
26. Noah Keeton 6'2 PG Stanford (Ky) Lincoln
27. Jordan Stephens 6'8 C Mt. Sterling (Ky) Montgomery County
28. Cameron Hundley 6'4 SG Georgetown (Ky) Scott County
29. Nick Brumback 6'5 PF McKee (Ky) Jackson County
30. Nick Gagel 5’11 SG Jeffersontown (Ky) High
31. Dustin Day 6'6 C Pineville (Ky) Pineville
32. Corey Sorrell 6'3 SG Covington (Ky) Holy Cross
33. Nic Simpson 5'11 SG Highlands (Ky) Highlands
34. Terrell Combs 6'3 PF Lexington (Ky) Bryan Station
35. Clay Lampl 6'7 C Covington (Ky) Covington Catholic
36. Dion Johnson 5'11 PG Lexington (Ky) Dunbar
37. Chase Jackson 6'10 C Ashland (Ky) Rose Hill
38. Matt Thomas 6'2 SG Ashland (Ky) Paul Blazer
39. Joshua Nelson 6'3 PF Covington (Ky) Covington Holmes
40. J.D. Vanhoose 6'1 SG Paintsville (Ky) Paintsville
Sleeper Pick: Rayco Bryant 6'6 PF Franklin (Ky) Franklin-Simpson