Herald-Leader 11: Names to know in 11th Region girls’ basketball this season

Jared Peck
·5 min read

The 2022-23 Kentucky girls’ basketball season was scheduled to tip off Monday. Here are 11 of the 11th Region’s best players in order of how they were voted for by the region’s coaches in our @HLpreps preseason survey. Coaches were asked to rank the “top 10 players in the region.” This list includes their height, class, last year’s points per game and a brief note.

Sayre’s Kylee Dennis (2) averaged 14.5 points per game last season.
Sayre’s Kylee Dennis (2) averaged 14.5 points per game last season.

1. Kylee Dennis, Sayre (5-11 Sr., 14.5 points): Dennis, who recently signed with Southern Indiana, excels on defense and in transition where her length and speed cause serious problems for the opposition. “Kylee is a phenomenal talent and impacts the game on both ends of the floor,” said Coach Eric Kinder. “While she has the ability to fill up the scoring column and usually does, she is always looking to get her teammates involved.” Dennis missed seven games last season due to injury. Shortly after she returned, the Spartans won five straight, including a district playoff game against Scott County.

Lexington Catholic’s Katherine Truitt (4) is one of the 11th Region’s top basketball players but will attend the University of Kentucky to play soccer.
Lexington Catholic’s Katherine Truitt (4) is one of the 11th Region’s top basketball players but will attend the University of Kentucky to play soccer.

2. Katherine Truitt, Lexington Catholic (5-10 Sr., 18 points): Truitt, a multiple city and region player of the year in soccer, the sport where she plans to continue her career at Kentucky, somehow also excels at basketball and was a first team all-city selection last season after leading the Knights in scoring and rebounding (8.9 rpg). “She is a quick, slashing guard who can also shoot the three and guard multiple positions on the defensive end of the floor,” LexCath Coach Lee Tegt said. Truitt has been an impact starter on four straight district and region soccer champions.

Franklin County’s Jazmin Chambers (15) and Southwestern’s Kaylee Young (5) fight for the ball during last season’s Sweet 16 in Rupp Arena.
Franklin County’s Jazmin Chambers (15) and Southwestern’s Kaylee Young (5) fight for the ball during last season’s Sweet 16 in Rupp Arena.

3. Jazmin Chambers, Franklin County (6-0 Sr., 8.7 points): Chambers suffered a severe knee injury at the start of her sophomore year but began to get her bearings last season for the three-time defending region champions. Coach Joey Thacker calls her a “versatile scorer and good defender.” She’ll be looked to this season as a senior leader for a team that is expected to contend for the 11th Region crown once again.

Hadley French of Madison Southern was one of the top players in the 11th Region as an eighth-grader last season.
Hadley French of Madison Southern was one of the top players in the 11th Region as an eighth-grader last season.

4. Hadley French, Madison Southern (5-4 Fr., 11.1 points): French earned all-region honors after leading the Eagles in scoring as an eighth-grader. She scored 11 points and grabbed a game-high seven rebounds in Madison Southern’s 47-26 win over Berea to help the Eagles earn back-to-back 44th District titles for the first time in school history.

Frederick Douglass’s Niah Rhodes was one of Kentucky’s most productive three-point shooters last season.
Frederick Douglass’s Niah Rhodes was one of Kentucky’s most productive three-point shooters last season.

5. Niah Rhodes, Frederick Douglass (5-7 So., 16 points): Rhodes’ 2.9 made threes per game as a freshman last season ranked sixth in the state as she made 39.3 percent of her tries and led the Broncos in scoring. She received her first Division I offer from UNC Asheville earlier this year.

Henry Clay’s Allison Stone grabbed a rebound away from Mikalee Bennett during a game last season.
Henry Clay’s Allison Stone grabbed a rebound away from Mikalee Bennett during a game last season.

6. Alli Stone, Henry Clay (5-9 Jr., 13.9 points): Stone displayed exceptional range from deep in leading the Blue Devils in scoring and three-pointers last season while also grabbing a team second-best 5.5 rebounds per game. “Her ability to get to the basket and consistently hit her midrange is exceptional,” Coach Ashley Garrard, said.

Ayanna Darrington, who was one of the top rebounders in Kentucky last season, returns for Frederick Douglass.
Ayanna Darrington, who was one of the top rebounders in Kentucky last season, returns for Frederick Douglass.

7. Ayanna Darrington, Frederick Douglass (6-2 Jr., 15 points): Darrington averaged a double-double with 12.8 rebounds per game, third-best on the boards in the state, which also makes her the top returning rebounder in the region. Darrington suffered an ankle injury during volleyball season, but Coach Daryl Moberly expects she’ll be full steam soon.

Chesney Lovins (14) led Berea in scoring and rebounding last season.
Chesney Lovins (14) led Berea in scoring and rebounding last season.

8. Chesney Lovins, Berea (5-9 Sr., 9.2 points): Key injuries last season put more pressure on Lovins to produce for the Pirates and she stepped up, leading the team in scoring and rebounds (6.5 rpg). Her team-high 18 points and 11 boards against Madison Central in the 44th District Tournament’s first round last February secured Berea’s second trip to the 11th Region Tournament in three years.

9. Bailey Hensley, Madison Central (5-10 Jr., 17.1 points): Only three 11th Region players averaged a double-double last season and Hensley’s 10.1 rebounds per game got her on that exclusive list. She also led the Indians in scoring. New coach Scott True expects Madison Central will “rely heavily” on Hensley again this season.

Lafayette’s Savannah Simpson (12) dribbles around Tates Creek’s Jada Bell (14) during a game last season.
Lafayette’s Savannah Simpson (12) dribbles around Tates Creek’s Jada Bell (14) during a game last season.

10. Savannah Simpson, Lafayette (6-0 So., 8.6 points): Coach Allison Tate Denton believes Simpson can have a breakout season as one of her two returning starters. “Her strength is attacking the basket and crashing the boards,” Tate Denton said. “We’re looking to her to provide at least a double-double per game. She is just a great athlete.”

Great Crossing’s Ava Schureman (22) shoots over Scott County’s Kenady Tompkins (4).
Great Crossing’s Ava Schureman (22) shoots over Scott County’s Kenady Tompkins (4).

11. Ava Schureman, Great Crossing (5-10 Jr., 7.1 points): Schureman led the Warhawks with 7.2 rebounds per game last season. First-year coach Matt Walls labels her “strong and athletic” and will rely on her and Great Crossing’s three other returning starters to adapt to his new system.

OTHERS NOMINATED

Bryan Station: Jailenn Green; Franklin County: Jhaven Meade; Frederick Douglass: Jermyra Christian; Kate Baker; Great Crossing: Rachel Smith, Raegan Barrett; Henry Clay: Ariyana Sutton; Madison Southern: Reece Estep, Laci Sandlin; Paul Laurence Dunbar: Amber Brandon; Bella Rusing; Scott County: Maleiyah Moore; Tyra Young; Tates Creek: Ashton Harris.

METHODOLOGY

The 11th Region’s 19 coaches were asked to rank the 10 best players in the 11th Region. The list reflects all the players put forth by the 14 coaches who responded to the top 10 players question in the survey.

2022-23 SEASON PREVIEW

This is the seventh of eight stories the Herald-Leader and Kentucky.com is publishing previewing the 2022-23 high school boys’ and girls’ basketball seasons, which were scheduled to tip off Nov. 28.