Meet 15 of the top boys basketball prospects suiting up for Louisville-area schools

The 2022-23 boys basketball season approaches for Kentucky high schools, and there will be no shortage of Division I talent taking the court across the Louisville area.

Here's a breakdown, in alphabetical order, of 15 players piquing the interests of college coaches across the country. Check back in throughout the season for updates of their recruitments.

Did we miss anyone? If you know of a student-athlete who has received an offer to play football for a Division I school, please email: bholton@gannett.com.

Jordan Bender

Position: Forward

High school: Ballard

Class: 2026

College commitment status: Undecided

247Sports Composite rating: N/A

What to know: After playing in 14 games for Evangel Christian as an eighth grader, Jordan Bender announced in August he was headed to DeSales to continue his high school career but had enrolled at Ballard by the end of November. The 6-foot-6 freshman is already drawing Division I interest from the likes of Louisville, Kentucky, Florida, Indiana, Michigan and Western Kentucky. NextUpRecruits reported coaches from those programs planned to visit DeSales during the month of September to watch Bender work out. Bender scored just 13 points on 25% shooting during his time with Evangel Christian last season.

Elijah Clinton

Position: Guard

High school: Western

Class: 2025

College commitment status: Undecided

247Sports Composite rating: N/A

What to know: Elijah Clinton has scholarship offers from Ohio University and Southeast Missouri State heading into his sophomore season despite playing in just 15 games as a freshman. The 6-foot-6 guard averaged 2.9 points on 38.5% shooting (21.4% from 3-point range) during the Warriors' 23-5 campaign. Clinton played for the Indy Heat Gym Rats on Nike's EYBL circuit over the summer and looks to take on a bigger role at Western with fellow 2025 guard prospect Kaden Magwood transferring to Oak Hill Academy.

Cole Edelen

Position: Guard

High school: Male

Class: 2026

College commitment status: Undecided

247Sports Composite rating: N/A

What to know: Cole Edelen picked up his first Division I scholarship offer from Stony Brook in July after playing for Male as an eighth grader during the 2021-22 season. The 6-foot guard averaged 6.4 points per game on 48% shooting and knocked down 49.6% of his 137 attempts from 3-point range. More colleges are destined to come calling if Edelen continues improving upon his shooting and playmaking abilities playing alongside his brother, rising senior Jack Edelen, during the 2022-23 season and in the years to come with the Bulldogs. He played for All-Ohio on the EYBL circuit over the summer.

Jack Edelen

Position: Guard

High school: Male

Class: 2023

College commitment status: Undecided

247Sports Composite rating: N/A

What to know: An All-Seventh Region honorable mention in 2022, Jack Edelen averaged 13.2 points per game on 45.1% shooting (38.5% from 3-point territory) as a junior during Male's run to the Sweet 16. The 5-11 guard took center stage at the 2021 King of the Bluegrass Holiday Tournament with a 29-point performance against Ashland Blazer and averaged 16.5 points per game in helping the Bulldogs to a third-place finish. Edelen has not yet reported receiving a scholarship offer, but Jacksonville State, Morehead State, Navy and Winthrop have all paid him visits during September.

Jack Edelen:Meet Male's point guard, the Courier Journal's Athlete of the Week for Dec. 13-19, 2021

Julius Edmonds Jr.

Position: Small forward

High school: Western

Class: 2025

College commitment status: Undecided

247Sports Composite rating: N/A

What to know: Like Clinton, Julius Edmonds Jr. enters his sophomore season at Western with reported scholarship offers from Miami and SEMO. The 6-6 wing netted 13 points per game while shooting a team-best 64.1% from the field. He also made three of his nine attempts from 3-point range and grabbed 8.2 rebounds per contest. He joined Clinton on the Indy Heat's 15U team this summer.

Trent Hinkle

Position: Guard

High school: Western

Class: 2023

College commitment status: Trevecca Nazarene

247Sports Composite rating: N/A

What to know: An All-Sixth Region selection as a junior, Trent Hinkle led Western with 15.1 points per game on 47.5% shooting. The 5-11 guard shot 45.1% from 3-point range and ranked among the top 10 across KHSAA by converting 86.2% of his free-throw attempts. Hinkle committed to play for Trevecca Nazarene at the Division II level on Dec. 31.

Quel'ron House

Position: Guard

High school: Seneca

Class: 2024

College commitment status: Undecided

247Sports Composite rating: N/A

What to know: Prep Hoops Kentucky reported in August that Quel'ron House has transferred to Seneca after averaging 5.2 points per game on 54.1% shooting as a freshman on a loaded Ballard team last season. The 5-11 guard has a reported scholarship offer from Jacksonville State heading into his first year with the Redhawks after playing on the grassroots circuit for A2P and the Louisville Legends over the summer.

Jayden Johnson

Position: Guard

High school: Trinity

Class: 2026

College commitment status: Undecided

247Sports Composite rating: N/A

What to know: Jayden Johnson got a head start at the high-school level, helping Male reach the UK HealthCare Boys Sweet 16 as an eight grader. After he decided to take his talents to Trinity, the 6-5 guard enters his freshman season as the Louisville area's most-coveted prospect in the Class of 2026. Across 33 games with the Bulldogs, Johnson averaged 6.5 points on 44.6% shooting and made 37.6% of his 3-pointers. He has scholarship offers from Cincinnati, Missouri and West Virginia, and that list shouldn't stop growing anytime soon. Other schools showing interest include Louisville, Kentucky, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Michigan and UCLA, according to NextUpRecruits.

Damone King

Position: Guard

High school: Manual

Class: 2024

College commitment status: Undecided

247Sports Composite rating: N/A

What to know: As a sophomore, Damone King led Manual with 15.1 points per game on 47.1% shooting during the Crimsons' 21-7 campaign and pulled down 4.8 rebounds per contest. The 6-1 guard has reported scholarship offers from Illinois State, IUPUI, Jacksonville State, Miami (Ohio), Northern Kentucky and Ohio University heading into his junior season. Other schools showing interest this summer include Belmont, Indiana State, Murray State, SEMO and Western Kentucky.

Cyr Malonga

Position: Center

High school: Evangel Christian

Class: 2023

College commitment status: Signed with East Carolina

247Sports Composite rating: 3 stars

What to know: At 6-11, Cyr Malonga is the No. 31 center in the 2023 class, according to 247Sports' composite rankings. Evangel Christian's big man averaged 10.8 points, shooting a team-best 68.4% from the field, and led the Eagles with 7.9 rebounds per game. ECU was one of the final schools to offer the Kentucky All-Star a scholarship, and Malonga signed with the Pirates on Nov. 9. Cincinnati, Georgetown Georgia, Illinois, Mississippi State, Texas and Western Illinois were also vying for his pledge.

Cam McClain

Position: Guard

High school: Trinity

Class: 2023

College commitment status: Undecided

247Sports Composite rating: N/A

What to know: Cam McClain set a Trinity record and ranked 11th in the state with 95 made 3-pointers as a junior. The 6-3 guard shot at a 39.6% clip from beyond the arc and averaged a team-best 17.2 points per game while helping the Shamrocks with the 27th District championship. Heading into his senior season, McClain has a scholarship offer from Georgetown College, which plays at the NAIA level, and has made visits to Division II programs Thomas More and Trevecca Nazarene. If he follows up his record-breaking junior season with a stellar senior sendoff, expect more schools to come calling.

Jayden Miles

Position: Small forward

High school: Western

Class: 2025

College commitment status: Undecided

247Sports Composite rating: N/A

What to know: Jayden Miles received his third Division I scholarship offer from Ohio on his birthday, Sept. 21. The 6-8 small forward averaged 8.6 points per game on 55.3% shooting as a freshman and led the Warriors with 8.5 rebounds per contest. Miles, who played for the Mac Irvin Fire's 15U team on the EYBL circuit, also has reported scholarship offers from SEMO and Western Illinois.

Dallas Roberts

Position: Guard

High school: North Oldham (Goshen)

Class: 2023

College commitment status: Undecided

247Sports Composite rating: N/A

What to know: An All-District 29 selection last season, Dallas Roberts led North Oldham with 16.8 points per game on 39.2% shooting as a junior. In helping the Mustangs reach their first Boys Sweet 16 in school history, the 6-2 guard made 34.9% of his shots from 3-point range and knocked down 81% of his 142 free-throw attempts, which ranked 35th across KHSAA. Roberts played for EAB Tennessee on the Adidas circuit over the summer and made visits to Lipscomb, Memphis and Navy but has not yet reported a Division I scholarship offer.

Keith Robinson

Position: Guard, forward

High school: Pleasure Ridge Park

Class: 2023

College commitment status: Undecided

What to know: An All-Sixth Region selection as a junior, Keith Robinson averaged 17 points on 52.1% shooting (36.1% from 3-point range) and grabbed 5.9 rebounds per game. The 6-4 guard/forward also ranked among the top 40 across KHSAA last season by shooting 80.7% from the free-throw line; 113 of his 493 points scored came from the charity stripe. Robinson has reported a scholarship offer at the Division III level from Waynesburg University but had a productive summer playing on the AAU circuit for Quinn Anvils Basketball and should see an even bigger role in his final season with the Panthers after Zee McCown's departure for a prep school in Massachusetts. In October, he took an unofficial visit to Austin Peay.

Drae Vasser

Position: Guard

High school: Trinity

Class: 2024

College commitment status: Undecided

247Sports Composite rating: N/A

What to know: Drae Vasser joins a talented Trinity lineup looking to build off a strong sophomore season at Jeffersontown. The 6-2 guard averaged 13.6 points per game on 53.6% shooting and shot 31% from deep. Vasser begins his junior campaign with reported scholarship offers from Akron, Bellarmine and Jacksonville State. He spent the summer playing for Power Circle on the Adidas circuit.

Reach recruiting and trending sports reporter Brooks Holton at bholton@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @brooksHolton.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: College basketball recruiting: 15 top Louisville-area boys prospects