Meet 25 of the top boys basketball prospects suiting up for Kentucky high 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 commonwealth.

Here's a breakdown of 25 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 (Louisville)

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 (Louisville)

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.

Brett Decker

Position: Guard

High school: Central Hardin (Cecilia)

Class: 2024

College commitment status: Liberty

247Sports Composite rating: N/A

What to know: Brett Decker was among the top 50 scorers across KHSAA as a sophomore, leading Central Hardin with 22.3 points per game on 56.0% shooting from the field. The 6-2 guard also ranked fourth statewide in 3-point percentage (49.2%), making an average of 2.7 treys per contest. Decker committed to Liberty on Oct. 23 over reported scholarship offers from Austin Peay, Eastern Kentucky, Morehead State and Tennessee Tech. During the offseason, he played AAU ball for the Adidas-affiliated Power Circle.

Julius Edmonds Jr.

Position: Small forward

High school: Western (Louisville)

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.

Ayden Evans

Position: Center

High school: Elizabethtown (Elizabethtown)

Class: 2024

College commitment status: Undecided

247Sports Composite rating: 4 stars

What to know: At 6-8, Ayden Evans is the No. 16 center prospect in the 2024 class, according to 247Sports' composite rankings. Evans heads into his junior year at Elizabethtown with reported scholarship offers from Mississippi State, Missouri, Ohio University, Seaton Hall, Texas A&M and West Virginia. As a sophomore, he averaged 12.4 points and led the Panthers with 7.6 rebounds per game. Evans, who has played for Power Circle on the grassroots circuit, visited Louisville under former head coach Chris Mack in September 2021 and also stopped by Indiana last fall.

Evan Ipsaro

Position: Guard

High school: Covington Catholic (Park Hills)

Class: 2023

College commitment status: Signed with Miami (Ohio)

247Sports Composite rating: N/A

What to know: A top-50 scorer as a junior, Evan Ipsaro heads into his final season at Covington Catholic looking to follow up an All-State campaign that saw him average 21.7 points on 57.4% shooting. The 5-10 guard shot 34% from 3-point range and ranked second across KHSAA as a 90.2% shooter from the free-throw line. Ipsaro signed with Miami (Ohio) on Nov. 9, three months after committing to the RedHawks over reported offers from Bellarmine, Cleveland State, Furman, Radford, Robert Morris, Stetson and Youngstown State.

Evan Ipsaro:Covington Catholic guard, one of Kentucky's top players, commits to Miami (Ohio)

Jasper Johnson

Position: Guard

High school: Woodford County (Versailles)

Class: 2025

College commitment status: Undecided

247Sports Composite rating: N/A

What to know: Coming in at No. 16 on ESPN's top 25 prospects in the 2025 class, Jasper Johnson enters his sophomore season at Woodford County looking to build on a team-high 13.8 points per game on 50.9% shooting. The 6-4 guard shot 44.9% from 3-point range during the Yellow Jackets' 27-6 run to a District 30 championship. Johnson, who is the son of former Kentucky football standout Dennis Johnson, has earned reported scholarship offers from Alabama, Cal State Bakersfield, Cincinnati, Eastern Kentucky, Ohio, Ohio State, Radford and Xavier. According to Cardinal Authority, Louisville coaches have been in contact with Johnson and watched him play for Team Thad on the EYBL circuit.

Jayden Johnson

Position: Guard

High school: Trinity (Louisville)

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 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 (Louisville)

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 (Louisville)

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 (Louisville)

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.

John McCrear

Position: Power forward

High school: Woodford County (Versailles)

Class: 2023

College commitment status: Murray State

247Sports Composite rating: N/A

What to know: John McCrear committed to Murray State over the summer after averaging 7.7 points on 57.5% shooting and 4.3 per game in his first season with Woodford County. The 6-8 Lexington Catholic transfer is a native of Ypsilanti, Michigan, and related to Kentucky football recruiting coordinator/tight ends coach Vince Marrow. McCrear chose the Racers over reported scholarship offers from Akron, Arizona State, Jacksonville State, Kent State, Morehead State and Radford, with schools such as Louisville, Cincinnati, Ohio State and NC State also reportedly showing interest.

Jayden Miles

Position: Small forward

High school: Western (Louisville)

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.

Teagan Moore

Position: Guard

High school: Owen County (Owenton)

Class: 2023

College commitment status: Signed with Western Kentucky

247Sports Composite rating: N/A

What to know: A top-five scorer across KHSAA as a junior, Teagan Moore signed with Western Kentucky on Nov. 9. The 6-5 guard averaged 28.9 points on 58.2% shooting and led Owen County with 8.9 rebounds per game. Moore, who was named the 8th Region Player of the Year last season, also drew reported scholarship offers from Jacksonville State and Ohio University, according to Rivals. He played on Under Armour's AAU circuit this summer for Griffin Elite.

Malachi Moreno

Position: Center

High school: Great Crossing (Georgetown)

Class: 2025

College commitment status: Undecided

247Sports Composite rating: N/A

What to know: Malachi Moreno has seven Division I scholarship offers — Cincinnati, Eastern Kentucky, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio State and Purdue — heading into his sophomore season at Great Crossing. The Warhawks' 6-11 center averaged 11.9 points on a team-best 58.1% shooting as a freshman and grabbed 12 rebounds per game. Moreno is the No. 45 overall talent in the 2025 class and 10th-best center prospect, according to 247Sports' rankings.

Jerone Morton

Position: Guard

High school: George Rogers Clark (Winchester)

Class: 2023

College commitment status: Morehead State

247Sports Composite rating: N/A

What to know: The Most Valuable Player of George Rodgers Clark's state championship victory in March, Jerone Morton enters his final season with the Cardinals looking to take another step forward before beginning his college career at Morehead State. The 6-4 guard led GRC with 18.7 points per game on 49.4% shooting and made 38.5% of his 3-point attempts. Morton committed to the Eagles on June 21, less than a month after receiving a scholarship offer. Eastern Kentucky, Costal Carolina and the University of Missouri-Kansas City were also vying got his pledge.

KHSAA Sweet 16:No. 1 GRC tops No. 5 Warren Central for first state title in 71 years

Trent Noah

Position: Guard

High school: Harlan County (Baxter)

Class: 2024

College commitment status: Undecided

247Sports Composite rating: N/A

What to know: Trent Noah led Harlan County and ranked seventh across KHSAA with 28.1 points per game on 54% shooting as a sophomore. The 6-7 guard made 38.4% of his 3-pointers and grabbed a team-best 9.9 rebounds per contest. After playing for the Midwest Basketball Club on Adidas' AAU circuit over the summer, Noah heads into his junior season with reported scholarship offers from Coastal Carolina, Eastern Kentucky, Indiana State, Miami (Ohio), Morehead State and Northern Kentucky.

Travis Perry

Position: Guard

High school: Lyon County (Eddyville)

Class: 2024

College commitment status: Undecided

247Sports Composite rating: 4 starts

What to know: Travis Perry heads into his junior season with 3,190 career points and is on pace to break Kelly "King" Coleman's state record (4,337), which has stood since 1956. The 6-2 guard has played varsity for Lyon County since the seventh grade and averaged 27.5 points on 48.9% shooting as a sophomore during the Lions' run to the Boys Sweet 16. Perry has more than 10 Division I offers with two years remaining in his high school career, including Kentucky, Michigan, Purdue and Virginia.

Travis Perry:John Calipari offers Kentucky high school star who could break state scoring record

Reece Potter

Position: Center

High school: Lexington Catholic (Lexington)

Class: 2023

College commitment status: Signed with Miami (Ohio)

247Sports Composite rating: N/A

What to know: An All-State honorable mention last season, Reece Potter led Lexington Catholic with 16.1 points on 56.7% shooting and 7.6 rebounds as a junior. The 7-0 center signed with Miami (Ohio) on Nov. 9 over reported scholarship offers from the likes of Akron, East Tennessee State, Indiana State, Saint Louis, Western Kentucky and Xavier. Potter played for the Indy Heat on the EYBL circuit over the summer.

Mason Ritter

Position: Forward

High school: Bowling Green (Bowling Green)

Class: 2024

College commitment status: Undecided

247Sports Composite rating: N/A

What to know: As a sophomore, Mason Ritter averaged 7.2 points per game on a team-best 62.3% field-goal percentage, which ranked in the top 40 across KHSAA last season. The 6-8 forward also grabbed 5.1 rebounds per contest during the Purples' run to the 4th Region title game. After playing for Power Circle on the AAU circuit over the summer, Ritter heads into his junior season with reported scholarship offers from Eastern Kentucky and SEMO. In August, he attended a camp at Auburn, where he met head coach Bruce Pearl.

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.

Reed Sheppard

Position: Guard

High school: North Laurel (London)

Class: 2023

College commitment status: Signed with Kentucky

247Sports Composite rating: 4 star

What to know: Reed Sheppard was named Kentucky's Gatorade Boys Basketball Player of the Year as a junior after averaging 25.2 points per game on 53.7% shooting during the Jaguars' run to the Sweet 16. The 6-3 guard knocked down 38.2% of his 3-point attempts and also grabbed a team-high 6.9 rebounds per contest. Both of Sheppard's parents played basketball at Kentucky, and he was the first 2023 prospect to commit to coach John Calipari in November 2021. After starring for Midwest Basketball Club on the Adidas circuit this summer, Sheppard heads into his final season at North Laurel looking to once again show why he's 247Sports' top rising senior in the Bluegrass State.

Reed Sheppard:As his star grows, the UK basketball commit eyes a 2023 recruiting superclass

Kade Unseld

Position: Guard

High school: Warren Central (Bowling Green)

Class: 2024

College commitment status: Undecided

247Sports Composite rating: N/A

What to know: Kade Unseld averaged 9.1 points per game on 46.6% shooting for state runner-up Warren Central as a sophomore. The 6-5 guard shot 40% on 150 attempts from 3-point range and pulled down an average of 4.5 rebounds per contest. Unseld heads into his junior season with reported scholarship offers from Bellarmine and SEMO. His father, Dragons head coach William Unseld, is the nephew of the late Louisville basketball legend Wes Unseld, a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Drae Vasser

Position: Guard

High school: Trinity (Louisville)

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.

EJ Walker

Position: Forward, guard

High school: Lloyd Memorial (Erlanger)

Class: 2025

College commitment status: Undecided

247Sports Composite rating: N/A

What to know: EJ Walker landed on college coaches' radars with a standout freshman season at Lloyd Memorial. The 6-8 forward/guard averaged 10.7 points on a team-best 56.2% shooting and grabbed 6.2 rebounds per game. Walker heads into Year 2 with the Juggernauts having already amassed more than 10 reported scholarship offers, including Dayton, Duquesne, Minnesota, Ohio University, Purdue, Stony Brook, Toledo, West Virginia and Xavier. Indiana, Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin have also reportedly sent coaches to watch Walker work out over the past several months, and the big man attended U of L's Louisville Live tipoff event in late October.

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: Meet 25 of Kentucky's top prospects