Kentucky Girls Basketball
Seniors and Underclassmen to Watch
in the 2008-2009 Season

© 2008 Ron Harrison


I don’t attempt to rate or rank players. However, here are some seniors across the state that should be fun to watch this season. These players are listed in alphabetical order, not ranked. This is an abbreviated list and I could easily have added 25-50 names from all corners of the state. Also, this list does not definitively claim to include the absolute best in the state but some of the best. Note: Players’ heights vary from source to source.

Seniors (Class of 2009)


Audri Beaudrie (Oldham County) – 5-6 guard is a versatile scorer and displays excellent leadership qualities.

Clair Buchanan (Christian Academy of Louisville) – 5-10 forward scores off the jump shot and is a good defender.

Jacy Bradley (Boone County) – 5-6 point guard has good court vision, passes the ball, and can score.

Laura Carroll (Paintsville) – 5-7 guard has good all-around skills and scores on a mid-range jump shot.

Courtney Clifton (Lexington Christian Academy) – 5-10 guard can score off the dribble and has good range on her jump shot.

Brittany Coles (Henry Clay) – 5-11 athletic forward scores off penetration or with the jump shot.

Lindsay Combs (East Carter) – 5-11 forward is an improving force in the paint.

Dominique Cook (Franklin-Simpson) – 5-7 point guard scores off the drive and with a mid-range jump shot. Quickness aids her on defense

Kayla Cunningham (Calloway County) – 6-2 forward is a multi-skilled performer who scores on her jump shot.

Ashley Decker (Franklin County) – 5-5 point guard can handle the ball, dish it off, and scores on her jump shot.

Danielle Dixon (Henderson County) – 6-0 athletic forward scores on her mid-range jump shot and is a good rebounder.

Dorian Downs (Elizabethtown) – 5-8 guard is a very sound player who can score off the dribble and has range on her jump shot.

Leslie Eagle (Morgan County) – 5-8 guard can get to the basket or score off the jump shot.

Lindsay Fultz (Anderson County) – 5-10 forward is a solid performer who can score.

Devin Fothergill (Southwestern) – 5-10 guard scores off penetration and on her jump shot. She can also handle and defend.

Sarah Beth Gillis (Nelson County) – 5-5 point guard sees the floor, directs the offense, and has range on her shot.

Rachel Greenwell (Owensboro Catholic) – 5-8 guard has a wide variety of skills and has good range on her shot. She has excellent court vision and playmaking skills.

Kayla Hickman (Iroquois) – 5-6 guard excels in a transition game and can shoot the ball.

Hayley Hellyer (Boyle County) – 5-10 swing player is a versatile performer who scores well on her mid-range jump shot and is a good defender.

Lindsay Highbaugh (Hart County) – 5-8 guard is a deadly spot-up three point bomber and aggressive defender.

Emily Hinkson (Paris) – 5-9 forward rebounds extremely well and can score either inside or out.

Jessica Holder (Marshall County) – 6-2 forward can score inside and has excellent range on her outside shot.

Tiara Hopper (Butler) – 5-11 athletic frontliner scores well in the paint.

Elizabeth Horn (Berea) – 5-11 guard/forward missed last year with an injury. Horn has basically played everywhere on the floor and gets good results in the paint.

Caitie Jackson (North Laurel) – 5-8 guard is a good playmaker who has good range on her jump shot.

Casey Jackson (Notre Dame Academy) – 5-8 cerebral guard runs the show and is a versatile scorer.

Alex Jones (Elizabethtown) – 6-0 forward/center is very strong in the paint and works extremely hard on the boards.

Avery Jones (DuPont Manual) – 6-1 center has excellent quickness and scores well in the paint but can step out and hit the mid-range jump shot.

Sharaye Kincer (Letcher County Central) – 5-8 forward defends, crashes the boards, and scores off the glass or with her mid-range jump shot.

Chassidy Lawson (Harlan) – 5-9 forward scores extremely well in the paint.

Mackenzie Lee (Montgomery County) – 5-8 point guard is an excellent playmaker who rarely turns the ball over. Lee is a very capable scorer with good range on her jump shot.

Shatera Lewis (Christian County) – 5-8 point guard has jet-quick speed which makes her difficult to control in the open court.

Allison Long (Conner) – 5-5 guard has excellent range on her jump shot.

Anna Martin (Lexington Christian Academy) – 5-9 smooth operator in the backcourt can score off the dribble and the long-range jump shot.

Adia Mathies (Iroquois) – 5-9 swing player is an excellent ballhandler who can score both inside and out.

Asia Mathies (Iroquois) – 5-5 point guard runs the offense and is hard to defend off the dribble.

Clara Mitchell (East Jessamine) – 6-1 center transferred from Lexington Christian Academy. Mitchell is a force in the paint in all aspects of the game.

Denisha Mumford (Christian County) – 5-8 athletic guard can create havoc in the open court.

Brittany Payne (Franklin-Simpson) – 5-8 forward can score in the paint or with her mid-range jump shot. Very solid defensive player.

Alyse Poindexter (Henderson County) – 6-1 rapidly improving frontliner powers it to the basket, rebounds, and blocks shots.

Merissa Pruitt (Phelps) – 5-7 guard transferred from Belfry and should be one of the leading scorers in the region again this season.

Ashley Rainey (Warren East) – 6-2 forward scores in bunches and also averages double digits in rebounds. Quickness and strength make her difficult to defend in paint.

Mariah Robinson (Ohio County) – 5-6 guard can score off the dribble and has good range on her shot. Robinson rebounds, passes the ball, and is a good defender.

Amber Riddle (Rowan County) – 5-7 forward is an excellent shooter from the perimeter.

Stephanie Salyers (Southwestern) – 6-1 center gets good results in the paint.

Mary Saylor (Rockcastle County) – 5-4 guard distributes the ball and is a capable scorer.

Natalie Shumpert (Paducah Tilghman) – 5-3 speedy guard can take you off the dribble and has an excellent pull-up jump shot.

Kelsey Simpson (Russell) – 6-3 forward scores on the mid-range jumper and athleticism makes her an excellent defender.

Heather Stearns (Wayne County) – 5-10 guard has good all-around skills and gets free for her jump shot.

Monica Stevens (West Carter) – 5-11 solid inside player who can rebound.

Chelsea Tolliver (Simon Kenton) – 5-5 guard finds the open player and is a versatile scorer.

Kourtney Tyra (Jackson County) – 5-5 point guard is an excellent floor general, a good ballhandler, and can put points on the board.

Chelsea Williams (Menifee County) – 5-5 point guard is a versatile scorer with range on shot. Quick defender who always gives a great effort.

Maggie Wilson (Lexington Catholic) – 5-9 rapidly improving guard has excellent range on her shot.

Rachel Vanderhoof (Raceland) – 5-10 forward can score in the paint or score on the perimeter jump shot.

Tiffany Yates (Danville) – 5-6 athletic point guard can score and dish the ball.


Underclassmen
This list was equally difficult. I could have added several deserving names. Once again, these players are listed in alphabetical order.

Juniors (Class of 2010)

Katie Allen (Highlands) – 5-8 point guard scores, passes, and has excellent court vision.

Paige Barclay (Hickman County) – 5-8 swing player scores on the mid-range shot and has good quickness.

Sarah Beth Barnette (Lexington Christian Academy) – 6-1 combo forward runs the floor, rebounds, and has range on her jump shot.

Ondrea Shaw Beasley (Moore) – 6-4 center has a great upside, rebounds well, and scores in the paint.

Kendra Brown (Lincoln County) – 6-3 center is a solid player on both offense and defense.

Victoria Brown (Iroquois) – 5-8 athleticism allows her to be a force in the paint.

Destiny Bramblett (North Hardin) – 5-10 forward is improving and has solid all-around skills.

Samantha Coleman (Middlesboro) – 5-8 quick athletic forward is a versatile scorer.

Jessica Dean (South Laurel) – 5-3 rapidly improving guard averaged 10 ppg last season.

Samantha Drake (Nelson County) – 6-3 center runs the floor, scores inside, rebounds, and defends.

Molly Ernst (Assumption) – 6-0 wing forward has excellent range on her jump shot.

Tayla Foster (Madisonville-North Hopkins) – 5-10 forward is an excellent rebounder and scores off penetration to the basket.

Jasmine Franklin (Tates Creek) – 6-0 athletic frontliner runs the floor and can score off the jump shot and off the dribble.

Maris Hovee (June Buchanan) – 6-1 forward averages double figures in both scoring and rebounding. Hovee can either power to the basket or shoot the jump shot in the paint.

Mary Jehlik (Montgomery County) – 6-3 center has a lot of potential and a long wingspan. Scores well in paint.

Kendra McFarland (Powell County) – 5-10 center gives the Lady Pirates excellent frontcourt scoring.

Autumn Miller (Sacred Heart Academy) – 5-6 guard is quick and athletic, possesses good court vision, and is a good ballhandler. Miller has good range on her jump shot.

Therese Montano (Mercy Academy) – 5-9 guard is a game changer and one of the best guards in the state when healthy. Rebounded from an injury last season to have a great summer.

Mikyla Mosby (Bryan Station) – 5-7 rapidly improving shooting guard could have a break-out season.

Jewel Rogers (Clark County) – 5-3 point guard has excellent speed and can either score or find the open teammate.

Ebony Rowe (Paul Dunbar) – 6-0 athletic frontliner scores, rebounds, and is a lock-down defender.

Courtney Sandfoss (Newport Central Catholic) – 5-6 cerebral point guard can either dish the ball or score.

Antonita Slaughter (Christian Academy of Louisville) – 6-1 swing player has good ball skills and excellent range on jump shot.

Brittany Sexton (Letcher County Central) – 5-11 point guard has good size, distributes the ball, and is an excellent scorer.

Kayla Thacker (Bullitt East) – 5-10 versatile guard defends well and scores off penetration and has good range on her jump shot.

Bekah Towles (Highlands) – 6-0 solid improving post player.

Brittney Turner (DuPont Manual) – 6-2 athletic and versatile frontliner has unlimited potential.

Shelby Tyra (Grayson County) – 5-8 guard/forward has nice all-around game, rebounds, and is a very effective inside scorer.

Jessica Upchurch (Lincoln County) – 5-8 guard can score off the dribble and also has range on her jump shot.

Madisen Webb (Scott County) – 5-10 strong guard/forward is a multi-skilled performer who is capable of putting up big numbers.

Bre White (Apollo) – 6-0 center is capable of putting up a double-double every night.


Sophomores (Class of 2011)

Carla Booth (Sheldon Clark) – 5-6 guard has good all-around skills and is an excellent scorer.

Morgan Clemons (Sacred Heart Academy) – 5-9 talented forward expected to have excellent season for traditional powerhouse.

Jessica Coffey (Somerset) – 5-7 point guard is smart on defense and has range on her jump shot.

Kenyatta Drake (Madisonville-North Hopkins) – 5-10 frontliner can score with her back to the basket or step out and hit the jump shot. Drake also rebounds well and defends.

RaeChaun Edwards (North Hardin) – 5-4 jet quick point guard is extremely difficult to defend in a transition game.

Averee Fields (Calloway County) – 6-0 athletic and versatile swing player can score in a variety of ways and is an excellent defender.

Danay Fothergill (Southwestern) – 5-6 guard handles, passes, and scores off dribble or long-range jump shot.

Chastity Gooch (Franklin-Simpson) – 6-0 center exploded on the scene last season and scores, rebounds, and handles the ball. Gooch is also a good shot blocker.

Natalie Greenwell (Elizabethtown) – 5-6 guard uses quickness to pick your pockets on defense and has good range on her jump shot.

Sarah Hammond (Rockcastle County) – 6-1 frontliner can score and rebound and has unlimited potential.

Whitney Belle Jackson (Clay County) – 6-1 center is strong in the paint in both scoring and rebounding.

Arielle Keown (Ohio County) – 5-5 guard is an excellent shooter.

Daziah Kimberland (Bardstown) – 5-9 athletic forward scores well off the dribble

Hillary Moore (Leslie County) – 5-8 point guard is an excellent scorer.

Jessica Philpot (Bullitt East) – 5-6 guard moves to the varsity with the ability to score, handle, and is a tenacious defender.

Abby Shelley (Ballard Memorial) – 5-11 frontliner has the ability to step out and nail the long-range jump shot.

Kristen Stainback (Scott County) – 5-9 versatile guard has excellent range on her jump shot.

Adrienne Tarrence (Bowling Green) – 5-7 guard made an impact last season and even more is expected this season.

Lauren Tibbs (Scott) – 6-4 center averaged double figures in scoring and is an excellent rebounder.

Shelby West (DuPont Manual) – 5-9 athletic guard transferred from Male and can score off the dribble or on the jump shot. (may or may not be eligible this season)


Freshmen (Class of 2012)

Kelsey Carmack (Deming) – 5-9 swing player scores off the mid-range jump shot and is a good defender.

Breanna Elder (Marion County) – 5-9 versatile performer seems poised for a break-out season.

Peyton Hisel (Tates Creek) – 6-1 center should make an early impact with her ability to score and rebound in the paint.

Micah Jones (Green County) – 5-5 guard has excellent court vision and is an excellent shooter with range.

Sydney Moss (Ryle) – 5-10 forward has unlimited potential and can take you off the dribble or shoot the three ball.

Kendall Noble (Breathitt County) – 5-10 guard has an excellent all-around game and has helped lead her team to the state tournament in two consecutive seasons.

Megan Pittman (Casey County) – 6-0 frontliner is an excellent inside presence in both scoring and rebounding.

Kara Wright (DuPont Manual) – 5-10 guard is a great slasher and scorer.


Thoughts

This has been fun but extremely frustrating. Each year I add names but there are still so many more names that could have and should have been added to the list, but for time and space considerations.

I also did not list eighth graders, but several, including Becca Greenwell (Owensboro Catholic), Kyvin Goodin and Makayla Epps (Marion County), made an impact as seventh graders.