This week’s UK Healthcare Boys’ Sweet 16 at Rupp Arena will feature a strong mix of tradition-rich programs and newcomers.
The 16 teams have won a combined 19 state championships, with seven of them winning at least one. Henry Clay leads the way with six state titles, and Ashland Blazer and Male have won four apiece. Covington Catholic is the most recent champion, winning the second of its titles in 2018.
On the flip side, North Oldham will be making its first-ever trip and Lyon County is back for the first time since 1951.
KHSAA basketball:Sacred Heart tops Bullitt East for Girls' Sweet 16 title
The field also includes seven of the top 10 teams in the final Associated Press poll of the season — No. 1 George Rogers Clark, No. 2 Male, No. 3 Covington Catholic, No. 5 Warren Central, No. 6 North Laurel, No. 7 Ashland Blazer and No. 9 Pikeville.
The state’s top four scoring offenses also qualified — GRC (84.3 points per game), Lyon County (79.9 ppg), North Laurel (79.0 ppg) and Male (78.1 ppg).
Finally, the Sweet 16 includes the champions of Kentucky's three most prominent regular-season tournaments — Covington Catholic (King of the Bluegrass), Male (Louisville Invitational Tournament) and George Rogers Clark (Lexington Catholic's White, Greer & Maggard Holiday Classic).
As we approach Wednesday’s first round of action, here’s one writer’s ranking of the field:
16. Muhlenberg County (18-11)
The Mustangs repeated as Third Region champs, defeating McLean County for the fourth time this season in the championship game. Senior guard Trey Lovell (13.3 ppg) is the top scorer and was named Third Region Player of the Year by the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches. The Third Region hasn’t won a Sweet 16 game since Owensboro took home the 2015 championship — the longest drought of any region in the state.
15. Perry County Central (29-4)
The Commodores rolled through their district and regional tournament games with an average margin of victory of 18.4 points. Senior guard Landon Napier (15.7 ppg) shoots 35.1% (65 of 185) from 3-point range and was named the KABC’s 14th Region Player of the Year. He has an offer from Alice Lloyd College. Perry County Central played just one team that reached the Sweet 16, falling to North Laurel 74-65 on Feb. 5.
14. John Hardin (25-9)
First-year coach Austin Jones saw his team get hot at the right time and knock off Elizabethtown,last year’s state runner-up, 58-53 in overtime in the Fifth Region final. Four players average double figures in scoring, led by senior guards Jalen Tyus (16.4 ppg) and Amareion Doctor (16.1 ppg). Tyus shoots 36.1% (86 of 238) from 3-point range. The Bulldogs were 0-1 against Sweet 16 qualifiers, falling to George Rogers Clark 100-72 on Feb. 5.
More coverage:Sign up for The Courier Journal's high school sports newsletter
13. Murray (25-6)
The Tigers rank fifth in the state in scoring defense (48.1 ppg) and won the First Region final 35-28 over McCracken County. In late January, Murray reached the quarterfinals of the All “A” Classic state tournament before falling to Pikeville 46-40. Junior guard Grant Whitaker (17.2 ppg) and senior forward Trey Boggess (13.4 ppg) are the top scorers, and both have hit more than 40 3-pointers this season.
12. Lyon County (28-6)
The Lyons are in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1951. Travis Perry, a 6-foot-2 sophom*ore and son of coach Ryan Perry, is the top scorer in the field at 27.7 points per game and ranks fifth in the state with 111 3-pointers this season. Perry joined the varsity team as a seventh-grader and has amassed 3,142 career points, putting him on pace to pass Wayland’s King Kelly Coleman (4,337 points) as the state’s all-time leading scorer. Perry has scholarship offers from Creighton, New Orleans and Ole Miss.
11. North Oldham (18-12)
The Mustangs had lost four in a row entering the Eighth Region Tournament but got past Walton-Verona, Collins and Woodford County to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time. Coach David Levitch, the former University of Louisville player, leans on a pair of solid shooters in junior guards Dallas Roberts (17.5 ppg) and Jack Scales (12.2 ppg) and 6-6 junior forward Ian Higdon (12.6 ppg, 9.0 rpg). The Mustangs were 0-3 against the Sweet 16 field, falling to North Laurel, Jeffersontown and GRC.
10. Lincoln County (29-7)
The Patriots lean on a defense that allows just 48.9 points per game, ranking No. 7 in the state. They won the 12th Region championship game 42-40 in overtime over a Pulaski County team that entered with a 30-2 record. Four players average double-figures in scoring, led by junior guards Tramane Alcorn (13.9 ppg) and Colton Ralston (13.1 ppg). Ralston shoots 39.4% (89 of 226) from 3-point range.
9. Henry Clay (27-8)
The Blue Devils went 5-5 in February, including an overtime loss to Frederick Douglass in the 42nd District final, but got revenge on the Broncos in the 11th Region championship game to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2005. Seniors Aziel Blackwell (17.2 ppg) and Kanye Henderson (13.3 ppg) are the top scorers, and junior Konlin Brown (11.2 ppg) has knocked down 90 3-pointers. Another of Henry Clay’s February losses came to Male, 63-48.
8. Pikeville (31-2)
The Panthers won the All “A” Classic and have lost just once in 2022, falling to Paintsville 65-51 on Feb. 15. Four players score in double figures, led by junior guard Rylee Samons (15.3 ppg) and senior forward Nick Robinson (13.7 ppg). The 6-5 Robinson leads the state in field-goal shooting at 74.1% and pitches in 7.7 rebounds per game. He has committed to the University of Pikeville.
7. Jeffersontown (24-8)
The Chargers won the rugged Sixth Region, beating Pleasure Ridge Park and Doss along the way, to qualify for the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2008 when they were members of the Seventh Region. Coach Richard Duncan likes to say there’s no superstar on the team, but the Vasser brothers form a strong duo — sophom*ore Drae (13.8 ppg) and senior Will (13.7 ppg). The draw is favorable, and J’town could make it to the semifinals if its defense continues to hold.
6. Warren Central (26-3)
The Dragons enter with a 14-game winning streak, having defeated rival Bowling Green in the 14th District and Fourth Region finals. Six players average at least 6.2 points per game, led by senior guard Jaiden Lawrence (14.1 ppg) and junior forward Chappelle Whitney (13.6 ppg). Warren Central is a dangerous squad that got a tough first-round matchup against Male. Nevertheless, the Dragons are a dark horse to make a deep run.
5. North Laurel (28-5)
The Reed Sheppard Show made it to Rupp and likely will sell a lot of tickets. Sheppard, a junior who has committed to the University of Kentucky, averages 25.5 points and 6.8 rebounds and is considered by many to be the front-runner for the 2023 Mr. Basketball award. Ryan Davidson, a 6-4 junior, adds 20 points and 6.6 rebounds for a North Laurel team that ranks No. 1 in the state in free-throw shooting (83.8%) and No. 2 in 3-pointers made (310).
4. Ashland Blazer (26-5)
The Tomcats are in the Sweet 16 for the fourth straight year and feature a formidable backcourt in seniors Colin Porter (17.4 ppg, Liberty commit) and Cole Villers (13.9 ppg). Villers has battled a knee injury this season but did play in the 16th Region Tournament. Ethan Sellars, a 6-1 senior, leads Ashland in scoring (18.1 ppg). The Tomcats lead the state in 3-pointers made (342) and attempted (835), shooting 41% from behind the arc. Ashland beat first-round opponent Covington Catholic 71-60 on Jan. 29.
3. George Rogers Clark (33-1)
The No. 3 spot for the team that has a 27-game winning streak, is undefeated against Kentucky competition this season and leads the state in scoring (84.3 ppg)? The Cardinals certainly have the talent to win their first state title since 1951. Four starters score in double figures — juniors Jerone Morton (19.2 ppg), Sam Parrish (13.3 ppg) and Trent Edwards (13.3 ppg) and senior Tanner Walton (12.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg). The only question mark is the schedule. GRC posted wins over Madison Central, North Oldham, Ashland Blazer, Woodford County, North Laurel and Ballard in December but hasn’t been tested much over the past 2 ½ months. We’ll see if that matters.
2. Male (28-5)
The Bulldogs survived a triple-overtime thriller against Ballard in the Seventh Region final and will try to ride the momentum to their first state title since 1975. Junior Kaleb Glenn (21.9 ppg, 12.7) has committed to U of L, is a force in the paint and has improved as a perimeter threat. Senior Dez Lindsay (14.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg) is a solid scorer and defender, and junior Jack Edelen (13.4 ppg) is a steady point guard. The Bulldogs believed they would have won the title in 2020, but the tournament was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. They’ll get another chance this week.
1. Covington Catholic (28-4)
The Colonels won state titles in 2014 and 2018 behind solid point guards and have another solid one this season in junior Evan Ipsaro (21.7 ppg). He has scholarship offers from Bellarmine, Cleveland State, Furman, Radford, Stetson and Youngstown State. Mitchell Rylee (16.5 ppg, 8.3 rpg), a 6-8 senior who has signed with Miami (Ohio), was named the KABC’s Ninth Region Player of the Year. Chandler Starks (9.6 ppg), a 6-6 junior, provides more size. Junior guard Kascyl McGillis (7.7 ppg) is the top 3-point threat (63 made). There’s no clear favorite in this tournament, but CovCath’s Scott Ruthsatz is the only coach in the field to win a state title. Could that be the difference?
Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @kyhighs.
UK Healthcare Boys' Sweet 16
Here’s the schedule for the UK Healthcare Boys’ Sweet 16 at Rupp Arena in Lexington:
Wednesday
- Lincoln County (29-7) vs. Jeffersontown (24-8), 11 a.m.
- North Oldham (18-12) vs. Muhlenberg County (18-11), 1:30 p.m.
- George Rogers Clark (33-1) vs. Perry County Central (29-4), 6 p.m.
- Pikeville (31-2) vs. North Laurel (28-5), 8:30 p.m.
Thursday
- Male (28-5) vs. Warren Central (26-3), 11 a.m.
- John Hardin (25-9) vs. Lyon County (28-6), 1:30 p.m.
- Murray (25-6) vs. Henry Clay (27-8), 6 p.m.
- Ashland Blazer (26-5) vs. Covington Catholic (28-4), 8:30 p.m.
Friday
- Lincoln County-Jeffersontown winner vs. North Oldham-Muhlenberg County winner, 11 a.m.
- George Rogers Clark-Perry County Central winner vs. Pikeville-North Laurel winner, 1:30 p.m.
- John Hardin-Lyon County winner vs. Ashland Blazer-Covington Catholic winner, 6 p.m.
- Murray-Henry Clay winner vs. Male-Warren Central winner, 8:30 p.m.
Saturday
- Semifinals, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
- Final, 7 p.m.
