2024 Boys’ Sweet 16: A glance at every team and predictions for who could win it all
The 2024 UK HealthCare Boys’ Sweet 16 State Basketball Tournament begins Wednesday at Rupp Arena in downtown Lexington.
All the bracket slots have been filled. Who made it through? Here’s a glance at all 16 region champions, who they’ve beaten, who’s beaten them, plus my predictions for what will happen this week.
1ST REGION: MARSHALL COUNTY
Record: 25-7.
Head coach: Sawyer Donohoo.
Leading scorers (ppg): Alex Staples, 14.8; Matthew Langhi, 13.1; Tommy Robertson, 8.9.
Leading rebounder (rpg): Parker Logan, 6.3.
Notable wins: McCracken County, 59-51, Dec. 15 and 54-46, March 10.
Notable losses: McCracken County, 57-51, Dec. 22, and 67-60, Feb. 16.
Win streak: Seven, dating from Feb. 16 loss to McCracken.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: Unranked.
Sweet 16 history: Seventh appearance; first since 2012.
First-round opponent: 5th Region champion Adair County (28-7) at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Prior meeting: Have not met at least since KHSAA began keeping records online in 1998.
2ND REGION: LYON COUNTY
Record: 32-3.
Head coach: Ryan Perry.
Leading scorers (ppg): Travis Perry, 29.5; Brady Shoulders 17.7; Jack Reddick, 14.8; Bray Kirk, 9.6.
Leading rebounder: Shoulders, 10.3.
Notable wins: Lexington Catholic, 86-65, Dec. 30; Warren Central, 87-74, Jan. 2; Adair County, 98-48, Feb. 17.
Notable losses: Newport, 50-48, Jan. 27.
Win streak: 12, dating from Jan. 30 loss to Henderson County.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: No. 1.
Sweet 16 history: Fourth appearance and third in a row.
First-round opponent: 16th Region champion Ashland Blazer (23-10) at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Prior meeting: Last met in 2021, an 87-81 Lyon County loss.
3RD REGION: BUTLER COUNTY
Record: 22-8.
Head coach: Calvin Dockery.
Leading scorers (ppg): Ty Price, 29.6; Lawson Rice, 18; Briar Griffin, 11.6; Justin Castlen, 9.6.
Leading rebounder (rpg): Rice, 10.9.
Notable wins: Daviess County, 79-69, March 7; Owensboro Catholic, 73-57, March 12.
Notable losses: Louisville Trinity, 88-61; Harlan County, 93-74; Warren Central, 74-70.
Win streak: Six, dating from Feb. 17 loss to Henderson County.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: Unranked.
Sweet 16 history: First appearance.
First-round opponent: 6th Region champion Evangel Christian (29-6) at 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
Prior meeting: Last met in 2018, a 71-60 Butler County win.
4TH REGION: WARREN CENTRAL
Record: 17-11.
Head coach: William Unseld.
Leading scorers (ppg): Elijah Starks, 17; Kade Unseld, 15.7; Drevin Bratton, 14.2.
Leading rebounder: Starks, 9.5.
Notable wins: Butler County, 74-70, Feb. 6; Adair County, 65-59, Feb. 13; Bowling Green, 64-57, March 12.
Notable losses: Lyon County, 87-74, Jan. 2; Bowling Green, 52-47, Jan. 23, 46-41, Feb. 9 and 78-54, March 1; Lexington Catholic, 73-57, Feb. 23.
Win streak: Three, dating from March 1 loss to Bowling Green.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: No. 6.
Sweet 16 history: Two-time and defending state champions (2004, 2023); 19th appearance and third in a row; runner-up in 2022.
First-round opponent: Harlan County (31-4) at 11 a.m. Thursday.
Prior meeting: Have not met at least since KHSAA began keeping records online in 1998.
5TH REGION: ADAIR COUNTY
Record: 28-7.
Head coach: Deron Breeze.
Leading scorers (ppg): Connor Loy, 17.5; Isaiah Cochran, 16.9; Brayton Coomer, 11.
Leading rebounder (rpg): Cochran, 8.9.
Notable wins: Woodford County, 67-55, Feb. 3; North Hardin, 64-39, March 8; Bethlehem, 80-62, March 10.
Notable losses: Evangel Christian, 88-70, Jan. 22; Warren Central, 65-59, Feb. 13; Lyon County, 98-48, Feb. 17.
Win streak: Three, dating from Feb. 17 loss to Caverna.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: Unranked.
Sweet 16 history: Sixth appearance; first since 2009.
First-round opponent: Marshall County (25-7) at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Prior meeting: Have not met at least since KHSAA began keeping records online in 1998.
6TH REGION: EVANGEL CHRISTIAN
Record: 29-6.
Head coach: Larry Miller.
Leading scorers (ppg): Kyran Tilley, 17.9; Christian Doerr, 17.1.
Leading rebounder (rpg): Johnny Djema, 6.4.
Notable wins: Adair County, 88-70, Jan. 22; Fairdale, 64-54, March 12.
Notable losses: North Oldham, 85-75, Jan. 9; Newport, 69-62, Jan. 28; Bowling Green, 73-68, Feb. 15.
Win streak: Seven, dating from Feb. 15 loss to Bowling Green.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: No. 9.
Sweet 16 history: First appearance.
First-round opponent: Butler County (22-8) at 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
Prior meeting: Last met in 2018, a 71-60 Evangel Christian loss.
7TH REGION: LOUISVILLE TRINITY
Record: 26-7.
Head coach: Bret Saxton.
Leading scorers (ppg): Drae Vasser, 14.2; Jayden Johnson, 12; Julius Edmonds, 11.9.
Leading rebounder (rpg): Edmonds, 7.7.
Notable wins: Butler County, 88-61, Dec. 20; Newport, 76-71, Dec. 23; St. Xavier, 81-59, Jan. 26.
Notable losses: Bowling Green, 56-54, Dec. 21; St. Xavier, 59-58, Jan. 12; Lexington Catholic, 66-56, Feb. 2.
Win streak: Five, dating from Feb. 23 loss to Cathedral (Indianapolis).
Herald-Leader preseason rank: No. 3.
Sweet 16 history: Eighth appearance; first since 2019; two-time state champions (2012, 2019).
First-round opponent: 12th Region champion Pulaski County (23-10) at 6 p.m. Thursday.
Prior meeting: Last met in 2017, an 86-76 Trinity win.
8TH REGION: SPENCER COUNTY
Record: 25-9.
Head coach: Jason Burns.
Leading scorers (ppg): Luke Erhardt, 20.1; Camden Cox, 15.3; Keaton Baird, 13.1.
Leading rebounder (rpg): Baird, 6.3.
Notable wins: Woodford County, 71-68, March 1; Simon Kenton, 57-51, March 12.
Notable losses: Newport, 83-70, Dec. 22; Woodford County, 61-51, Jan. 5; North Hardin, 70-69, Feb. 19.
Win streak: Seven, dating from Feb. 19 loss to North Hardin.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: Unranked.
Sweet 16 history: First appearance.
First-round opponent: 11th Region champion Great Crossing (34-1) at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Prior meeting: Met in 2022, a 78-67 Spencer County loss.
9TH REGION: NEWPORT
Record: 32-3.
Head coach: Rodney Snapp.
Leading scorers (ppg): Taylen Kinney, 18; Jabari Covington, 12.6; DeShaun Jackson, 11.
Leading rebounder (rpg): Jackson, 6.2.
Notable wins: Spencer County, 83-70, Dec. 22; Lyon County, 50-48, Jan. 27; Evangel Christian, 69-62, Jan. 28; Cooper, 48-42, Feb. 13 and 46-39, March 12.
Notable losses: Great Crossing, 48-46, Dec. 21; Trinity, 76-71, Dec. 23.
Win streak: 24, dating from Dec. 23 loss to Trinity.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: No. 8.
Sweet 16 history: Thirteenth appearance and second in a row.
First-round opponent: 10th Region champion Campbell County (26-6) at 8:30 p.m. Thursday.
Prior meeting: Last met in 2022, a 61-40 Newport loss.
10TH REGION: CAMPBELL COUNTY
Record: 26-6.
Head coach: Brent Sowder.
Leading scorers (ppg): Connor Weinel, 15.7; Broc Sorgenfrei, 12.7; Garyn Jackson, 11.6.
Leading rebounder (rpg): Weinel, 10.
Notable wins: Ashland Blazer, 73-59, Dec. 21; George Rogers Clark, 75-62, March 11.
Notable losses: George Rogers Clark, 63-60, Dec. 1; North Oldham, 68-45, Dec. 30; Covington Catholic, 73-50, Jan. 30; Cooper, 49-41, Feb. 1.
Win streak: 12, dating from Feb. 1 loss to Cooper.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: Unranked.
Sweet 16 history: Eighth appearance, first since 2019.
First-round opponent: 9th Region champion Newport (32-3) at 8:30 p.m. Thursday.
Prior meeting: Last met in 2022, a 61-40 Campbell County win.
11TH REGION: GREAT CROSSING
Record: 34-1.
Head coach: Steve Page.
Leading scorers (ppg): Vince Dawson, 18.4; Malachi Moreno, 15.9; Junius Burrell, 11.4.
Leading rebounder (rpg): Moreno, 13.
Notable wins: Newport, 48-46, Dec. 21; Lexington Catholic, 58-50, Jan. 27 and 56-53 on March 12.
Notable losses: Bishop McConnell (Arlington, Va.), 77-74 (2OT), Dec. 30.
Win streak: 22, dating from Dec. 30 loss to Bishop McConnell.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: No. 2.
Sweet 16 history: First appearance.
First-round opponent: 8th Region champion Spencer County (25-9) at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Prior meeting: Met in 2022, a 78-67 Great Crossing win.
12TH REGION: PULASKI COUNTY
Record: 23-10.
Head coach: John Fraley.
Leading scorers (ppg): Will Blankenship, 15.2; Zak Anderson, 10.7; Ethan Idlewine, 10.
Leading rebounder (rpg): Anderson, 7.8.
Notable wins: Jeffersontown, 73-66, Dec. 2; Somerset, 63-56, Jan. 26 and 70-48, March 11.
Notable losses: Henry Clay, 49-43, Jan. 27; Somerset, 55-52, Feb. 29.
Win streak: Three, dating from Feb. 29 loss to Somerset.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: Unranked.
Sweet 16 history: Seventh appearance and second in a row; state champions in 1986.
First-round opponent: 7th Region champion Louisville Trinity (26-7) at 6 p.m. Thursday
Prior meeting: Last met in 2017, an 86-76 Pulaski County loss.
13TH REGION: HARLAN COUNTY
Record: 31-4.
Head coach: Kyle Jones.
Leading scorers (ppg): Trent Noah, 29.7; Maddox Huff, 17.6.
Leading rebounder (rpg): Noah, 10.5.
Notable wins: Ashland Blazer, 80-70, Dec. 2; Perry County Central, 81-63, Dec. 9; Butler County, 93-74, Dec. 21.
Notable losses: Bowling Green, 73-62, Dec. 20; Pikeville, 62-60, Jan. 30; Frederick Douglass, 79-69, Feb. 3.
Win streak: 10, dating from Feb. 3 loss to Douglass.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: No. 18.
Sweet 16 history: Second appearance, the other in 2017.
First-round opponent: 4th Region champion Warren Central (17-11) at 11 a.m. Thursday.
Prior meeting: Have not met at least since KHSAA began keeping records online in 1998.
14TH REGION: PERRY COUNTY CENTRAL
Record: 22-13.
Head coach: Shannon Hoskins.
Leading scorers (ppg): Kizer Slone, 15.5; Trayten Woods, 15.3; Carter Castle, 14.1.
Leading rebounder (rpg): Slone 6.5.
Notable wins: Magoffin County, 78-73, Dec. 1; Breathitt County, 62-55, March 11.
Notable losses: Harlan County, 81-63, Dec. 9; Hazard, 56-40, Jan. 2, 54-47, Feb. 1 and 44-37, Feb. 29.
Win streak: Three, dating from Feb. 29 loss to Hazard.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: Unranked.
Sweet 16 history: 10th appearance, the last in 2022.
First-round opponent: 15th Region champion Magoffin County (21-13) at 11 a.m. Wednesday.
Prior meeting: Last met on Dec. 1, a 78-73 Perry County Central win.
15TH REGION: MAGOFFIN COUNTY
Record: 21-13.
Head coach: Scott Castle.
Leading scorers (ppg): Aden Barnett, 29.4, Grayson Whitaker, 12.6; Zane Whitaker, 10.8.
Leading rebounder (rpg): Zane Whitaker, 7.5.
Notable wins: Martin County, 67-57, March 11.
Notable losses: Perry County Central, 78-73, Dec. 1; Ashland Blazer, 69-45, Dec. 5 and 66-52, Feb. 7; Martin County, 76-72, Jan. 30, 78-73, Feb. 5 and 83-73, Feb. 29.
Win streak: Four, dating from Feb. 29 loss to Martin County.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: Unranked.
Sweet 16 history: First appearance.
First-round opponent: 14th Region champion Perry County Central (22-13) at 11 a.m. Wednesday.
Prior meeting: Last met on Dec. 1, a 78-73 Magoffin County loss.
16TH REGION: ASHLAND BLAZER
Record: 23-10.
Head coach: Ryan Bonner.
Leading scorers (ppg): Zander Carter, 22.7; Braxton Jennings 10.1; Tyson Lalonde, 9.9.
Leading rebounder (rpg): Carter, 6.5.
Notable wins: Magoffin County, 69-45, Dec. 5 and 66-52, Feb. 7.
Notable losses: Harlan County, 80-70, Dec. 2; Campbell County, 73-59, Dec. 21; Boyd County 73-67, Jan. 9, 85-79 (OT), Feb. 2, 56-55 (OT), Feb. 29; Great Crossing, 72-59, Feb. 17.
Win streak: Three, dating from loss to Boyd County on Feb. 29.
Herald-Leader preseason rank: No. 19.
Sweet 16 history: 37th appearance and sixth straight. Four-time state champions (1928, 1933, 1934, 1961).
First-round opponent: 2nd Region champion Lyon County (32-3) at 1:30 p.m. Friday.
Prior meeting: Last met in 2021, an 87-81 Ashland Blazer win.
CANTRALL RATINGS
Dave Cantrall’s Rating the State rankings for teams in the Boys’ Sweet 16:
1. Great Crossing, 87.4
2. Evangel Christian, 84.6
3. Newport, 82.5
4. Lyon County, 82.4
5. Louisville Trinity, 81.9
6. Harlan County, 80.8
7. Spencer County, 77.8
8. Warren Central, 77.6
9. Ashland Blazer, 76.8
10. Butler County, 76.7
11. Campbell County, 76.2
12. Pulaski County, 71.5
13. Adair County, 69.6
14. Marshall County, 68.7
15. Magoffin County, 66.8
16. Perry County Central, 63.1
@HLPREPS PREDICTIONS
Elite Eight: Magoffin County, Lyon County, Adair County, Great Crossing, Warren Central, Evangel Christian, Louisville Trinity, Newport.
Final Four: Great Crossing, Lyon County, Warren Central, Evangel Christian.
Title game: Great Crossing, Evangel Christian.
Champion: Great Crossing.
2024 Boys’ Sweet 16
What: Sixteen-team tournament to decide Kentucky’s high school basketball state champion.
When: March 20-23
Where: Rupp Arena
Tickets: Tickets available for purchase at KHSAA.org.
Boys’ Sweet 16 schedule
At Rupp Arena
WEDNESDAY’S FIRST-ROUND GAMES
11 a.m.: Magoffin County (21-13) vs. Perry County Central (22-13)
1:30 p.m.: Ashland Blazer (23-10) vs. Lyon County (32-3)
6 p.m.: Adair County (28-7) vs. Marshall County (25-7)
8:30 p.m.: Spencer County (25-9) vs. Great Crossing (34-1)
THURSDAY’S FIRST-ROUND GAMES
11 a.m.: Harlan County (31-4) vs. Warren Central (17-11)
1:30 p.m.: Butler County (22-8) vs. Evangel Christian (29-6)
6 p.m.: Louisville Trinity (26-7) vs. Pulaski County (23-10)
8:30 p.m.: Newport (32-3) vs. Campbell County (26-6)
FRIDAY’S QUARTERFINALS
11 a.m.: Magoffin County-Perry County Central winner vs. Spencer County-Great Crossing winner
1:30 p.m.: Ashland Blazer-Lyon County winner vs. Adair County-Marshall County winner
6 p.m.: Harlan County-Warren Central winner vs. Newport-Campbell County winner
8:30 p.m.: Louisville Trinity-Pulaski County winner vs. Butler County-Evangel Christian winner
SATURDAY’S GAMES
11 a.m.: Semifinal 1: Winners of Friday’s afternoon session
1:30 p.m.: Semifinal 2: Winners of Friday’s evening session
7:30 p.m.: Championship game
