Kentucky’s Top Shooting Wings
Aside from our region by region previews that went on for a couple of weeks and just ended, part of the 2018-19 season preview will be breaking down the state’s top players by position. Today we continue by taking a look at the state’s best shooting wings. Kentucky is full of some big time slashers attacking from the perimeter. Here’s a look at some of the best wing shooters in the state. Presented in no particular order.
- South Laurel’s JJ Ramey shot an impressive 49% from 3 last year while making just over 2 per game on his way to leading South Laurel in scoring as a Junior at 19 points per game. JJ holds multiple NAIA scholarship offers already and has a shot to land at the D2 level or higher by the end of this season.
- Glenn Covington of Scott County is one of the more athletic kids in the state in my opinion and as a Junior last season he shot exactly 40% from downtown. Covington is known as a slasher but he can really shoot the ball too. Look for him to get more shots this season with the graduation of Cooper Robb from a year ago.
- Newport’s Makhi McGuire is long and can really shoot with range. Almost 6’5 now, McGuire should benefit from plenty open looks created by the penetration and kick of his point guard Donnie Miller.
- Perry County Central Senior Noah Back is quietly closing in on being the KHSAA career leader in made 3 pointers so he has to be included on this list. Back is one of the top catch and shoot players in the state.
- Harrison County’s Spencer Free is the type of kid who is going to shoot around 38% from 3 on the season but he gets hot and hits 4 threes on 4 consecutive trips down the floor with the last one coming from 30 feet out. He makes the list because of his ability to heat up and scorch the nets in a hurry.
- Will Hacker of Lexington Christian put up an impressive 49% from three as a Junior and should continue to make a killing from the perimeter with Kyle Rode sucking in the defense on his drives.
- Gallatin senior Troy Coomer may be the best shooter in the state and no one talks about him. Coomer shot 52.5% from behind the arc in his Junior season and hit over 3 per game. His consistency over the season was probably the most impressive thing about him.
- 2020 features many impressive shooters and McCracken’s Jackson Sivills is maybe the best of them. Jackson has a quick trigger and doesn’t need much space to get his shot off. Jackson shot 39% from deep last year but should keep improving.
- Another hot shooting Junior wing is Collins’ Marcellus Vail. He’s capable of getting hot and making upwards of 6 threes in a half. This summer Vail hit 6 threes in about 9 possessions of an AAU game.
- Beechwood wing Scotty Draud is known for his shooting abilities on the wing. Draud is 6’5 and still growing and he should only keep getting better as he gets bigger and stronger.
- Lexington Catholic sophomore Ben Johnson is a lot like Marcellus Vail. When he gets hot, watch out because he may sink 5 threes in 5 trips up the floor. Ben, like his older brother Tanner (now at Bryant University) as range out to 30 feet at all times.
- Colby Napier of Knott County Central could be the next Cameron Justice with how Napier already shoots the ball. As a freshman, Napier shot just shy of 51% from three and should get even more shots this year in the 15th region.