BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — This year’s Zip Zone Express Tip Off Classic will be Nov. 26 at Martin County High School and promises an impressive lineup.

Martin County Coach Jason James has again compiled a slew of matchups featuring top players and teams.

“We have a really good lineup,” James said. “We got one of the top players in the country in Travis Perry and one of the top freshmen in Jayden Johnson. Several Division I players are scheduled to play, and we may have the two best teams in the state of West Virginia. We have four guys with Division I offers – and [Pikeville’s Rylee Sammons] signed with a Division I school at Tennessee Tech.”

In men’s action, Martin County and junior star Luke Hale will take on the highly-ranked Logan (W.Va.) High School.

Lyon County and Travis Perry from Region 2 will take on Trinity and Jayden Johnson.

Perry is expected to be the state’s all-time leading scorer at the end of his high school career. He has received offers from multiple schools, including the University of Kentucky and Vanderbilt.

Johnson (6-foot-5) is a rising freshman at Trinity High School in Louisville. He received an offer in June from West Virginia University, his second Division I offer, as Missouri offered him June 6.

Chapmanville (W.Va.) will play 15th Region champion Pikeville and stud Rylee Sammons.

West Virginia powerhouse Tug Valley will go head-to-head with Lawrence County. 

Johnson Central will take on Rowan County.

From the 15th Region, Russ Osborne and Shelby Valley will face Hopkins County from Region 2.

Breathitt County from Region 14 finished 26-8 last season and has two top players in Austin Sperry and Christian Collins. Breathitt will go against 11th Region powerhouse Lexington Catholic and star Reece Potter. Lexington Catholic finished 26-6 last season.

In women’s play, the Martin County Lady Cards, boasting Laken Williams in the backcourt, will play Chapmanville (W.Va.).