Zip Zone Classic bringing top talent

Game schedule announced

BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — The countdown is on for the highly touted Zip Zone Express Tip Off Classic set for Nov. 26 at Martin County High School.

Two matchups sure to bring some oohs and ahhs are Trinity (Louisville) vs. Lyon County and Pikeville vs. Chapmanville (W.Va.).

The Trinity vs. Lyon County game starts at 4 p.m.

Trinity, six-time Region 7 champion and state championship in 2012 and 2019, brings five players with Division 1, D2, D3 and NAIA offers.

Trinity has a young stud in shooting guard Jayden Johnson, the top 2026 prospect in Kentucky. The 6-5 freshman already has offers from Bob Huggins in West Virginia, Cincinnati and Missouri. 

Trinity returns senior Cam McClain, a 45.9% shooter who averaged 17.2 points per contest last year.

Lyon County is the Region 2 champion and brings four players with D1, D2 and D3 offers and interest.

Lyon County’s Travis Perry is on track to surpass King Kelly Coleman as the state’s leading scorer. The 6-2 point guard averaged 27.5 points per game in his sophomore campaign. He sits at 3,188 career points and scored 990 last season. A similar junior year will put him near the top.

Perry has received offers from John Calipari, Michigan, Ohio State, Purdue, Wake Forest and several others.

Pikeville vs. Chapmanville is set for 2:40 p.m.

Reigning 15th Region champ Pikeville returns D1 signee Rylee Sammons who will play for Tennessee Tech. The team defeated Reed Sheppard and North Laurel in the first round of the KHSAA tournament last season. 

The Chapmanville Tigers won back-to-back state championships in 2018 and 2019 in West Virginia. Key returners include Isaiah Smith, Brody Dalton and 6-7 Zion Blevins. 

Smith shot a blistering 51.5% from behind the arc as a freshman.

Blevins has been in contact with multiple colleges in the offseason and averaged 19 ppg as a sophomore.

The Tigers brought in 6-9 Deng Makor, an all-around player, during the summer.

Nov. 26 Game Schedule

The action starts at 9:20 a.m. with Martin County Middle School vs. Dorton.

At 10:40 a.m., Johnson Central will take on Rowan County.

Shelby Valley plays Hopkins County Central at noon.

At 1:20 p.m., Breathitt County faces Lexington Catholic.

Pikeville and Chapmanville play at 2:40, followed by Trinity vs. Lyon County at 4 p.m.

The Martin County Lady Cards play against Chapmanville (W.Va.) at 5:20 p.m.

At 6:40, Martin County Cardinals will take on Logan (W.Va.).

The final game at 8 p.m. will be between Tug Valley and Lawrence County.

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