BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — Braxton Keathley, Kentucky’s leading scorer last season, will suit up for Martin County High School this year. After his family relocated to Inez, the move led to his enrollment at the school and has created a major offseason shake-up in Kentucky high school basketball.

Keathley, a 6-foot-4, 190-lb guard, averaged 34.3 points and 10 rebounds per game last season, while shooting over 50% from the field and 92.2% from the free-throw line. His shooting from behind the charity stripe marked first in Kentucky and fifth all-time in state history. He ranked third nationally among sophomores in scoring and finished fourth in the nation in free throws made.

Keathley has already eclipsed 2,000 career points and 500 rebounds, while leading the 58th District in scoring for back-to-back seasons.

His resume includes six Division I scholarship offers, most recently from Eastern Kentucky University. Keathley was a unanimous Second Team All-State selection by both the Lexington Herald-Leader and Louisville Courier Journal, the only sophomore in the state to be named to any All-State team.

He was twice named Kentucky High School Player of the Year for his class by Kentucky Prep Report and earned a spot on the Prep Hoops All-State Sophomore Team. He also took home the 2025 Appalachian Newspapers Player of the Year award and is a three-time All-District and All-Region selection.

Nationally, Keathley has been ranked as a three-star prospect by On3 Rivals, becoming the first player from Kentucky’s 15th Region to earn a national ranking from Rivals or ESPN since Elijah Justice in 2007.

Keathley is ranked 193rd in the entire nation, comparable to Reed Sheppard and Trent Noah’s rankings. The playmaker is ranked 47th in the country at his shooting guard position in the 2027 class and second in the state.

Known for his relentless drive and work ethic, Keathley is often in the gym for 5 a.m. workouts and plays every game with a chip on his shoulder. Off the court, he’s just as focused: A member of the National Honor Society with a strong academic performance to match his athletic excellence.

While the move to Martin County marks a new chapter, Keathley said leaving Prestonsburg wasn’t easy.

“I’m really going to miss everyone at P-burg,” Keathley said. “The fans, my friends, the community always treated me so good. I can’t thank Coach Tackett enough for everything he did. He’s a great coach. I hope they win a lot of games and do something special.”

Keathley said the transition has been smooth thanks to the welcome he’s received in Inez.

“It’s not easy to move to another town, but everyone has been great at Martin so far,” he said. “The players, the coaches, the teachers have all been really good to me. I’ve heard a lot of great things about the fans and the community.”

He’s already focused on what lies ahead.

“I want to work as hard as I can and help the team be the best they can be come March,” Keathley said. “Replacing Peyton, Parker and Estep is going to be tough, but there’s guys coming back that are ready to step up. I know the coaches are going to be ready to work come October.”

Keathley said he’s committed to putting in the work behind the scenes.

“I’ll be in the gym before school, late at night working to get better, and if I can help a teammate, I will be right by them. I know they’ll push me to be better too.”

Keathley’s roots drive him.

“I love when I’m playing somewhere and they say, ‘There’s that kid from Eastern Kentucky,’” he said. “I take pride in representing the mountains and knowing we’ve got players in this region that can compete with anybody in the state or nation. Always proud of where I come from, and I’ll do the same at Martin County.”

He also hopes to lead by example beyond basketball.

“I want to keep being helpful and doing what I can to be a leader at school,” Keathley said. “It’s a tough district and region. It’ll be a challenge, but I’m looking forward to working to accomplish great things in Inez with my teammates and coaches.”

Keathley brings his high-octane game to a Martin County team that finished last season as 57th District champion and 15th Region runner-up.

Head coach Jason “JJ” James said he was thrilled to welcome the standout guard.

“I was ecstatic to hear the news,” James said. “He’s going to fit in with our guys, and it’s great to have a player of his caliber here in the mountains. To have him come to Inez will bring a new level of excitement for the fans, and he’s a player to look up to for the kids in Martin County.”

James said Keathley’s dynamic style will mesh perfectly with the Cardinals’ fast-paced system.

“We like to play fast, and he likes to play fast,” James said. “He’s a lights-out shooter. He’s great at getting to the basket. He rebounds well for his position. As a 6-foot-4 guard, he’s got excellent size. Braxton played point and was active off the ball. There really isn’t a lot he can’t do.”

Outside the lines, Keathley is already making an impact.

“He’s a great kid on and off the court,” James said. “He loves to be involved in the community. In his senior year, he’ll most likely be on the list to win Mr. Kentucky Basketball. You don’t get the opportunity to coach a player like that very often. I think he’s going to be awesome for the community and our team.”

With Keathley joining an already talented roster, expectations are sky-high in Inez.

“We already have some awesome guys on our team, and he’ll add to a group of players that I love to coach,” James said. “The fans can expect a team that plays with heart, energy and now more firepower.”