CITIZEN STAFF REPORT
Brady Johnson of Shelby Valley and Kylie Alvin of Pikeville are the 15th Region’s Players of the Year. The Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches announced its 2025-26 regional honorees Sunday.
The awards, voted on by KABC member coaches across the state, recognize one boys and one girls player in each of Kentucky’s 16 regions. Each recipient is automatically a Mr. or Miss Kentucky Basketball finalist through the Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation. Statewide winners to be announced March 22 at the Griffin Gate Marriott Resort.
For the 15th Region, the selections reflect another season of production and leadership in Eastern Kentucky
Johnson’s steady scoring and competitiveness anchored Shelby Valley’s campaign. The guard led his team with 543 points in 28 games, averaging 19.4 per contest. He was one of just two players on the roster to surpass 500 points, edging teammate Caden Johnson, who finished with 521.
Johnson’s offensive profile demonstrated versatility. He converted 135 two-point field goals and knocked down 68 from 3-point range, finishing 203 of 384 from the floor for a 52.9% shooting clip. From beyond the arc, he hit 68 of 142 attempts, shooting 47.9% — an elite mark for a high-volume perimeter shooter.
At the free-throw line, he connected on 69 of 107 attempts, a 64.5% rate.
Johnson also led the team on the glass with 245 rebounds, averaging 8.8 per game — a notable figure for a perimeter-oriented scorer and the highest total on the roster.
In all, he accounted for more than a quarter of Shelby Valley’s 2,092 points. His blend of scoring punch, efficiency and rebounding production underscores why he earned 15th Region Boys Player of the Year honors.
Alvin’s versatility and command powered Pikeville throughout her senior season, which combined scoring volume with range and rebounding consistency.
In 26 games, the guard poured in 476 points, averaging 18.3 per game to lead her team. She scored 117 two-point field goals and added 56 from beyond the arc, finishing with 173 field goals on 458 attempts.
Alvin attempted 190 3-pointers and made 56, a 29.5% clip, while averaging 2.2 made 3s per game. At the free-throw line, she converted 74 of 106 attempts, shooting 69.8% and averaging 2.8 made free throws per contest.
She also controlled the boards, grabbing 160 rebounds — 6.2 per game — the highest total on the roster and a significant number for a guard.
Overall, Alvin accounted for nearly 30% of Pikeville’s 1,604 points. Her combination of perimeter scoring, steady free-throw production and team-leading rebounding illustrates why she earned 15th Region Girls Player of the Year honors.
Statewide honorees stretch from far western Kentucky to the mountains of the east.
On the boys side, Region 1’s Miles Woodfork of McCracken County is the Region 1 selectee, along with Bray Kirk of Lyon County in Region 2 and Jonathan Moss of Daviess County in Region 3. Jaxson Mason of Clinton County represents Region 4, Jaylin Craine of Caverna Region 5 and Dayvone Harrison of Jeffersontown Region 6.
Jeremiah Jackson of St. Xavier earns Region 7 recognition, while Andrew Sparrow of Anderson County represents Region 8. Athens McGillis of Covington Catholic is the Region 9 selectee, Malachi Ashford of George Rogers Clark in Region 10 and Jake Feldhaus of Madison Central in Region 11. Kendall Phillips of Wayne County is the honoree in Region 12, Reece Davidson of North Laurel in Region 13 and Seth Caudill of Hazard in Region 14. Jacob Spurlock of Boyd County rounds out the boys field in Region 16.
For the girls, Sayler Lowe of Calloway County represents Region 1, followed by A’tylia Green of Henderson County in Region 2 and Kennedy Lane of Daviess County in Region 3. Debora Patrick of Allen County-Scottsville represented Region 4, Nora Kate Simpson of Nelson County Region 5 and Keziah Renee’ of Butler Region 6.
Region 7 produced two honorees: Ashlinn James of Assumption and Bri Wilkins of Sacred Heart, while Madison Young of South Oldham represents Region 8. Jaelyn Jones of Ryle is the selectee in Region 9. Region 10 also features two recipients: Isabella Jayasuriya of Campbell County and Teigh Yeast of George Rogers Clark. Piper Graham of Lexington Christian earned Region 11 recognition, Taylor King of Rockcastle County represents Region 12, Kairi Lamb of Bell County Region 13 and Ava Napier of Leslie County Region 14. Alvin’s selection in Region 15 and Gabby Karie of Ashland Blazer in Region 16 completes the statewide roster.