BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Braxton Keathley, a four-star guard and one of Kentucky’s top scorers, has left Martin County after one season and will play his senior year at Prolific Prep in Florida, headlining a major offseason roster shake-up for the Cardinals.
Keathley is coming off a sensational junior season in Inez, where he averaged 33.1 points and nine rebounds per game and pushed his career scoring total to 3,128 points. He finished second in Kentucky in scoring last season after leading the state in scoring as a sophomore at Prestonsburg High School.
The standout guard would have been one of the leading candidates for Mr. Kentucky Basketball this season.
Keathley currently holds eight Division I scholarship offers, with more expected as he prepares for his final high school season.
Martin County coach Jason “JJ” James said he supports Keathley’s decision and wants the best for him moving forward.
“Braxton did what was best for him to reach his goals and to play Division I basketball,” James said.
Keathley is not the only player leaving the program.
Bryson Dials has transferred to nearby Lawrence County after playing a key role for the Cardinals last season. The Martin County native averaged 18.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game while shooting 80.7% from the free-throw line.
Dials was one of the familiar faces in the Cardinal lineup and gave Martin County another reliable scoring option. His departure is one that the program and community will feel.
Chase Hinkle has transferred to Paintsville High School. Hinkle played limited minutes last season, averaging 1.5 points and 1.7 rebounds per game, but was expected to step into a larger role this year.
Hinkle is also a Martin County product, and many around the program were looking forward to seeing his growth this season.
The departures come during an offseason of change for the Cardinals, who have added new pieces while saying goodbye to players who came through local programs. Martin County has brought in transfers from Paintsville and Chapmanville as it reworks its roster for the upcoming season.
James, who has been through roster changes before, understands how quickly high school basketball can shift, especially when players are making decisions about their futures.
“I wish them all the best,” he said.
While losing a player of Keathley’s caliber is a major change, James remains positive about both Keathley’s next step and Martin County’s future.
“I’m excited to see what the future holds,” James said. “We will be OK. We still have the best player in the region in Keaton Terry. People just don’t know it yet.”
Terry, a 6-foot-7 forward who transferred from Chapmanville, is expected to be a major piece for Martin County. He brings size, rebounding and defensive presence to a team, replacing a large amount of production from last season.
The loss of Keathley, Dials and Hinkle marks the end of an important chapter for the Cardinals. Keathley brought state and national attention with his scoring ability. Meanwhile, Dials and Hinkle were local players the community had watched come up through the county.
Coach James and Martin County will now turn the page, looking to build their own identity heading into the season.