Kentucky prospects ZaKiyah Johnson, Leah Macy among ESPN's Top 25 sophomores
There is plenty of high-level talent scattered across the Bluegrass State. Two of those talents are considered to be among the best in the entire country.
Earlier this week, ESPN released its latest high school girls’ basketball player rankings for the classes of 2024, 2025, and 2026. With the 2022-23 season officially wrapped up, this is the first update since Oct. 2022. Following incredibly successful sophomore seasons in the Commonwealth, Kentucky prospects ZaKiyah Johnson and Leah Macy both cracked espnW’s Top 25 player rankings for the class of 2025.
Johnson, who led Sacred Heart Academy to its third consecutive state championship last month, comes in at No. 2 overall while Macy, who stars for Mercy Academy, checks in at No. 15. Johnson held down her No. 2 spot from back in the fall while Macy saw a two-spot increase in her ranking.
Johnson and Macy have long been considered to be two of the best prospects in their class. Both have been ranked by espnW since Sept. 2021 and continue to live up to their potential. Johnson, in particular, is a special talent. The 5-foot-11 guard was recently tabbed as the National Sophomore Player of the Year by MaxPreps after putting up averages of 22.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game while shooting 52.5 percent from the field and 39.6 percent from long range.
Despite having just wrapped up her sophomore season, Johnson has already collected upwards of 40 Divison I scholarship offers. Kentucky and Louisville are among them, but the budding superstar is being recruited by the best of the best. The likes of South Carolina, UConn, Baylor, and Maryland have already reached out with offers. Johnson will have her choice of where she wants to play at the next level.
Johnson’s list of accomplishments is quickly turning into a multi-chapter book. In 2022, she was MaxPreps’ National Freshman of the Year, Gatorade Kentucky Player of the Year, and the Sweet 16 Most Valuable Player. Along with winning National Sophomore of the Year in 2023, she also repeated as Gatorade Kentucky Player of the Year and Sweet 16 MVP.
During Sacred Heart’s run for a three-peat, Johnson shined throughout. In the title game against McCracken County, she poured in 30 points and eight rebounds on 12-14 shooting. The Valkyries (37-3) finished the season ranked No. 11 in the country, according to ESPN.
As for Macy, her trophy case isn’t as stacked as Johnson’s, but there’s no denying she’s one of the country’s best sophomores. The 6-foot-2 forward averaged 25.0 points and 13.2 rebounds per game for Mercy this past season, leading the Jaguars to a 25-10 record and the second round of the Sweet 16. Macy shot 61.4 percent overall from the floor and 34.5 percent from deep throughout the year. She posted 37 points and 21 rebounds in an opening-round win over Cooper.
Like Johnson, both Kentucky and Louisville have offered Macy, with the Cardinals viewed as a potential leader in her recruitment. The likes of Tennessee, Arizona, Ole Miss, Ohio State, Michigan, and plenty of others have also extended scholarships. Macy has visited Lexington several times, including the last two Big Blue Madness events.
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