By Dan Weber
NKyTribune sports reporter
Lots of good stuff in the boys’ and girls’ high school basketball Top Tens — for teams and players — from the Northern Kentucky Basketball Coaches Association for the 2026-27 season.
Lots of preseason discussion material here. And maybe a missing person or team here and there but pretty much on the money with the Northern Kentucky Basketball Coaches Association’s naming of Covington Catholic and Newport High as the top two teams on the boys’ side.
And they have Holy Cross and Cooper leading the way for the girls.
Top individuals? Beechwood’s Dylan Topmiller and CovCath’s Braeden Myrick top for the picks for the boys. Cooper’s Hayley Noel and Simon Kenton’s Brynli Pernell for the girls.
One missing boys’ transfer – CovCath’s Benjamin Brown, a 6-foot-3 high-scoring sophomore guard from Scott, along with a pair of transfers to Newport, 6-foot-7 senior Griffin Starks, back to the Wildcats from Orlando’s Southeastern Prep, and 6-2 combo guard Jayden Wilkins, son of 10-year NBA vet Damien Wilkins, and a top national prospect coming in from a pair of prep schools, might be the ones generating the most conversation.
Here are the Coaches’ Top Ten’s:
BOYS’ BASKETBALL TEAMS
1. CovCath
2. Newport
3. Ryle
4. Beechwood
5. Highlands
6. Simon Kenton
7. Campbell County
8. Dixie Heights
9. Conner
10. Lloyd Memorial
BOYS’ INDIVIDUALS
1. Dylan Topmiller, Beechwood
2. Braeden Myrick, CovCath
3. Amontae Lowe, Newport
4. Bray Bilton, Simon Kenton
5. Holden Smith, Ryle
6. Wyatt Shearer, Walton-Verona
7. Griffin Starks, Newport
8. Jayden Wilkins, Newport
9. (TIE) Hunter Seng, Dixie Heights and
10. Amil Wimzie, Highlands
GIRLS’ TEAMS
1. Holy Cross
2. Cooper
3. Simon Kenton
4. Notre Dame
5. Ryle
6. Bishop Brossart
7. Campbell County
8. Highlands
9. Dixie Heights
10. Walton-Verona
GIRLS’ INDIVIDUALS
1. Haylee Noel, Cooper
2. Brynli Pernell, Simon Kenton
3. Asia Carner, Dixie Heights
4. Jayden McClain, Highlands
5. D’Myah Williams, Holy Cross
6. Noelle Price, Scott
7. Kylie Smith, Bishop Brossart
8. Jai Johnson, Holy Cross
9. Elin Logue, Walton-Verona
10. Kendall Augsback, Campbell County
Contact Dan Weber at dweber3440@aol.com. Follow him on X @dweber3440.