Check out some of the best young stars in Northern Kentucky girls basketball

It's no secret that there is a bevy of talent among the Northern Kentucky girls basketball teams. Several seniors are committed to Division I programs and offers are starting to come in for the class of 2025.

But the next wave of stars isn't on the horizon; they've already arrived.

Several schools in the Eighth, Ninth and 10th regions boast underclassmen who are making an impact this season. Here is a look at six players who have burst onto the scene as freshmen, or in some cases, as junior high students.

More: Holy Cross back in top 10 of statewide media poll. See who else in included

Elin Logue, Walton-Verona

Logue is in her third year with the varsity team but broke out last year when she averaged 10 points per game and shot 45 percent from three-point range. This year, she increased her scoring output but is shooting a lower percentage from beyond the arc, in part because she had to step up when junior Campbell Christy missed six games with an ankle injury.

Playing behind Eighth Region Player of the Year Grace Brewer as a freshman taught Logue a lot about her own game and how to help her teammates get better.

"I just took everything after her. So I think she's helped me succeed a lot more this year, just taking from what she did last year and kind of bringing it into my game this year," Logue said.

Logue is a volume shooter who can get hot at any time. She also is making an effort to be more physical on the defensive end of the court. By the time her prep career is over, she would like to be a 1,000-point scorer and a complete leader for her teammates.

She doesn't have any college offers yet but has taken visits to Chattanooga, Murray State, Oregon State, Thomas More and Southeast Missouri State.

"I think it's awesome to see how good our class is. You don't see that every day. The (2027) class is really talented, so I'm really thankful for that," Logue said.

Nakiah Mejia, Scott

Mejia is one of many underclassmen who have stood out for Scott. Eighth-grader Noelle Price and freshman Kourtney Peterson are both among the top four scorers for the Eagles.

"Most of the kids don't see all the work that she's put in, but she's probably, out of those three, had the biggest jump. It's been really impressive to see," Scott head coach Eric Pouncy Jr. said of Mejia.

Mejia is averaging 10.3 points per game on 47 percent shooting from the field. She also continues to work on speed and agility, skills that translate to both ends of the floor.

The Eagles graduated 10 seniors in 2023 and shifted from an experienced team to one that is very young. Led by the underclassmen, they are 13-6 so far.

"We know we had to take that big step, so over the summer, we've been pushing ourselves and knowing coming into the season that we can fill in that spot without having any troubles," Mejia said.

Jayden McClain, Ryle

Standing at 6-foot-5, McClain is one of the most physically imposing players in Northern Kentucky. Her height comes from her dad, former University of Cincinnati forward Anthony McClain, who is 7-foot-2. Her mom, Samantha, is 6-foot-4.

She played in the first 10 games this season before missing time with a shoulder injury. She is also logging time with the junior varsity team to acclimate to the pace of high school basketball. For the varsity squad, McClain is averaging 3.6 rebounds, 2.2 points and 1.7 blocks, but those are not her only contributions.

"She's a great threat for us on defense. She's long and can get a lot of rebounds. And she's actually a very good passer. She sees the floor well for her age and experience," Ryle head coach Katie Haitz said.

McClain currently has offers from Cincinnati, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Ohio State, Pittsburgh and Xavier.

"It's really cool, but I know that I just have to take my time because there's a lot more to come," McClain said.

Haylee Noel, Cooper

Noel has witnessed the Jaguars' Ninth Region dominance first-hand as she was a seventh-grader on the 2022 team that went to the state semifinals. Now a freshman, she is carving out her role on a team that is loaded with talent every year.

"The maturation of her over these last couple of years, now as a starter in our program and a girl that we really rely on, has been really neat," head coach Justin Holthaus said.

Holthaus also praised her versatility. Noel is the team's leading rebounder, exhibits excellent court vision as a passer and is tenacious on defense. Even when she's not making shots, Noel impacts the game in invaluable ways.

Noel stands out for Cooper in part because of who she plays with on the AAU circuit. Through her time with the West Virginia Thunder, she has learned from the likes of Dee Alexander (Purcell Marian), Sarah Baker (Ryle), Marissa Green (Highlands) and Bryn Martin (Springboro).

"I learned a lot, especially with them being older and just looking up to them as role models so I could become what they are right now," Noel said.

She currently has offers from Arkansas and Murray State and has taken visits to Dayton and Kentucky.

Brynli Pernell, Simon Kenton

Pernell is often the smallest player on the court, but she constantly plays larger than her stature and already has a basketball IQ beyond her years.

The freshman is in her third year on varsity. Her breakout performance came against Walton-Verona on Dec. 17, 2021, when she scored 14 points in a 69-67 win. That led to her starting at point guard as an eighth-grader and leading the Lady Pioneers to the state tournament.

"She sets the tone up top defensively guarding the ball, and if she's busting her butt, the other girls see it behind her, and they want to pick it up, too. So it starts with leadership by example, and then she's starting to learn the game more and more up here. She's great now, but when she puts it all together, it's going to be scary for some people," Simon Kenton head coach Brenden Stowers said.

Pernell is already learning to be more patient with the ball in her hands. She is making smart passes and taking smarter, open shots instead of trying to force the issue. Having been to the state tournament once already, the desire to return in each of her high school seasons is what drives her.

"As soon as I step on (the court), it's either, I'm winning or you're going to get a fight out of me. I don't care if you're my best friend, I don't care if you're my enemy, you're going to get the same fight out of me no matter what," Pernell said.

D'Myah Williams, Holy Cross

As an eighth-grader, Williams averaged 4.3 points and 3.5 rebounds per game for the Indians. She got to experience an All "A" state championship and made valuable contributions in a Ninth Region quarterfinal win over Dixie Heights. She had lofty expectations for this season before tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee over the summer.

She logged her first minutes of the season in a win over Beechwood on Jan. 20, scoring six points and grabbing three rebounds.

"I was a little nervous, but after my first points, it felt normal again," Williams said.

Coming back from injury was more comfortable since she was surrounded by teammates Julia Hunt, Aniyah Carter, Aumani Nelson and Miyah Wimzie.

While working her way back, Williams said the biggest thing she wanted to improve was shooting the ball. Head coach Ted Arlinghaus thinks she has an incredibly high ceiling because of her defensive capabilities. At last year's regional tournament, she held her own while guarding Dixie Heights senior Sammy Berman and Ryle's Quinn Eubank.

"Her athleticism is top-notch. I would put her up against anybody in the Ninth Region, just from a pure athletic standpoint," Arlinghaus said.

She also adds depth to the team. Before her return, the Indians' rotation was six or seven players. Now it can go as deep as eight or nine, which will help when they get to the postseason and are playing games on consecutive days.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 2024 KHSAA basketball: 6 rising girls stars in Northern Kentucky