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KABC Titans Shootout in Shelbyville: Top players and teams to watch at basketball showcase

Jason Frakes, Louisville Courier Journal
·4 min read

From 96 teams last year to 128 teams this year, this weekend’s Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches Titans Shootout in Shelbyville will be the biggest ever.

High school boys basketball teams from Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Florida will compete Friday-Sunday at six gyms in Shelbyville, with Collins High School serving as the primary site.

The event debuted in 2019 as a chance to provide college exposure for players from Kentucky and surrounding states. According to the event’s website, coaches from several NCAA Division I schools — including Michigan State, Missouri, Notre Dame, Purdue, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and Wisconsin — have signed up to attend.

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Here’s what to know about this weekend’s event. More information is available at the tournament app available at www.teamapp.com. Search for “TitansRockets Shootout.”

What’s the format?

Trinity hoisted the championship trophy after defeating Great Crossing in sudden death OT during the Titans Rockets Summer Shootout at the Martha Layne Collins High School in Shelbyville, Ky. on June 19, 2022. Trinity won 57-56 in sudden death OT.
Trinity hoisted the championship trophy after defeating Great Crossing in sudden death OT during the Titans Rockets Summer Shootout at the Martha Layne Collins High School in Shelbyville, Ky. on June 19, 2022. Trinity won 57-56 in sudden death OT.

Schools are spread among three tournaments — a 64-team event running Friday-Sunday, a 32-team event running Friday-Saturday and another 32-team event running Saturday-Sunday.

Games will be played at six gyms in Shelbyville — Collins High School, Shelby County High School, Marnel Moorman School, West Middle School, Shelby Christian Church and First Baptist Church.

Brackets, including games times and sites, can be found at the following links:

64-team tournament: https://basketball.exposureevents.com/200412/kabc-titans-shootout/bracket/445163

32-team tournament (Friday-Saturday): https://basketball.exposureevents.com/200412/kabc-titans-shootout/bracket/447323

32-team tournament (Saturday-Sunday): https://basketball.exposureevents.com/200412/kabc-titans-shootout/bracket/445030

Who are the top teams?

Male’s Cole Edelen makes a three against Trinity in the District 7 Championship game.Mar. 7, 2023
Male’s Cole Edelen makes a three against Trinity in the District 7 Championship game.Mar. 7, 2023

Of the 128 teams, 108 are from Kentucky, including 15 of the 16 regional champions from last season. Third Region winner Owensboro is the only one not attending.

Here’s the breakdown of defending regional champions in each bracket:

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64-team: Ashland Blazer, Elizabethtown, Frederick Douglass, George Rogers Clark, Jeffersontown, Male, Newport, North Laurel, Woodford County.

32-team (Friday-Saturday): Breathitt County, McCracken County.

32-team (Saturday-Sunday): Lyon County, Martin County, Pulaski County, Warren Central.

The remaining 20 teams are from Ohio (11), Indiana (seven) and Florida (two).

Who are the top players?

Warren Central’s Kade Unseld celebrates making a bucket against Great Crossing.Dec. 20
Warren Central’s Kade Unseld celebrates making a bucket against Great Crossing.Dec. 20

The field includes two first-team members of The Courier Journal’s 2023 All-State team — Lyon County’s Travis Perry and Warren Central’s Kade Unseld.

Perry is the front-runner for Kentucky’s Mr. Basketball award in 2024 and will enter his senior season as the state’s all-time leading scorer with 4,359 career points. He has offers from several Division I programs, including Cincinnati, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Purdue, Stanford, Vanderbilt, Virginia and Western Kentucky.

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Unseld helped lead Warren Central to the state championship last season. He has offers from Bellarmine, Kennesaw State, Miami (Ohio), Murray State, Ohio and Southeast Missouri State.

Other top Class of 2024 players from Kentucky in the field are Central Hardin’s Brett Decker, Elizabethtown’s Ayden Evans, Harlan County’s Trent Noah and Mason County’s Blake Reed.

Top Class of 2025 players from Kentucky in the field are Frederick Douglass’ Armelo Boone, Ashland Blazer’s Zander Carter, Great Crossing’s Malachi Moreno and Butler County’s Ty Price.

The top prospect in the field from outside of Kentucky is Jalen Haralson of Fishers (Ind.). He’s the nation’s No. 10-ranked prospect in the Class of 2025 and a five-star recruit according to 247Sports. The 6-foot-7 combo guard has offers from Auburn, Florida State, Indiana, Iowa, IUPUI, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, Ohio State, Purdue and Wisconsin.

Fishers is playing in the 64-team bracket.

When are the semifinals and finals?

64-team-bracket — Semifinals at noon and 1 p.m. Sunday; final at 4 p.m. Sunday. All at Collins High School.

32-team bracket (Friday-Saturday) — Semifinals at 2 and 3 p.m. Saturday at Marnel Moorman School; final at 6 p.m. Saturday at Collins High School.

32-team bracket (Saturday-Sunday) — Semifinals at 2 and 3 p.m. Sunday; final at 5 p.m. Sunday. All at Collins High School.

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How much are tickets?

Tickets are $10 per day for all ages and good at all locations. There are no weekend passes.

Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @kyhighs.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: KABC Titans Shootout in Shelbyville: Top players, teams, what to know