CAMPBELLSVILLE, KY — South Central Kentucky has a new basketball star, and she’s just getting started. Taylor County High School freshman guard Kennedy Deener has been named the 2025-26 Gatorade Kentucky Girls Basketball Player of the Year — one of the most prestigious honors in high school sports — announced during the KHSAA Girls Sweet 16 State Tournament at Rupp Arena in Lexington.
Deener, a 5-foot-9 freshman guard wearing #25 for the Lady Cardinals, didn’t just accept the award and go home. On the same day the honor was announced, she went out and proved why she deserved it. Deener dropped 19 points — including two clutch back-to-back three-pointers in the fourth quarter — to lead Taylor County to a 44-36 quarterfinal victory over Notre Dame, punching the Cardinals’ ticket to the state semifinals.
🏀 The Numbers Don’t Lie
Deener entered the Sweet 16 averaging 23.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.7 steals, and 2.9 assists per game. She ranked among the top scorers in the entire state of Kentucky at the high school level — and she’s a freshman. The Gatorade award recognizes not only athletic excellence, but also academic achievement and exemplary character.
💬 Her Words
“I couldn’t have done it without my teammates,” Deener said after winning both the award and the quarterfinal game. “They make plays for me. I make plays for them. It’s really just a team accomplishment. I’m just excited to get to the final four.”
📍 A South Central Kentucky Story
Campbellsville and Taylor County have long been proud of their athletic programs, but a freshman earning a statewide Gatorade award while still competing in the state tournament is something special. Deener also plays for Kentucky Premier EYBL, one of the elite AAU programs in the state, where she continues to develop her game at the highest prep level available.
Earlier this season, Deener was also named the 5th Region Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year by the 5th Region Basketball Coaches Association — a regional honor that now looks like just the beginning of what figures to be a very long list of accolades.
👀 What’s Next
Taylor County finished the regular season 29-6 and is now in the state semifinals. If Deener and the Lady Cardinals keep it going, South Central Kentucky could be celebrating a state championship run before this week is over. Watch this kid — she’s only a freshman, and she’s already one of the best players in the state of Kentucky.
TEG Report covers news, sports, and stories from South Central Kentucky. Follow us on Facebook and stay plugged in at teg-report.com.