Top 25 Kentucky Boys High School Basketball State Rankings - Jan. 27, 2026

St. Xavier put on a dunk show against a former top-ranked team to move up to No. 2; Highlands and Ballard make big moves; Woodford and Great Crossing debut.

St. Xavier's Jordan Jackson (4) dunks the ball during the second-round game between the Ballard Bruins and the St. Xavier Tigers in the 2025 Louisville Invitational Tournament at Valley High School on Wednesday, January 14, 2026. / Jeff Faughender/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

This week in Kentucky boys high school basketball saw then-No. 3 St. Xavier High School douse former No. 1, and now No. 10, Male High School, with a shower of dunks, last Friday night.

Male's defense became non-existent, at least in the final two minutes, as St. X pulled away for an 83-68 victory. The dunk show propelled St. X up to the No. 2 ranking this week.

Highlands moved up five spots this week, to No. 8, after improving to 17-2, and No. 11 Ballard also climb five spots. No. 24 Woodford County and No. 25 Great Crossing also debut in the rankings this week.

1. Covington Catholic (19-1) Covington

Previous ranking: 1

Last week: Defeated Trinity (Louisville) 78-51

2. St. Xavier (15-5) Louisville

Previous ranking: 3

Last week: Defeated Male 83-68

3. Madison Central (20-1) Richmond

Previous ranking: 2

Last week: Defeated Frederick Douglas

4. Daviess County (18-3) Owensboro

Previous ranking: 4

Last week: Defeated Ohio County 95-58

5. Jeffersontown (12-3) Louisville/Jeffersontown

Previous ranking: 5

Last week: Defeated Shawnee 78-40

6. North Oldham (13-5) Goshen

Previous ranking: 7

Last week: Defeated Oldham County 70-58

7. George Rogers Clark (15-3) Winchester

Previous ranking: 8

Last week: Defeated Paris 91-44

8. Highlands (17-2) Fort Thomas

Previous ranking: 13

Last week: Defeated Cooper 77-57; def. Bellevue 93-35; def. Newport Central Catholic 92-64

9. North Laurel (16-4) London

Previous ranking: 11

Last week: Defeated Clay County 67-55

10. Warren Central (15-2) Bowling Green

Previous ranking: 6

Last week: Lost to Bowling Green 65-59

11. Ballard (12-5) Louisville

Previous ranking: 16

Last week: Defeated Oldham County 81-55; def. Eastern 90-60

Like the Ballard football program, the Bruins play a monster schedule. Ballard locks up with Male Friday night.

12. Male (14-6) Louisville

Previous ranking: 10

Last week: Def. Central 77-37; lost to St. X 83-68

Their fourth quarter against the Tigers left them spiraling to No. 12.

13. Boyd County (15-5) Ashland

Previous ranking: 9

Last week: Lost to Ashland Blazer 93-86

The Lions have been defeated twice this year by Ashland Blazer and will most likely face them again in the 64th District championship game.

14. McCracken County (17-3) Paducah

Previous ranking: 15

Last week: Defeated Marshall County 70-67; def. Calloway County 75-58

15. Frederick Douglass (10-6) Lexington

Previous ranking: 12

Last week: Lost to Madison Central 69-66

16. Ashland Blazer (13-4) Ashland

Previous ranking: 24

Last week: Defeated Boyd County 93-86

17. Eastern (15-5) Louisville

Previous ranking: 17

Last week: Lost to Ballard 90-60

18. Butler (15-5) Louisville

Previous ranking: 18

Last week: Defeated Western 89-68; def. DeSales 75-67

19. Lyon County (15-5) Eddyville

Previous ranking: 22

Last week: Defeated Mayfield 66-42; def. Raceland 74-50

20. Bryan Station (14-5) Lexington

Previous ranking: 20

Last week: Defeated Scott County 58-40

21. Lexington Catholic (11-5)

Previous ranking: 21

Last week: No games

22. Seneca (10-6) Louisville

Previous ranking: 19

Last week: Defeated Atherton 69-54

23. Bell County (15-3) Pineville

Previous ranking: 14

Last week: Defeated Bluegrass United Home School 88-42

24. Woodford County (10-5) Versailles

Previous ranking: Not ranked

Last week: Defeated Collins 71-37

25. Great Crossing (9-9) Georgetown

Previous ranking: Not ranked

Last week: Defeated South Laurel 63-61