Kentucky Premier Lands Nike Sponsorship

Kentucky Premier was first started in September 2009 by coaches Trent Milby, Jarrad Parmley and David Tapley, who were looking to build a program from the "parents perspective." Since then they've been one of the most successful AAU programs on the circuit. They consistently beat Nike sponsored teams and have won tournaments galore.

2011 Miss Basketball Sara Hammond is one of many distinguished  alumni of the Kentucky Premier program

Since their inception, they've helped every player that wanted to play at the next level sign a college basketball scholarship. This is a list that includes back-to-back Kentucky Miss Basketballs Sydney Moss and Sara Hammond, along with Bre Elder, Lauren Bodine, Danay Fothergill, etc.

Kentucky Premier Co-Founder and Marion County Head Coach Trent Milby

In the last two high school state championship games they've had players on both sides of the action. Co-founder Trent Milby even coached Marion County to the state championship game last year.

Marion County PG Makayla Epps is one of 11 17U Kentucky Premier to have already committed

At the conclusion of this year's AAU season their 17U team boasted a 40-6 record against top flight competition. Of all their 17U players 11 have already committed to play basketball in college. Three to four more players are likely to join that list as well.

Kentucky Premier is now an official Nike Elite Travel Team

After three years they've accomplished something that all AAU programs hope for. They are an official Nike Elite Travel team, one of only 20 in the country. In fact, by Nike's account they're the fastest program to ever reach that status.

This means Kentucky Premier will  face the top AAU programs week in and week out. And it means they'll have the chance to win Nike Nationals, the premier Girls' AAU tournament which concludes each year.

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Looking at the bigger picture though, this means increased exposure not only for Kentucky Premier but for Kentucky girl's high school basketball. Kentucky Premier will continue to feature some of the best talent that Kentucky has to offer. And this sponsorship allows Kentucky players to get maximum exposure and experience. Something that Kentucky Premier's founders have strived for since they began.

Congratulations again to Kentucky Premier, I look forward to covering them for many years to come.


Also since Paul hasn't figured out to embed videos in his posts. Check out this video of former Kentucky Premier star and current Louisville Cardinal Sara Hammond.

You can also check this article out over at my site as well: http://kyhsh.blogspot.com/

( I may not be an embed expert, but I can still proof read and spell check, my fine little chimp...)

Thanks to "The Donald" for this revealing look at K.P. We wish them many wins!

Schimmel selected BIG EAST freshman of the week

TUESDAY @ C.C.



-Shoni Schimmel BIG EAST Freshman of the Week honors.


-Lady Cards Track and Field update.

-Marion County girls basketball debuts tonight.

Shoni Schimmel, pictured here sharing a laugh with teammates during the UK game has been named BIG EAST Freshman of the Week. Schimmel had six threes in the UK and Mississippi Valley State games and 26 points against the Cats. (Photo from bigeast.org)
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Other honorees for the week in the BIG EAST:
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-Sophomore Syracuse center Kayla Alexander was named Player of the Week. She averaged 20 points a game in the Orange's 3 wins.
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-Keisha Hampton (DePaul), Sugar Rodgers (Georgetown), Skylar Diggins (Notre Dame), Kandice Green (Seton Hall) and Madina Ali (WVU) were named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll for their performances.
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-No Becky Burke for her efforts? I guess the BIG EAST names only one player per team to these things. That's OK, the CARDINAL COUPLE Honor Roll will name Burke, Keisha Hines, Schimmel, Shelby Harper and Sherrone Vails as our top performers. I guess we should add Victoria Dunlap from UK to that list as well. Great effort from the Wildcat against the Cards. Fortunately, her knee injury in the Louisville game Sunday was not serious and she is expected to play Tuesday night against Tenn. Tech.
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LADY CARDS track and Field fared very well in the Southern Illinois Fast Start Invitational in Carbondale. Illinois over the weekend. Khadija Abdullah won the shot put toss and D'Ana McCarty took the weight throw.
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On the running side, Ahliva Spencer finished first in the 600 meter run. The Cards also got three second place finishes in running events.

The indoor track season picks up again in mid-January for UofL with participation in the Kentucky Invitational in Lexington.
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Marion County, one of the preseason favorites in Kentucky Girls High School basketball, begins their season tonight with a trip to Adair County. The Lebanon, KY. school is led by junior Bre Elder and sophomores Makayla Epps and Kyvin-Goodin Rogers. These three teamed up with Rockcastle County senior Sara Hammond this summer on the KENTUCKY PREMIER AAU team and were unbeatable. Sure would be nice to see all four in Cardinal uniforms down the road...are ya listening Coach Walz?
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We had a report that Epps was seen at the recent UofL vs. UK women's basketball game in a Cardinal shirt. No argument here...
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WE'LL keep track of Marion County's progress this season. WE know that they'll be in Louisville at least three times this year for regular season games against Ballard, Manual and Mercy. You just might want to get out and see one or more of these...they put on a show.

Kentucky Premier takes FILA Summer Derby Classic title

Kyvin Goodin-Rogers and Makayla Epps had ten points each in the "title game" for the 17U division bracket. Kentucky Premium won easily 50-24.

It may have not been the opponent they wanted...but the Kentucky Premier 17U squad won the 17U National Division Champonship Bracket title by a 2-0 forfeit and then preceded to demolish originally 3rd place Surry Storm 50-24 Thursday afternoon in Cardinal Arena.

Kentucky Premier was scheduled to play the Lady Rams from Jacksonville and Surry was to face Northside Indy Magic...but both opponents chose to forego the final day of hoops action.

So, the Storm and Premier faced off in a contest that was strictly one sided from the opening tip. Premier downgraded the Storm into a tropical depression and roared out to a 16-0 lead in the first six minutes of the game. Premium took a 30-11 lead into halftime and steadily increased the margin in the second half to eventually win by 26.

Surry, from Mt. Airy, NC., had no answers for the Premier transition game and couldn't penetrate the swarming Premier defense. They had gone 4-0, like Kentucky Premier, in earlier tournament action...but were outmatched and outplayed by Epps, Rogers and company.

CARDINAL COUPLE caught up with Makayla Epps after the contest for her comments:

(On playing with Marion County high School teammates Bre Elder and Kyvin Goodin- Rogers on the Premier team)

"Yeah, I love them. we've got that connection, that strong connection. They know where I'm at...I know where they're at and we get each other the ball."

(On not getting to face the Lady Rams in the final game.)

"I was very disappointed...because a couple of tournaments ago they kinda hammered us and we all wanted to redeem ourselves. We've got a couple of new players, we felt we could take them and we were down about it when they went home."

(On any influence from her father...former UK star Anthony Epps to go play college ball for Kentucky)

"Not at all. He doesn't mind where I go. He'd be happy if I go here (Louisville) even though he went to Kentucky."

(On other college contacts)

(Chuckling) "No calls from Geno (Auriemna...) I got a letter of interest from UConn but nothing major."

(Next up for Kentucky Premier)

"We're going down to Murfreesboro for a Tennessee tournament down there. A lot of the same teams that were here will be there...really good teams. It's going to be a battle"

(On Marion County's chances of success next year in the state tournament)

"Oh, yeah...I've already said it. We're getting back next year and we're gonna win it!"

A great job by Coach Tapley and the Premier in the FILA Summer Derby Classic and hopefully continued good fortunes for this hard playing AAU squad down the road.

(Tomorrow we'll feature a CARDINAL COUPLE exclusive interview with UofL Lady Card sophomore forward Asia Taylor.)