Sports Update: The Newport basketball coach is grappling with a reduced roster due to players transferring to professional sports academies
In the world of high school basketball, the rise of sports academies is causing a significant shift, as demonstrated by the situation unfolding at Newport High School. These academies, offering a highly structured environment focused on skill development, recruiting exposure, and preparing athletes for college and professional levels, are increasingly attracting top talents who might otherwise play for traditional high school teams.
Two of Newport's star players, James Turner and Griffin Starks, are among those choosing to enroll in sports academies. Turner will be attending AZ Compass Prep School in Arizona, while Starks will be heading to Southeastern Prep in Florida. Both players have received offers from NCAA Division I teams, and their departure from Newport High School may impact the competitiveness of the team.
Taylen Kinney, a former Newport teammate, is already reaping the benefits of this path, having enrolled at Overtime Elite, a basketball academy in Atlanta. Kinney is now among the nation's top 20 college prospects in the class of 2026 and has received scholarship offers from several top college programmes.
This trend, while beneficial for individual athletes, poses challenges for high school coaches and programs trying to adjust to the evolving landscape. Rod Snapp, the head coach and a special education teacher at Newport High School, expressed concern about the uncertainty and difficulties this change creates. He remains hopeful, however, that high school sports can continue to thrive despite these pressures.
Meanwhile, Landen Hamilton, who averaged a team-high 17.3 points last season and was named to the Division I all-star team, is making waves at Conner. Hamilton led Centre College in scoring average, assists per game, and total steals last season and had a career-high 35 points with 10 rebounds and six assists in the conference tournament semifinals. Hamilton and his sister, Anna, made history as the first brother and sister in Conner's history to score more than 1,000 points during their basketball careers.
As the landscape of high school sports continues to change, it is clear that sports academies are providing opportunities for athletes to specialize and advance their careers. However, they simultaneously draw away elite players from high schools, potentially weakening traditional teams, altering team dynamics, and creating new challenges for high school coaches and programs. The story at Newport High School serves as a powerful example of how these shifts are playing out on the ground in current high school sports environments.
In other news, Kane Plaugher has taken over as the head coach of the Covington Catholic wrestling team. Plaugher's goal is to compete for state titles and prepare wrestlers for life beyond the mat. Meanwhile, Newport High School has appointed a new high school principal in May.
[1] This paragraph refers to the general impact of sports academies on high school sports and is not specific to Newport High School.
- In Campbell County, the rise of sports academies is posing challenges for high school coaches and programs, such as Covington High School and Newport High School, as these academies attract top talents and potentially weaken traditional teams.
- School education in Northern Kentucky, like in Newport High School, faces uncertainty due to the increasing popularity of sports academies, as indicated by the departure of star players James Turner and Griffin Starks to AZ Compass Prep School and Southeastern Prep respectively.
- Yet, the sports landscape in Kentucky is not entirely dominated by these academies, as can be seen in the case of Landen Hamilton, who shone at Conner High School and made history alongside his sister, Anna.
- Meanwhile, the environment of education in the region may also see changes, with Newport High School appointing a new principal in May.
- In a move aimed at enhancing sports performances, Kane Plaugher takes over as the head coach of the Covington Catholic wrestling team, with the goal of preparing wrestlers for both state titles and life beyond the mat.
