By: Seth Stogsdill, Assistant Director of Athletics Communications
DANVILLE, Ky. - Centre Head Men's Basketball Coach Greg Mason has announced another prospect for this upcoming years' recruiting class.
Kaden White of Marist High School in Chicago, Ill. is the latest commit for the Colonels. White is a 6'3 wing who led the Marist RedHawks to a 24-8 season, including a 12-4 conference record which was good enough for second place in the Chicago East Suburban Catholic Conference. Over the course of the season, White averaged 11.3 PPG, 3 RPG, 2 SPT and 2 APG. According to MaxPreps.com, the RedHawks were also ranked 26th in Illinois Class 4A and 30th in the Chicago metro. White played an important role for Marist, shooting 36% from 3PT range.
MAY 5TH UPDATE
The Centre men's basketball program has announced its newest recruiting class, a group of four young men who will make up the Centre Basketball Class of 2027. The class features four distinct players from tradition-rich programs around the state.
The class is made up of two ball-dominant guards, a versatile wing, and a stretch forward who will all impact the Colonels' roster. As seniors, the players put together a combined record of 116 wins and 19 losses for their respective teams, including a KHSAA Sweet 16 Championship. Additionally, two of the players eclipsed the 1,000-point mark in their careers this season. All four players' teams finished in the top 30 in the MaxPreps.com Kentucky High School Basketball Rankings.
The Centre men's basketball class of 2027 is listed below in order of their commitment date
Hudson Sparks (Nicholasville, Ky., Lexington Catholic)
Sparks is a 6'5 wing who averaged 12.2 PPG and 4.5 RPG while shooting 50.2% FG, 40.4% 3PT, and 74.1% FT. His Lexington Catholic High School Knights finished the season ranked no. 2 in the state after losing to eventual State Quarterfinalist Frederick Douglass High School. His team closed the season as 11th Region Runners-Up and finished with a 32-3 overall record under Head Coach Brandon Salsman. Former Centre Basketball player and Louisville Basketball staffer Jordan Sucher '04 was also on staff at Lexington Catholic.
Riley Mastin (Germantown, Ky., Mason County)
Mastin is a 6'7 stretch forward who averaged 15.1 PPG and 6.9 RPG while shooting an impressive 58.0% FG, 42.4% 3PT, and 72.0% FT. His Mason County Royals finished their season ranked 20
th in the state after falling in the 10
th Region Championship after being defeated by eventual Sweet 16 Runner-Up Clark County. Riley ended his high school career with 1,169 points scored over one season at Mason County High School and two seasons at Augusta High School. The Royals finished this season with a 29-6 overall record under Head Coach and KABC 10
th Region Coach of the Year Brian Kirk. Former University of Kentucky Basketball great Deron Feldhaus served as an Assistant Coach for the Royals as well.
Landen Hamilton (Hebron, Ky., Conner)
Hamilton is a 6'0 lead guard who averaged 17.3 PPG and 2.8 RPG while shooting 46.7 FG%, 36.4% 3PT, and 70.1% FT. His Conner Cougars finished their season in first round of 9
th Region Tournament after losing to the Lloyd Memorial Juggernauts in an overtime battle. Hamilton first saw action on the varsity level as an 8
th grader, which helped him to score 1,257 points over his career. The Cougars finished their season ranked 29
th in the state with a 19-9 overall record, headlined by multiple wins over state powers Covington Catholic, Newport, and Mason County. Hamilton played for former Bellarmine University sharpshooter and KABC 9
th Region Coach of the Year Matthew Otte at Conner.
Izayiah Villafuerte (Bowling Green, Ky., Warren Central)
Villafuerte is a 5'10 guard who averaged 8.9 PPG and 4.0 APG while shooting 48.8% FG%, 41.2% 3PT, and 82.9% FT. His Warren Central Dragons finished as KHSAA Sweet 16 Champions for just the second time in school history (2004). They closed out the season with a 36-1 overall record and led the state in margin, beating opponents by a blistering 22.9 points on average. Villafuerte played for William Unseld, whose list of accolades includes KABC 4
th Region Coach of the Year as well the Courier Journal's 2023 statewide award Boys Basketball Coach of the Year.
"I am very excited about this group both on and off the floor," said head coach Greg Mason. "The high school accomplishments of all four are very impressive, that's easy to notice. What stands out to me is that they all are great teammates who greatly impacted winning for their individual teams. A combined record of 116-19 is pretty remarkable. Centre Basketball fans will enjoy watching Hudson, Riley, Landen & Izayiah develop into exciting Centre student-athletes".
The Colonels look to bounce back in 2023-24, highlighted by rising sophomore
Cade Stinnett being named SAA Newcomer of the Year. Be sure to follow the Centre Men's Basketball program on Twitter and Instagram at @Centre_BBall, and for all of the latest updates or information about the program visit centrecolonels.com.
