2024 8th Grade KY Future Stars: Wide Receiver Selection Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Kentucky Future Stars took two out of three from the Tennessee Future Stars last June, with the only Bluegrass State team coming up short was the seventh-graders. Those seventh-graders are now eighth-graders (class of 2028) and all of Big Blue Nation is eagerly looking forward to the 15th annual tilt. With the game on Kentucky soil this year, it should be sure to surpass the hype surrounding the contest. Here's a look at the 8th grade Running Backs selected for this year's game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["871291"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"It wouldn't be appropriate to start with any other Wide Receiver, other than [player_tooltip player_id='871291' first='Avery' last='Thompson']. There's not much more to say about Thompson at this point, besides what's already out thereu002du002dthe eighth-grader is one of the most elite prospects in all of Kentucky for the 2028 class. Individually, he's been named a three-time Kentucky Future Stars selectionu002du002dwinning Offensive MVP last year, and already holds offers from the University of Kentucky and Murray State. Additionally, he attended a Prep Redzone Next Middle School camp last year and became one of the only seventh-graders to earn an MVP award. The Paducah prospect was one of the main reasons Paducah Tilghman was crowned the KYMSFA 8th Grade Division 2 State Champions this past season. If the ball is anywhere near the 6-foot-2, 160-pound Thompsonu002du002dit's going to be his. Special talent.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1269565"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Hagy makes his first appearance on the Kentucky Future Stars roster, and with him comes nothing short of exceptional speed and playmaking ability. The 5-foot-10, 150-pound Wide Receiver/Defensive Back/Returner was a weapon in all three phases of the game for T.K. Stone Middle School, propelling the the team to a championship season. There is plenty of speed to go around on this 8th Grade Kentucky Future Stars roster, but Hagy is in a league of his own when it comes to burning up the turf. This past November during the KYMSFA All-Star Classic weekend, Hagy won the award for the fastest 40-yard dash out of 80 athletes. He typically blows past most Defensive Backs, leaving them looking like they have cement shoes on. In the event that he doesn't catch a pass in stride, his quick-twitch and ability to get to full speed quickly, aid in him pulling away from the defense. In only just part of what makes the Kentucky Future Stars so awesome, Hagy will be catching passes from Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1268773' first='Cayden' last='Shelton'], who was QB1 for the team T.K. Stone defeated in the championship game (East Hardin).","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["871288"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Returning to the Kentucky Future Stars for a second consecutive year, [player_tooltip player_id='871288' first='Kingston' last='Dillard'] is an excellent chess piece to play with for the guys in blue and white. A year ago as a seventh-grader, Dillard was a bright spot for Kentucky in a tough loss against Kentucky. He returns this year two inches taller and 15-pounds heavier, now sitting at 5-foot-7 and 140-pounds. On his profile, Dillard is listed as an Athlete, because he's exactly that. The versatility he brings truly opens the playbook wide open for the Bluegrass State. Dillard has taken handoffs, lined up in the slot and/or has played the Z Wide Receiver position before. In addition to versatility, his speed is certainly a plus too. He claims a 4.71 in the forty and was clocked at an 11.61 in the 100M earlier this spring. Furthermore, he's strong for a prospect of his size/age, and his reported weight room numbers back that up: 170-pound bench press, 225-pound squad and 270-pound deadlift.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1274961"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"The Kentucky Middle School Football Association (KYMSFA) holds the Battle of the Regions (BOTR) every year, and it gives middle school athletes from around the state an opportunity to represent their region. Each year the competition is stiff and the studs start to separate themselvesu002du002dand this year the stud that really grabbed the headlines was Trigg County's [player_tooltip player_id='1274961' first='Timmy' last='Williams']. What he did en route to winning the Region1 MVP and a BOTR championship, was special. In particular, Williams put on a show in the championship game against Region 2. He scored on a 99-yard direct snap scamper, a 33-yard End around, and Wide Receiver screens of 20-yards and 43-yards. What's evident by that stat line alone, but is also as clear as day on film, is that the 6-foot, 180-pounder can create with the ball in his hands. Prior to the post-season accolades, Williams was also the catalyst for Trigg County winning the Mid-Sky Conference title this year with an 11-1 record.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-664383547c9d3"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1274991' first='Deion' last='Davidson'] </strong>| <em>Kentucky Country Day</em> - Davidson returns to the Kentucky Future Stars program a few years after winning the 6th Grade Offensive MVP in the annual tilt against Tennessee. He's a dynamic prospect that can almost be labeled as an Athlete. He's undersized at just 5-foot-5, but he's very strong for his size (already benching over 200 pounds) and is as quick as gnat. If he's able to get in space, Davidson can make ya' miss in a phone booth with his agility. He's an excellent candidate for Wide Receiver screens or End-arounds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1275004' first='Noah' last='Grant'] </strong>| <em>Owensboro Catholic</em> - A decorated athlete in both basketball and football, Grant will be a fun one to check out in person for the first time. After an 8-0 season and conference title as seventh-graders, Grant was part of a tremendous offense that helped the Aces finish the eighth-grade season 11-0 en route to a KYMSFA 8th Grade Division 3 State Championship. The athletic, 5-foot-11 receiver doubled down as the seasons changed, and was also named the MVP of the Owensboro Catholic basketball team this winter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1240849' first='Jude' last='Lanier']</strong> | <em>McCracken County </em>- Rounding out this insanely-deep stable of Wide Receivers is [player_tooltip player_id='1240849' first='Jude' last='Lanier']. Lanier is dawning the Kentucky Future Stars uniform for the first time, but is one of the most well-balanced WRs in the Bluegrass State. He doesn't have the elite speed or size that some of the others listed in this article, but Lanier would make my team any day of the week because of his toughness, effort and skill level. Uses his strength to fight off jams at the line, thinks every ball in the air is his and isn't afraid to block to-and-through the whistle. Like other WRs in this write up, he brings a winning pedigree, helping McCracken County Middle School to back-to-back Southwest Kentucky championships. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->