Proud of our girls & how hard they worked all year.
We could have padded stats, but we built a TOUGH schedule & sought out the best competition we could find.
Our players will all be better off for it whether returning next year or heading off to college.
Satisfied coach here.
18 years ago today I was serving with the US Navy in Afghanistan. Today I attended an incredible Veterans Day service at Whitefield Academy.
Today marked the 25th anniversary of the WA service, and I thank you for your genuine and heartfelt gratitude to all those who serve.
I’ve been with this young lady for her last 4 birthday’s, all at AAU tournaments. What I know without a doubt… there’s no place EITHER of us would rather be!
Sad this will be the last :/
Happy Birthday Allicat! 😃
@aspieker20
I’m very proud of our girls that made the All 6th Region Team & to all of the coaches that voted for our players.
I’m also very humbled for receiving COY as there are really great coaches in the 6th Region that are very deserving. Very blessed with great kids & coaching staff!
Fun time tonight with my
@Kentucky__ICE
Family at Slidders Pizza.
And I was blessed to receive a binder full of letters from my 2023 squad. There’s nothing I could possibly receive that would ever mean more to me as a coach that these letters. Thank you so much girls! 😊💙
University of Louisville drops an exhibition game to NCAA DII Lenoir-Rhyne today 57-47.
My only reason for this post is to remind HS players that whether DI, DII, DIII, or NAIA DI… college basketball is good basketball. If you’re fortunate enough to play, be grateful and proud!
I’m proud of my girls for the season and schedule we played, and for the effort they gave. We only lost 2 games all season by double figures, so we were in the fight all year long.
Very blessed to have this opportunity at Whitefield Academy. It’s such a great school.
@rtaborn
At Kentucky Ice we are completely shut down until July.
Kids should be with their school teams, do individual development, attend camps, and REST in June.
Girls played great team ball again tonight. Really nice game for
@amythompson41
who had a career high 27 points as part of her 10 rebound double double.
Pretty good week going 3-0 on the road to start the season…
I love my team :)
Ring Ceremony! It’s official, entering my 4th year as the HC of
@Whitefield_GBB
I’ll finally have seniors thanks to these 3 beautiful young ladies.
@amythompson41
@KylieRitter17
@camrynnn01
You’re a special group & between being seniors, ⚽️, 🏀 & 🏈;) it’ll be an amazing year!
My daughter
@TaylorWathen26
and I have escaped to the Outer Banks for a few days in between basketball & volleyball for a much needed vacation. She’ll be back at it this weekend in Louisville at the expo center. (Yes reppin ICE in North Carolina ;)
Folks.
Most underrated 2024 in Kentucky. This kid is a PLAYER! PLAYMAKER! She knows HOW to play the game of basketball! She can play on ANY court at ANY LEVEL! Works her tail off! Coachable! LOVES the game! Off the chart 🏀IQ! Perfect TEAMMATE!Leader! Great person!
Vid & Stats👇🏼
Leah Macy is simply incredible! Not just as a Sophomore, but as a ball player! And from what I understand, her work regimen is at a level that is unparalleled. You don’t just walk on a court and do what she does as consistently as she does it!
Mercy & Leah are very well coached!
Mercy 70, Cooper 64, final. An unreal effort from a shorthanded Mercy team. Leah Macy was amazing - 37 points, 21 rebounds. No. 5 Mercy (25-9) will face Henderson County-Simon Kenton winner in Friday's 8:30 p.m. quarterfinal. No. 3 Cooper finishes 29-4.
I had the pleasure of coaching
@amythompson41
the last 3 years and I was as tough on her as anyone I’ve ever coached. Amy worked as hard as a human could. All the extra stuff we all talk about. Look at this stat line in her 2nd college game as her squad goes to 2-0. Proud of you!
Me: if anyone wants to hit the weight room before practice tonight, I’ll arrive 1 hour before practice…
Entire JV & Varsity shows up to the weight room an hour and 10 minutes before practice begins…
I love my team! 💪🏼
3 years ago today I was blessed to receive the opportunity to be the
@Whitefield_GBB
HC. It’s been a fantastic ride and I’m grateful to have experienced all of the moments. I appreciate the relationships and memories made. Looking forward to year 4!
@WAhighschool
@WA_Wildcats
So proud of our little team from Kentucky! In the past two weeks we’ve knocked off an Under Armour from out of state and an EYBL club from another country. Always undersized, but man these girls are WARRIORS!
It’s not about the W or the L, it’s about the H
And… I LOVE MY TEAM!
NICE bounce back win after our worst game of the year this morning. Hard fought victory over a SOLID EYBL squad from Canada! We might not be EYBL, but our Blue Collar 7 players are definitely a BYOL (Bring Your Own Lunch)
@PGHKentucky
@PrepGirlsHoops
@amythompson41
@0Exposure2
Just finished watching these 5 play soccer and I just want to make sure everyone knows what SKILLED ATHLETES and COMPETITORS look like.
Every single girl in this pic is either All 6th Region in soccer or basketball. 4 out of 5 are All 6th Region in BOTH 🏀&⚽️‼️💙
@KylieRitter17
It’s not by luck that
@noelsmithh
has 723 career rebounds, elite speed, is an elite defender, and can get the rim heading into her Sophomore year. And don’t sleep on her career high 25 point game which included 5 threes. NOT a one trick pony! More like a GAME CHANGER‼️
#WorkEthic
The
@Whitefield_GBB
were greeted after practice today by their little sisters, as they wanted to show support and send their big sisters off to Richmond for the All A!
@WA_Wildcats
I took this pic after our game today because I never want to forget this group or game!
These 5 girls worked their tails off & played beautifully to get the win!
This was a 17U game.
Roster:
17U
@maree502
17U
@EKloek
16U
@gwynnieFranz20
16U
@savannah_trip
15U
@TaborBoggs
CONGRATULATIONS to our SOPHOMORE
@noelsmithh
for this incredible accomplishment of grabbing her 1000th Rebound tonight!
And oh btw, she also had a CAREER HIGH 26 points in the game along with 9 boards, 4 assists and 5 steals.
@WA_Wildcats
This is all I need folks.
Don’t need awards and accolades. This is bigger than any win or accomplishment.
It’s not about me… it’s ALL about just trying to help in some small way, and making sure these kids know their value transcends sports.
She’s a beast. Check out her career stats. Couple that with skill and athleticism and IQ… wherever she lands at the college level, that program will hit BIG!
Huge thanks to Mykasa Robinson of the University of Louisville WBB and Tammy Morgan of
@UofLfca
#FCA
for taking time to come speak & share her testimony with many of our Whitefield Academy girls basketball players from grades 3-12.
What an amazing young lady & message of faith!
We’re off to a good start here in St. Louis this morning!
@TaylorWathen26
and her
@MAVAvolleyball
16 Select team start the tournament off with a solid 2-0 win!
Last night when Ky. Wesleyan beat Louisville it should serve as just another reminder that if you’re playing college ball, you can play! D2’s, NAIA’s beat D1’s every year multiple times.
You might not be 6’8”, but you can play! If I see you sign ANYWHERE, I know you can play!
We are excited to announce the latest issue of Rise Up Magazine is now available in both digital and print formats. What is even better, the digital copy is FREE. Please be sure to share. The more that know, the more we grow. Thank you for your support of female athletes.
Raise your hand if in your last 2 games you’ve hit 17 three’s and scored 61 points 🙋♀️
@aspieker20
🔥☄️🔥☄️
Now sitting on 1,443 career points.
And there’s SO much more to her game than shooting…
Coaches Life:
Wake up at 3am and start tweaking your 8am practice plan. Can’t go back to sleep because you’re too excited for practice. Show up to the gym at 6:30, sweep the floor, set 🏀’s out, and wait...
#LoveTheGame
#PassionForTheGame
#LoveMyTeam
I just want to thank all of the Whitefield fans that came out last night. It’s hard for a school our size to outdraw a school that size, especially when they’re that good & have such a big following… but you did! It meant the world to our girls! We’re getting there ;)
Thank you!
So proud of my girl
@TaylorWathen26
😊
- KHSAA Academic All-State
- WA Volleyball Offensive MVP
She works SO hard training. Makes A LOT of sacrifices and gives all she has to achieve her goals on the court, and in the classroom.
Keep working T 👊🏼
It’s just an exhibition game at the Bluegrass State Games… but here’s my freshman
@TaylorWathen26
helping her team get their first win with the game ending ACE!
It’s 🏐 time 😃
I’ve seen
@Emily_fisher3
on the AAU circuit for the past 3 years, coached against her and her
@wolverinasbb
twice, lost twice…
She’s one of THE BEST, if not Top 5 because she has a COMPLETE game, she’s has the “it” factor, motor, & she’s a leader! Maryland is getting a good one!
As we begin Memorial Day Weekend, and as a US Navy combat veteran whose friends paid the ultimate sacrifice, please take time to remember. Live every day to the fullest in honor of those who have ensured our freedom to do so. 🇺🇸
@SteveKrak
I mean he starts the game off with a mask. Within two minutes he wears it as a chin strap. And in the 4th quarter it’s just gone…
it either matters or it doesn’t. Pick one and stick to it. Stop the posturing… 🤦🏻♂️
One of the many reasons coaching is rewarding and fun… when a former player leaves you a ticket at the gate and you get to watch him play D1 ball at EKU. Then he starts the game off knocking down a DEEP 3‼️
I see you
@tylernauert11
👊🏼
While
@Kentucky__ICE
2024’s were warming up, snapped this pic with these two former Ice players… Class of 2022
@WallacePAllison
and Class of 2023
@RCS123103
who both helped me coach tonight.
Enjoying coaching these two teams!
Great kids!
Great players!
Great attitude!
Great effort!
They work HARD!
And they have a TON of FUN! The humor with these girls… a lot of laughter happening 😁
After a great official visit at
@UCumberlands
with
@CoachRickReeves
, I am honored to say that I have received an offer to play basketball at the next level. With that said, I would also like to announce my commitment to the University of the Cumberlands!💪🏼🏀
3 of our
@Kentucky__ICE
2023’s attended
@DrewHanlen
clinic in Lexington today after a 2 hour morning practice in Louisville.
Drew knows & teaches the game like none other!
I’ve already heard how much
@lloganortega
@RCS123103
&
@camrynnn01
got out of their time with Drew today.
Heading into our last game of the year brings a lot of emotion. But here in Orlando,
@RichmondHeat1
is playing right before us in their Platinum bracket championship game. I’ll be watching & cheering because Heat is where I coached my first girls game. The 23’s were in 6th grade.
The LARGEST IN HISTORY right here in Kentucky‼️
The BIGGEST GIRLS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT IN THE WORLD right here in Kentucky‼️
But HS coaches in Kentucky remember… you can’t go watch your HS players play on their AAU teams against players from around the WORLD.
#DeadPeriod
👍🏼
Some things I loved about my team last night:
1. Balance. Stats are incredibly balanced and EVERYBODY EATS!
2. The manner in which they play for each other, share the ball, move the ball.
3. The way they move with & without the ball.
4. Commitment to Defend.
Great start…
I LOVE this team! So fun to coach and I’m incredibly proud of them!
I hope they have a great June just being kids & spending time having fun with their family & friends.
A MUST SEE team to check out in July and RECRUIT! Because these kids will be huge gets for college programs.
Outstanding work by our 2025’s (17U) finishing 12-4 on the year, & Runners-Up on the
@PGHCircuit
Finals.
The folks
@PrepGirlsHoops
did a fantastic job again this year running the events & all of the coverage for the girls.
We will shut it down today, but we’ll be back in July!
🔥🚨Breaking News! The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
@NAIA
Council of Presidents voted 25-0 to make history as the first national college governing body to officially ban men from women’s collegiate sports.
.
Almost 2 years ago to the day I coached my first game
@Whitefield_GBB
… what a difference 2 years makes. Very proud of the work we’ve done and the direction we’re going. Big 👊🏼 to the players & assistant coaches
@zsamp21
@HStewart223
&
@BuseAndrew
Anyone who has seen
@noelsmithh
knows she’s a special player. And EVERYONE who saw what she did this weekend against some of the best in the country knows she’s beyond capable of killing it at the D1 level.
She’s a 16U & just put up 16p/12r vs a 17U Top 5 team in the country
Noel Smith - 5-8 2025 Whitefield Academy Kentucky ICE 7.9 PPG 40.8% FG 30.5% 3-PT 64.9% FT 9.7 REBS Noel will beat you in so many ways, can score at all three levels when needed. BBIQ, creates for herself and 'mates. Excellent defender, applies intense pressure, elite rebounder.
Yeah she has over 1000 rebounds heading into her junior year… but this kid can score too… actually she produces in every facet of the game.
12-20 shooting including 6-12 from 3.
@alyxwhite_
@KYINhoops
Wrapped up our preseason game today against one of the Top 25 teams and the state.
@noelsmithh
led us with 30 Points, 9 Rebounds, 3 Blocks and 3 Steals.
This class of 2025 in Kentucky is ridiculous!
@noelsmithh
currently sitting at
#19
in the state…
Already has 1000 rebounds and will likely hit 1000 points in her upcoming Junior season. Could end up 1500/1500…
Might be the most naturally athletic player in the entire class.
My last Tweet I mentioned I was leaving the
@RichmondHeat1
due to relocation. I’d like to announce that I am starting a new girls AAU 🏀 program in Louisville focused on players aspiring to play college 🏀. This season the
@Kentucky__ICE
will have teams for classes of 22,23&24.
As a coach, I’m not looking for a return on my investment to measure success. I measure success when I see the kids I coach receive a return on my investment.
I choose 2 invest unconditionally. It’s not what can a kid do 4 me, it’s what can I do 2 help a kid reach THEIR goals.
This is ALL about Liz and her family!
And I really appreciate this pic of
@macmcintosh12
& myself with the Liz in the CENTER. It’s about 2 coaches, 1 High School & 1 AAU, partnering to help 1 kid achieve her goals.
Here’s to all the coaches out there making it about the kids!
Finally tallied the number for this season & the
@WA_Wildcats
Lady Cats put together the best Team Defense in school history. We had a preseason goal of giving up 34 a game. THIS is what led to 21 wins and the winningest season in school history. So proud of the commitment!
I’ll keep saying that we’re on the same courts as EYBL, UA, 3SSB and we’ve faired very well in those matchups over the past few years… it’s more than being about a brand. Just HOOP! 👊🏼
This kid played her tail off today, I’m very proud of her!
@TaylorWathen26
had some hops going too!
What I like most is how much fun she said she had, I could tell… :)
Back at it tomorrow at 9am.
Here in Lynchburg for homecoming weekend at my alma mater with my girl
@TaylorWathen26
taking in some
@LibertyWVB
We’ll catch one more 🏐 game tomorrow and then the 8-0
@LibertyFootball
on Saturday!
GO FLAMES 🔥
**SCHOOL RECORD**
With our 22nd win tonight - we set a new record for most wins in a single season, breaking last year’s record of 21.
@amythompson41
4th DOUBLE DOUBLE of the week‼️
16p/10r
@SaraRitter14
Hit her 900th career point. 12p/4s
@WA_Wildcats
Finishing
#2
in the state this year for Team Defense “points allowed”, after finishing 4th last year is a credit to our players commitment to the Defensive end of the floor!
So proud of our
@Whitefield_GBB
for the multiple records they set this season, but THIS!
@WA_Wildcats
Haven’t ran full in a few years… Haven’t played here in 25 years. Did today at age 50.
Was 7 the 1st time I came here to shoot. I literally grew up on these courts, talking 8-12 hours a day, & after practice.
This was my AAU, personal trainer, & the place everyone knew I’d be.
This kid hit 4 three’s in the Championship game! She was absolutely amazing all week and all year! I KNOW for a fact the college coaches that saw her this month took note. She will excel at the next level‼️
But more than all of that, Des is an amazing human being! Love you kid!
Such an amazing way to end my aau career with the best team
@Kentucky__ICE
and an AMAZING coach…Platinum champs at Nationals!!! I am beyond thankful for all my coaches and teammates throughout the years. Words can’t explain how I’m feeling right now.
Big thanks to University of Louisville basketball players Mykasa Robinson and Josie Williams for closing out our 1st day of practice speaking with our girls about their faith and relationship with the Lord.
Thank you for making time for our girls!
Both team played their hearts out tonight! All of the respect in the world for the Lady Bulldogs of Male!
Proud of our girls for their physical and mental toughness in a game that was tight throughout!
My fav pic of the night, a coachable moment with my 8th grader
@MiaBraffet
This team killed it! Went 2-0. Shout out to
@camrynnn01
on this squad who played the way basketball is meant to be played! So skilled, solid, and tough…
LOVE her game‼️
Congratulations to our 2026 - Wathen team for a solid weekend at The Clash!
This team is super young, with 6 of 9 players playing up as 27’s and 28’s. The only game they dropped, they were up with :30 left. Learning how to play at a high level and rapidly growing!
Finished 3-1