2026 Newport vs North Oldham
The Newport versus North Oldham game could very well be a preview of the Kentucky state championship game at Rupp Arena in March. Both teams are loaded! And, they are loaded with guys who have impressive pedigrees. North Oldham advanced to the Final Four in Kentucky last season. Pierre Rondo, then only an eighth-grader, scored 61 points in three state tournament games. The son of NBA star Rajon Rondo is a consensus top 10 freshmen in the country, with several outlets ranking him as the nation’s #1 point-guard in his class. 6’7” Tommy Gregg was the 8th Region POY last season, as well as the team’s leading scorer at 14.7 ppg. Seniors Oakland Shearer, Eli Green, and David Bradley all played major minutes last year, all will likely play some level of college ball next year. As if the Mustangs weren’t going to be tough enough, they got two major additions this summer. Josh Smith Jr., son of NBA star Josh Smith, is now on the roster. The 6’7” senior holds offers from Georgia, Nevada and other D-1 programs. 6’8” freshman Aaron Moore is now part of the North Oldham team. Moore is the nephew of former NBA great Alan Houston, and he is a major college prospect.
So, is there any use in Rod Snapp bringing his Newport Wildcats across the river to face North Oldham. Well, yes, because Snapp also has some high profile dudes of his own! The Wildcats won back-to-back 9th region titles in 2022 and 2023. Those teams were led by Taylen Kinney who is now a freshman at Kansas. Last year’s Wildcats were 21-10. Amontae Lowe averaged 20.1 ppg last season. The 6’0” senior point guard is getting lots of D-I looks. Griffen Starks was a member of the 2023 regional championship team before deciding to go the Prep School route for a couple seasons. However, the 6’8” forward decided to return to Newport for his senior year. Starks, who is the son of former UC Bearcat star Keith Starks, has committed to North Alabama. Davae Andrews-Glover scored 8.3 ppg last year from his guard slot. Coach Snapp is high on senior Sean Hurry whom he likened to a poor man’s Charles Barkley. Senior guard Demarco Jackson scored 6.5 ppg a year ago, and 6’4” senior Logan Petty gives the Wildcats some length inside.
Simply put, this should be a highly entertaining game. Both teams have high aspirations for the season. Both teams have studs. It is the first time the Ohio Valley Hoops Classic has featured a game between two Kentucky teams. But, the matchup seemed too good to pass up, and since the two teams do not meet in the regular season, both coaches agreed to play.
Coach David Levitch’s team will be making their first appearance in the Ohio Valley Hoops Classic. Newport defeated Richmond Heights 74-69 in the 2023 OVHC. The win broke Richmond Heights’ 49 game winning streak, and propelled Newport to their second straight Sweet Sixteen appearance and an All-A state championship in Kentucky.