KHSAA Sweet 16 Qualifiers Revealed: Predictions for Boys and Girls Basketball

Media experts select regional champions advancing to Kentucky's high school basketball state tournaments

Feb. 22, 2026 at 10:07am

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The voters in this season's Kentucky High School Basketball Elite 16 media polls have made their selections for the teams that will advance to the KHSAA Sweet 16 state tournaments. The girls regional champions will compete in the Clark's Pump-N-Shop Sweet 16 from March 11-14, while the boys regional winners will advance to the UK Healthcare Sweet 16 from March 18-21. Both tournaments will be held at the University of Kentucky's Rupp Arena.

Why it matters

The KHSAA Sweet 16 tournaments are the pinnacle of high school basketball in Kentucky, showcasing the state's top talent and determining the overall state champions. These media predictions provide early insight into which teams and players to watch as the tournaments approach.

The details

The media voters, one from each of Kentucky's 16 regions, have selected the regional champions who will advance to the two Sweet 16 tournaments. The girls tournament will take place from March 11-14, while the boys tournament is scheduled for March 18-21. Both events will be held at Rupp Arena on the University of Kentucky campus.

  • The girls Sweet 16 tournament is set for March 11-14, 2026.
  • The boys Sweet 16 tournament is scheduled for March 18-21, 2026.

The takeaway

The KHSAA Sweet 16 tournaments are highly anticipated events that showcase Kentucky's top high school basketball talent. These media predictions provide an early look at the teams and players expected to compete for state championships in the coming weeks.