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HEAD OF THE CLASS: Kayli Kellogg, Jimmy Gregg headline our top 10 prep athletes to watch in 2025-26
MORGANTOWN — Every year, we see a highly talented class of senior student-athletes in both Monongalia and Preston Counties graduate and move on to pursue their lives after high school, doing whatever they choose.
Names like Brock Kehler, Cole Turner, Brady Savage, AJ Thomas, Preston Luzader, Hannah Stemple, Sadaya Jones, and many more come to mind when thinking of the 2025 class, in particular.
But with every graduating class of seniors comes a new class of juniors, sophomores, and incoming freshmen who are either ready for their chance to make a name for themselves or have already begun to do so, and will return to the program next season.
Morgantown High's Kayli Kellogg is the top-ranked girls' basketball player in the state, earning consecutive first-team all-state selections in her first two seasons with the Mohigans.
But she is joined by a broad spectrum of talented athletes from all five schools who aren't too far behind her.
Division I football prospects Jimmy Gregg of University High and Maddox Twigg of Morgantown each aim to have a big season in 2025.
Brody Kehler of UHS and Parker Hopkins of Trinity Christian have emerged as two quality multi-sport athletes in the area.
Preston's Bryson McNew and Morgantown's Maddox Boggs are two of the top players on the baseball diamond in the 2027 class.
Ava Turner of Preston and Clay-Battelle's Kooper Statler each enjoyed breakout seasons, respectively.
While MHS track and field star Elecia McCurrie was simply, well, Elecia McCurrie. If the 2025-26 school year turns out to be another banner years, these will be the top 10 headliners: Kooper Statler
Kooper Statler emerged as a force on the defensive side of the ball for the Cee-Bees on the gridiron. His breakout game came during a 34-28 upset victory over No. 8 Meadow Bridge on the road. Statler tallied 20 tackles and forced four fumbles (all recovered by C-B) in the game. His efforts earned him first-team all-state honors for Class A. He is also one of the leading pitchers and hitters for the C-B baseball team. Parker Hopkins
Parker Hopkins has become one of the top goalkeepers on the soccer field and catchers on the baseball diamond in Class A for the Warriors. He finished as runner-up in voting for Goalkeeper of the Year in Class AA/A and was one of the best catchers in Class A baseball this season, hitting .471 with 24 hits, 20 RBI, nine extra base hits, and 28 runs scored. He also threw out 13 of 24 baserunners attempting to steal. Maddox Boggs
Maddox Boggs exploded onto the high school baseball scene this season for the Mohigans on the mound. The 2027 prospect went 9-2 this season with a 1.75 ERA in 68 innings, allowing 52 hits and earning 44 strikeouts. Only a sophomore in 2025, Boggs started the state championship game against Hurricane for MHS and could be one of the best arms in the state next season. Ava Turner
Ava Turner made a name for herself during her freshman season on the mat in Kingwood. Not only did she dominantly win a state championship, but Turner also won the Powerade Tournament, a nationally renowned wrestling tournament held each year. She finished the 2024-25 season 22-1. Bryson McNew
Bryson McNew picked up where he left off during his freshman season for the Knights with an incredible display of offense this spring. McNew slugged for a .640 batting average this season with 31 hits (15 extra-base base-hits), 27 RBI, and eight home runs. He was also solid defensively, without an error at the catching position. McNew is aiming for his second consecutive all-state first-team selection. Maddox Twigg
Maddox Twigg is another freshman athlete who made his name known last season. Twigg entered his freshman year with high expectations and delivered, helping lead MHS to the state quarterfinals. Twigg rushed for 500 yards and four touchdowns on 86 attempts last season while also throwing a pair of touchdowns in the run-heavy MHS offense. Twigg is highly ranked among the Class of 2028. Brody Kehler
Another Kehler is rising the ranks on Baker's Ridge after the athletic year Brody Kehler had for the Hawks. A three-sport athlete, Kehler was the starting tailback for UHS this season, before he won the state championship in the 165-pound weight class on the mat. He then helped UHS capture the team state championship at the state track and field meet as a sprinter a few weeks ago. Brody Kehler will be a name we hear for the next three years, just like his older brother Brock. Elecia McCurrie
MHS sprinter Elecia McCurrie once again proved why she is the top sprinter in the state. McCurrie captured the 100-meter and 200-meter state championships this season and anchored the MHS 4×400 relay team to a second-place finish that propelled the Mohigans to the team state title a few weeks ago. McCurrie is the first MHS sprinter to win a state title and could very well capture many more before she graduates. Jimmy Gregg
Jimmy Gregg is currently one of the highest-rated punters of the 2027 class in the country. Gregg is down to two schools (WVU and NC State) in his recruiting process after a standout season with the Hawks. Gregg was also the top earner for the Alex's Lemonade Stand fundraiser, supporting cancer research, raising $7,680 through punting. Kayli Kellogg
Kayli Kellogg has dominated the girls' basketball scene in WV for the past two seasons, earning first-team all-state selections her freshman and sophomore seasons while leading MHS to consecutive state championship game appearances. Kellogg filled the stat sheet in 2024-25, scoring 21.9 points, grabbing five rebounds, dishing 4.6 assists, and nabbing 3.8 steals per contest. Kellogg and the Mohigans will once again be a top team in Class AAAA, with Kellogg being an early frontrunner for the Mary Ostrowski Player of the Year award.
