Mahurin Family Foundation Head Coach Hank Plona Signs Three Kentucky Prospects to 2026 Class
— WKU Hilltopper Basketball (@WKUBasketball) November 13, 2025
📲 https://t.co/eS2JTfXyZf pic.twitter.com/YXZWsLbArI
"We are very excited about adding these three young men to our basketball family," Plona said. "Gabe, Cole and Gavin all add talent and ability, as well as a desire to win championships. They will be outstanding Hilltoppers and we are looking forward to coaching them next year and beyond."
Considered a three-star prospect and the No. 2 high school player in the state of Kentucky by 247Sports in the class of 2026, Edelen, who played at Louisville Male High School, established himself as one of the most consistent perimeter scorers in Kentucky high school basketball. He's totaled 1,792 points in four years at Male, knocking down 354 3-pointers at a 44.6% clip and 226 free throws on 254 attempts (89.9%). In his junior season, he saw action in just 14 games due to injury, averaging 21.6 points per game while maintaining outstanding shooting efficiency — 51.0% from the floor, 40.2% from beyond the arc and 91.0% from the free throw line. He was selected to the 26th District All-Tournament Team after averaging 30.0 points and 6.0 assists per game in the tournament.
The Courier Journal named Edelen to the All-State Second Team and the All-Seventh Region Second Team in his junior season. In his sophomore campaign, he earned All-Seventh Region First Team honors and All-State Third Team honors. Edelen was also invited to compete in the Kentucky High school All-Star Game where he led the junior squad with a game-high 31 points last May.
The Louisville native played AAU basketball for Wildcat Select 3SSB. He posted 12.9 points on 46.4% shooting, making 73 triples on 157 attempts (46.5%), ranking second in 3SSB in made 3-pointers.
He is the brother of Jack Edelen, a junior guard on the WKU Hilltopper Basketball team.
𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝 🔏
— WKU Hilltopper Basketball (@WKUBasketball) November 13, 2025
Join us in welcoming Louisville native Cole Edelen to The Hill 🔥#GoTops | @ColeEdelen pic.twitter.com/UMhVhmqCsH
"We know Cole as well as we can know an incoming player," Plona said. "He's had the opportunity to be around our program, and we've been around him, and we both know what a great fit he will be here. While all that is good, Cole is a great player, an elite shooter and passer, and a competitor at the highest level. Fans will love watching Cole in Diddle Arena."
Weis, rated a four-star prospect by ESPN, is a 6-8 forward from Springfield, Kentucky. He began his high school career at Washington County High School, where he averaged 12.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per contest in 50 games across two seasons. He shot 55.2% from the floor, making 253-of-458 field goal attempts.
In his sophomore campaign, Weis produced 13.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game in 18 games, helping lead his team to the 5th Region All-A Championship. He was the second-leading scorer on the squad, shooting 57.5% from the field on 100-of-174 attempts. Weis made an immediate impact in his freshman season, tallying 11.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game in 32 appearances. He was efficient in the scoring column, shooting 53.9% on 165-of-279 attempts.
Weis transferred to high school basketball powerhouse Montverde Academy in Florida for his junior season where he played in just 18 games due to injury. He helped lead Montverde to a 19-8 overall record in 2024-25, earning a bid to the 2025 Chipotle High School National Championship Tournament in Fishers, Indiana. He will play his senior season at the prestigious La Lumiere High School in La Porte, Indiana in 2025-26.
Weis led his AAU squad, Kentucky Basketball Club, to a 13-5 record, finishing in the top five on the Puma Pro 16 Circuit.
𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝 🔏
— WKU Hilltopper Basketball (@WKUBasketball) November 13, 2025
Join us in welcoming Springfield native Gabe Weis to the Hilltopper Basketball family 🤝#GoTops | @WeisGabe pic.twitter.com/b7EbGQDHTu
"Gabe is a very talented and athletic player who plays and guards multiple positions," Plona said. "We expect Gabe to make an immediate impact like so many other freshmen have at WKU and believe he has all the tools to have an outstanding career."
Murphy, a guard from West Jessamine High School, played a key role in leading the Colts to a 17-10 overall record and an appearance in the 46th District Championship during his junior campaign. The Nicholasville native's strong postseason performance earned him a spot on the 46th District All-Tournament Team.
𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝 🔏
— WKU Hilltopper Basketball (@WKUBasketball) November 13, 2025
WKU Hilltopper Basketball has signed Nicholasville native Gavin Murphy!#GoTops | @gavinM2026 pic.twitter.com/BEPdH37D90
"We've gotten to know Gavin over the past year and can't wait to add him to our Hilltopper family," Plona said. "Gavin is a team and winning-oriented point guard and has a passion for the game that will allow him to get better and better. We are fortunate to add him to our Hilltopper family."
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