Kentucky
Brandon Garrison calls Kentucky 'home' as he prepares for year two under Mark Pope
Brandon Garrison could have easily left Kentucky after his first season in Lexington.
After a promising campaign in 2024-25, the rising junior had a decision to make. With several veterans from Mark Popeโs first Kentucky roster running out of eligibility, the head coach had to once again go out and reload his team. He did so by landing a handful of talented players who occupy some of the same positional space as Garrison. Jayden Quaintance (Arizona State), Mo Dioubate (Alabama), Andrija Jelaviฤ (Croatia), and Malachi Moreno (Great Crossing High School) help make up the Wildcatsโ frontcourt for next season, not to mention Reece Potter (Miami [OH]), who joined the roster late.
Garrison could have opted to hop into the transfer portal and find a new home without nearly as much competition. There was real speculation in the offseason that he might do just that. But he ultimately embraced the challenge, announcing his return to Kentucky the same day that Jelaviฤ committed.
โI talked it over with my agent, talked it over with Coach Pope,โ Garrison said Tuesday. โJust felt like it was still home, my head was still playing for Coach Pope, another year at Kentucky.โ
Continuity played a role in Garrisonโs decision to come back to Lexington for another season. He started his college career at Oklahoma State as a true freshman before transferring to be part of Popeโs first Kentucky team last offseason. Pope has stressed that his players take developmental leaps in their second year under him, and Garrison mentioned playing for the same staff again as a sticking point for wanting to run it back. His position coach, Mikhail McLean, kept in constant contact with him once the season ended.
โI got a good feel for (Popeโs coaching style),โ Garrison said. โSo I can teach the incoming guys how things work around here.โ
Garrison saw improvements in his game from being a freshman at Oklahoma State to a sophomore at Kentucky. His minutes and scoring numbers dropped, but his decision-making and outside shooting improved. He was vitally important in wins over Gonzaga, Louisville, Oklahoma, and in the NCAA Tournament against Troy.
It was hardly a perfect season for Garrison, but the talent is clearly there. Consistency and leadership are the next steps in piecing it all together as he looks to make a statement in year three as a college player.
Kentucky
Body found in Ohio River in northeast Kentucky ID’d as Columbus man
Top headlines of the week, May 8 2026
Here are some stories you may have missed this week in central Ohio.
Authorities said a body recovered May 4 from the Ohio River in northeast Kentucky has been identified as a Columbus man, Dispatch news partner NBC4/WMCH-TV reported.
Lewis County Sheriff Johnny Bivens said the body has been identified as Jason D. Frisbie, 38, of Columbus. Bivens said authorities in Kentucky worked with Ohio officials to identify Frisbie this week.
Bivens said Lewis County took a call around 4:30 p.m. May 4 about a body in the river in Vanceburg, Kentucky, a few miles south of Ohioโs Shawnee State Park. Bivens said responding agencies took the body to the Kentucky State Medical Examinerโs Office.
Lewis County authorities asked for public help identifying the body. On May 9, Bivens confirmed Frisbieโs identity after working with Ohio officials and local responders.
Bivens said the death remains under investigation, and authorities did not offer information about a suspected cause.
Kentucky
Two ‘dangerous’ inmates escape Kentucky detention center, sparking multi-agency manhunt across region
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Two inmates described as “dangerous” escaped Friday evening from a Kentucky detention center, prompting a multi-agency manhunt, police said.
The Morehead Police Department warned the surrounding community that two inmates had “walked away” from the Rowan County Detention Center.
Investigators said multiple law enforcement agencies are actively searching for the escapees, with Kentucky State Police leading the investigation.
“These inmates should be considered dangerous,” police said, warning the community not to approach anyone suspicious or unfamiliar.
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Two inmates described as “dangerous” escaped from a Kentucky detention center, prompting a multi-agency manhunt. (Morehead Police Department)
One of the inmates was identified as Michael Fogleman, 29, who is described as 6 feet tall and 188 pounds.
He has short or closely shaved hair and a short beard along his jawline and chin, according to police.
The second inmate was identified as James Smallwood, 52, who is listed at 6 feet 1 inch tall and about 215 pounds.
MANHUNTS ACROSS AMERICA IN 2025: FIVE CASES THAT LEFT CITIES, CAMPUSES AND TOWNS ON EDGE
Michael Fogleman, 29, is one of two inmates who escaped from a Kentucky detention center, police said. (Morehead Police Department)
He is described as having a medium to stocky build with gray facial hair around the mouth and chin area.
Smallwood was last seen wearing a white shirt and blue jeans and possibly a hat, police said.
James Smallwood, 52, is one of two inmates on the run after escaping from a Kentucky jail, authorities said. (Morehead Police Department)
Authorities urged residents to remain vigilant and call 911 immediately if they see anything suspicious or have information about the escapees.
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Law enforcement agencies are searching for two escaped inmates in Kentucky, authorities said. (Silas Walker/Lexington Herald-Leader/Tribune News Service)
Investigators said they will provide more information as it becomes available.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Kentucky State Police and Rowan County Detention Center for comment.
Kentucky
Kentucky Girls Jumpers Surge as State Records Come Into Range
The Kentucky high school 2026 outdoor track and field season has been exceptional, especially the girls competition.
In particular, the sprints and horizontal jumps.
Long Jump Leaders Set the Pace
First, the long jump.
Christian Educational Consortiumโs Jade Hartlage, a rising superstar of track and field in its totality, has the stateโs leading jump, 19feet, 9 inches, set March 26. She is partially homeschooled and not eligible for in KHSAA postseason.
Hartlageโs mark is followed by Simon Kentonโs Alexis Howard (19-0, March 26). Howard is another standout athlete. She was selected as a 2025 All-State Honorable Mention in soccer. Howard won the 3A indoor title in early March, recording a mark of 18-7 1/4.
Howard, Svidal Among Top Contenders
Walden School senior Natalie Svidal sailed to an 18-4 1/2 mark at the Walden Small School Championships May 5. That ties her for third in the state with Taleigha Nash of Great Crossing High School.
Triple Jump Competition Tightens
In the triple jump, Howard is atop the performance list. She leapt 40-5, April 25.
However, Svidal is close. She recorded 40-2 1/4 this past week.
Multi-Sport Stars Making Impact
Teigh Yeast, yet another standout athlete, who helped George Rogers Clark win a state basketball title in March and is a Robert Morris University basketball commit, logged a 40-0 1/2 jump April 21. Yeast was last seasonโs 3A champion at 39-5.25.
How Kentucky Stacks Up Nationally
Perspective and context need to be applied here. Here’s how Kentucky compares nationally.
National Benchmarks Set the Bar
Parker Coes of Morton Ranch High School (Katy, Texas) has surpassed 21 feet twice in 2026. Abigail Mecklenburg of Linn-Mar High School (Marion, Iowa) is approaching the 21-foot threshold.
Coesโ marks were achieved in the early indoor season. The Texan has jumped 20-10 1/2 outdoors (April 3) but her last mark was 18-11 3/4, May 2.
Mecklenburg is yet to replicate her indoor marks outdoors.
The top outdoor jump so far in 2026 is 42-7.5, set by Daniela Hughes of Los Altos High School (Los Altos, California).
A significant challenge for the Bluegrass jumpers to surpass. But if there is a season for top-10 national rankings or records.
State Records Within Reach
With that said, the Kentucky state records are potentially breakable in the next two weeks. The current records are 20-4 (Maxine Graham, Fleming County High School, 1975) and 41-7 (Sophie Galloway, Marshall County High School, 2021).
Each has the speed and explosiveness to challenge those marks.
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