FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JAN. 29, 2026

Pairings for the 2026 Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Girls’ Basketball Sweet 16® and the 2026 UK HealthCare Boys’ Basketball Sweet 16® will be unveiled on Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 2 P.M. ET on the KHSAA’s annual Sweet 16® Draw Show.

The 2026 Sweet 16® Draw Show will air live from the KHSAA offices in Lexington on khsaa.tv via the NFHS Network at no cost to viewers. The Draw Show will be hosted by Dave “Buzz” Baker of WKYT and KHSAA Communications and Media Relations Director Brian Milam.

Both basketball tournaments will be held inside Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center, with the 65th installment of the Girls’ Sweet 16® taking place March 11-14 and the 108th Boys’ Sweet 16® scheduled for March 18-21.

A live video broadcast of each game of both tournaments will be streamed on khsaa.tv to subscribers of the NFHS Network, while a free audio-only broadcast of each game will be available on khsaa.net.

Sweet 16® brackets with official pairings will be made available following the conclusion of the Draw Show.

Tickets will be available for purchase on khsaatickets.org  at a later date. Renewal ticket purchasers have been contacted by the Central Bank Center Box Office via email about continuing the purchase of previously held tickets. Following the renewal period, the remaining unsold seats will be available online. 

6th and 7th Region drew each other last year. 

No offense, these guys need to stop the blathering and draw.  It's 25 minutes into the show and I'm watching three old guys talk about who knows what.

7 minutes ago, DragonFire said:

No offense, these guys need to stop the blathering and draw.  It's 25 minutes into the show and I'm watching three old guys talk about who knows what.

We see a lot of that with high school sports.  So many of the people doing it massage their own egos instead of reporting on the games.  Just the facts, Ma'am!

I don't know about these "Wheel of Names" thing.  I'm sure upgrading to that technology won't cause people to distrust the process.....

6 minutes ago, theguru said:

We see a lot of that with high school sports.  So many of the people doing it massage their own egos instead of reporting on the games.  Just the facts, Ma'am!

Can be said of all sports.

55 minutes.  Girls draw finally done, in theory, boys will be after the commercial.  Unless they decide they need to talk to someone random for a bit.

First up, Region 9 draws Region 7.  Hoooooo boy

Region 4 draws Region 13

Region 5 draws Region 3

 

Region 12 draws Region 11

So top half is LOADED

Region 9 vs. Region 7
Region 4 vs. Region 13
Region 5 vs. Region 3
Region 12 vs. Region 11

I'm in the seeding camp. I'm no fan of the draw. 

Bottom quad is 

Region 6 vs. Region 14
Region 8 vs. Region 2
Region 10 vs. Region 15
Region 16 vs. Region 1

So the total bracket is 

Region 9 vs. Region 7
Region 4 vs. Region 13
Region 5 vs. Region 3
Region 12 vs. Region 11

Region 6 vs. Region 14
Region 8 vs. Region 2
Region 10 vs. Region 15
Region 16 vs. Region 1

George Rogers Clark could scarcely have gotten a better draw.

8 minutes ago, DragonFire said:

Bottom quad is 

Region 6 vs. Region 14
Region 8 vs. Region 2
Region 10 vs. Region 15
Region 16 vs. Region 1

So the total bracket is 

Region 9 vs. Region 7
Region 4 vs. Region 13
Region 5 vs. Region 3
Region 12 vs. Region 11

Region 6 vs. Region 14
Region 8 vs. Region 2
Region 10 vs. Region 15
Region 16 vs. Region 1

George Rogers Clark could scarcely have gotten a better draw.

When did they play the 10th region tournament, I must have over looked it?