MALAKA FRANK
Franklin County, Senior, 5-9
* On the floor: Frank averaged 8.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.1 steals for a Flyers team that finished 31-5 after falling to Butler in the championship game of the Sweet 16. While her offensive numbers weren’t eye-popping, Frank was praised all season for her versatility and for being one of the state’s top defenders. She was named the 11th Region Player of the Year by the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches and was an honorable-mention All-State selection last season.
* Off the floor: Franklin County coach Joey Thacker said Frank wants to replace him as the Flyers’ coach one day. “After the beating we took from Butler in the final, a lot of people are going to have her on the ballot for my job,” Thacker said with a laugh. “She has tremendous people skills and the ability to uplift people on and off the court.”
* Future: Frank signed with Western Kentucky.
* Quotable: “I think she’s the best athlete in the state,” Thacker said. “She’s somebody who could to play fast-pitch softball and score 50 runs in a season and steal 30 bases. She’s somebody who could be an SEC-caliber track athlete. … She’s really, really gifted, and she’s only played basketball for about six years. She’s still got time to figure some things out.”