mountainmutt

Whitley will improve as they get their best players back into action and the coaches mentality completely soaks in. Deaton may just be setting the table for a "February Surprise". Don't count the silver fox out until you see the big buzzards land, the pretty ladies crying and the jealous husbands tamping the dirt in around the coffin. You know what they say, a cat has nine lives but, the old gray fox never dies, he just stays out of site till someone forgets to lock the smokehouse. There ain't no bacon on the line till these teams tussle in the first game of the district tourny.

Corbin will be tough. The Hounds were one of the better treams in 2A this season as they lost in a reasonably close game on the road to Russell. Russell at Corbin would have likely ended a differert outcome. Corbin would have been a tough opponent for Mercer. Sometimes the way the playoffs unwind in terms of homefield advantages, matchups and good old lady luck play more of a factor than who the best team is. I expect Corbin to be a preseason top 5 2 A club. If they can stay away from serious injury problems, they will be as good as as anyone in their State Classification.

No it is true international basketball players all want to play guard even at 6'9". Put three of these big guys on the floor with the runts at Whitley and it looks like a different game.

If Crawford does not play, Whitley 76 Corbin 70 With Crawford Corbin 78 Whitey 65 after a tough 3 quarters

Do not expect much from the Colonels other than hustle until after Christmas when the injuries are healed and 3 new international kids have adjusted to Coach Deaton and playing with the much smaller American kids.

I can not believe that this is still a debated topic. The score board does not lie. Once again the state is dominated by private schools due to the "uhum, cough, uhum," fact that the privates work harder and are better coached.

If Slusher plays, Bell will have the athletic ability and muscle to give South all they want. I have to disagree with the statement above regarding the talent coming up at Bell. Bell has a very talented sophmore class. Bell will contend for the regional title for at least the next two years.

On a purely shooting basis the best I have seen are: 1. Chris Lofton 2. Richie Farmer 3. Phil Cox 4. Travis Ford 5. Patrick Sparks These guys were all automatic, if they got a look. Great range, great confidense, just super high school players. As high school players these guys were not just great shooters but, also terrific athletes that basically no one could guard. In college, they did not have the athletic advantage (they had in high school) but, were great shooters. The best three players that I have seen in Kentucky are undoubtedly 1. Allen Houston 2. Rex Chapman 3. Darrell Griffith. These three were very good shooters, had good size, good handles, great confidense and absolutely world class athleticism. There have been a number of great players from Kentucky but, I really think these 3 are the best.

If it takes internet banter (especially by nut cases like the Mountainmutt), to fire the Corbin kids up when they face their home town rivals, something is wrong. Besides that, nothing makes the Mutt happier than a display of good old fashioned emotional conflict (especially the desperate win or die type of emotion that should hallmark this rivalry). These kids know each other very well, in many cases are neighbors, in some cases hang out together and in other cases despise each other. Regardless, there should be plenty of personal pride on the line, when they match-up. If not, then these guys need to give up basketball and join a convent for girly boys and crossdressers. This bunch of Whitley kids are lead by Deaton and Siler not the love your neighbor, take the summer off , the score does not matter, play for enjoyment (not victory), excuses for coaches that have called themselves Whitley Basketball Coaches over the past few seasons. This years Colonel Team will play with blood, guts and a new found nastiness. They will play to protect their family name (and the coaches) from the humiliation of crawling of the floor with their heads bowed in character crushing defeat. These boys will not resemble the whipped guffies (beat me by 60, please Master embarrass me more, show me again how inferior my bloodline is) that opponents have come to expect when they have visited Charles M. Lawson Gymnasium over the past few seasons. This year's team will come expecting the glory of victory and willing to accept nothing less at the cost of blood and bone. Manhood and family honor will be on the line in every battle and these kids will play like it. A new Sheriff is in town and the Colonels will walk tall with a big stick in each hand. I just hope the fans will return to Lawson Gymnasium to see the new swagger in these kids.

4chs- I think the game at Whitley will be a barn burner. If Josh Crawford scores 16 or more from the free throw line, Corbin wins a close one. If Crawford can not hit his free throws or if he wilts under the continual beating, Whitley wins in a close one. Crawford will be the best player on the floor but, he will have someone holding and banging on him all night. Take Crawford out of the mix and the two teams are close talent wise.

Pat is a great guy. No one will out work him. He will be a man that the kids can look to for leadership on and off the floor. If the fans will leave him alone long enough to get established (2 to years) Williamsburg will be a very competitive 1A team. Pat has roots deep into the fabrick of Whitley County. He loves Williamsburg and will do a great job. I think the administration made a good long term decision.

This will be the meanest most agressive team in the history of Whitley County. This bunch will guard your behind from the time you get off the bus untill you are reseated and heading home. Whitley will lead the 13th in floor burns, stitches, head knots, bruising screens, collecting loose balls and in your face intimidating defense. They are led by the a Bobby Knight prototype who refuses to allow his players to even think about losing. Losing is an unacceptable concept in Mike Deatons Camp. The only thing in the gymnasium meaner than the kids this season will be Coach Deaton and Deatons biggest fan the Mountainmutt. Whitley fans get out to Charles M Lawson Gymasium cause the Colonels are going to be ready to rumble. There will be no 60 point routes like last year. This bunch and their leader had rather crawl on a bed of broken glass than to lose their manhood in a 60 point qroute. Colonel Pride is back and the South Whitley boys are ready to bust some heads.

Pride50, I never said Watts was going to the NBA. I said if he makes 6-4 and continues to improve at the rate he has improved over the last 2 or 3, he could be potential NBA material. Watts has a rare combination of athletic ability and basketball skill. His skill level is very high. He can go left or right, he has a very nice jump stop and pop from 20 ft-in. He can shoot the spot-up three. He takes the ball to hoop very well. He has a good form on his jumper and he uaes the back board well around the hoop. He sees the floor very and is a deft passer. Fundamentally he is a very sound basketball player both defensively and offensively. The thing that separates Watts from other skilled players in his class like Euton or Wilson is his explosive athletic ability. Watts has great hops and he is fast from one end of the floor to the other as any player in the state. The kid can fly and may be a better football player than basketball player. He has good size for a freshmen. I speculate that he is in the 6-2, 185 size range as a 14 year old. He is very strong and he plays physically and fearlessly. The kid plays with a lot of confidense even when he is on the floor with kids 5 years older than he is. If he makes 6-4, 210 (very likely) he is going to be one of the better athletes not just in the state but, in the country. He may be from a small mountain town but, he has a ton of potential. Tye Proffitt is a pretty good player but, in a one on one game Watts would school him. Watts has been very well coached since he was in the 3rd grade. Big Bill Walker has had him playing for the Frankfort AAU team since he was kid. Watts is also a very down to earth, well behaved kid, with a good head on his shoulders. I have seen all the AAU kids in his class over the past few years. I think Watts is the best player with the most upside. I am not from McCreay County and have no reason to try to Jack-up his ability but, I have seen him at various college camps and through AAU many times. I am stating as a fact that he is a Division 1 athlete. Wait and see.

Watts is the real deal. I have seen him excel against good NAIA players at the University of the Cumberlands Camp (Always NAIA top 20) as an 8th grader. The key for Watts is continued growth and improvement. If he makes 6-4 and improves over the next four years as much as he has elementary school and he is NBA material. He might be from a small community but, he has big talent. I have been involved in AAU basketball for a long time and I am telling you flat out he is the best freshmen in the state.

Watts is the best freshman in the state. For those that have not seen Watts play, he is cat quick, has good size, good hops, handles well, plays tough D, rebounds, can score off the dribble and can nail the 3 off the move. He is a very, very good player. Although, I would like to see him stay in Eastern Kentucky, his talent will probably lead him to Oak Hill.