EYBL is out of KY

I just saw the 2017 EYBL schedule and teams and it looks like KY will not have a 17U team in the EYBL this upcoming summer. I was hoping they would be able to stick around the EYBL. Great opportunity for KY kids.

Seems odd since they were at least competitive for several years. Not flashy enough I guess.

On the Boys side only.

The EYBL has a girl's side too?

The EYBL has a girl's side too?

Yes.

The EYBL has a girl's side too?

KY Premier has been a strong representative for girls in the state of KY. More often than not any girl you see from the state of KY that is playing college basketball played for KY Premier.

Seems odd since they were at least competitive for several years. Not flashy enough I guess.

Made the Peach Jam the first two years they were in Kentucky. Went something like 3-15 the third year and worse than that last year with a 16u only.

I still think Kentucky has the talent to put together a competitive EYBL team but more and more talent keeps leaving the state for AAU.

Made the Peach Jam the first two years they were in Kentucky. Went something like 3-15 the third year and worse than that last year with a 16u only.

 

I still think Kentucky has the talent to put together a competitive EYBL team but more and more talent keeps leaving the state for AAU.

Unless you battle week in and week out in the EYBL, you really have no clue how competitive you need to be to do what was done those first two years. It helped to have some good big men during that time in Ray Spalding, Drew McDonald, and Justin Johnson who all are playing well at the next level. The talent of the big men and depth with size is what separates EYBL programs. You have to be able to match that and in KY we typically lack an abundance of bigs.

Factually you are a bit off...3rd year team was 3-13 for a .187 winning percentage and last year the 16U team was 2-7 in EYBL tournaments for a .222 winning percentage. Neither were obviously competitive enough, but the 16U team last year played 7 EYBL teams that made the 16U Peach Jam and only lost one game by double digits. They were the best 16U team in KY and as an example finished 2nd at the prestigious Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions only losing in the finals to another EYBL team, E1T1. But in the EYBL it was different and the competition does bring a benefit even if the record does not show it. The kids who go through that and were coached by the Travelers staff produce on the court either in High School or in College. Their track record with kids playing in that program is outstanding because those young men have faced the best and step their game up as they pass through. Hats off to Coach Mahorn and his staff, they have nothing to hang their heads about, they improved players every step of the way.

Unless you battle week in and week out in the EYBL, you really have no clue how competitive you need to be to do what was done those first two years. It helped to have some good big men during that time in Ray Spalding, Drew McDonald, and Justin Johnson who all are playing well at the next level. The talent of the big men and depth with size is what separates EYBL programs. You have to be able to match that and in KY we typically lack an abundance of bigs.

 

Factually you are a bit off...3rd year team was 3-13 for a .187 winning percentage and last year the 16U team was 2-7 in EYBL tournaments for a .222 winning percentage. Neither were obviously competitive enough, but the 16U team last year played 7 EYBL teams that made the 16U Peach Jam and only lost one game by double digits. They were the best 16U team in KY and as an example finished 2nd at the prestigious Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions only losing in the finals to another EYBL team, E1T1. But in the EYBL it was different and the competition does bring a benefit even if the record does not show it. The kids who go through that and were coached by the Travelers staff produce on the court either in High School or in College. Their track record with kids playing in that program is outstanding because those young men have faced the best and step their game up as they pass through. Hats off to Coach Mahorn and his staff, they have nothing to hang their heads about, they improved players every step of the way.

Agreed on many of your points and Coach Mahorn is an outstanding coach. The biggest issue the last couple of years has been when the staff had problems getting the top talent in the state to commit and stay with them. Ray Spaulding quit half way through his 17u season. They didn't have Aric Holman, Quentin Goodin or Eli Wright and they all ended up High major talent.

Ultimately there are probably too many AAU programs in Kentucky. While we are seeing an abundance of talent lately, they are often divided across multiple programs. Not including kids who go out of state for AAU.

Agreed on many of your points and Coach Mahorn is an outstanding coach. The biggest issue the last couple of years has been when the staff had problems getting the top talent in the state to commit and stay with them. Ray Spaulding quit half way through his 17u season. They didn't have Aric Holman, Quentin Goodin or Eli Wright and they all ended up High major talent.

 

Ultimately there are probably too many AAU programs in Kentucky. While we are seeing an abundance of talent lately, they are often divided across multiple programs. Not including kids who go out of state for AAU.

Agree, in a small state like KY where there is a small dose of elite players compared to other states both nearby & afar, the margin of error is so small. If you cannot pull all the elite players it becomes even more challenging. Most states have multiple teams across the shoe circuits, but those states are so much more dispersed with high major talent and they also have size that is missing from a small rural state like KY.