article BluegrassPreps.com 11th Region Boys Basketball Preview

The season is upon us! Once again the 11th Region looks to be solid and full of talented players and teams who will challenge for a deep run in the state tournament per usual. There has been some shake up with Woodford County leaving and Great Crossing and Frankfort Christian Academy entering the fray this season. Lets check out what we have to look forward to!

PLAYER RANKINGS

1. Marques Warrick - Henry Clay - Recently committed to NKU, Warrick is Henry Clay's returning leading scorer. Look for him to up his average of 21.1 points per game from a year ago and help lead the Blue Devils to a stellar season.

2. Ben Johnson - Lexington Catholic - Johnson is one of the top players in the class of 2021 and looks to lead the Knights back to the regional tournament after averaging 18.4 points per game a season ago.

3. DaShawn Jackson - Frederick Douglass - Another top player in the class of 2021, Jackson averaged 16.0 points per game a year ago. A solid outside shooter, expect his game to rise overall this season.

4. Ray Surratt - Lafayette - Big Ray averaged 17.1 points per game, 8.5 rebounds per game, and nearly 3 blocks a contest. A force in the paint on both ends, Ray is the prototypical Lafayette big man.

5. Terrin Hamilton - Scott County - Hamilton has been a key player off the bench for the Cardinals past 2 state runner up teams and looks to step into the limelight this season. A long athletic forward, Hamilton averaged 7.7 points per game and 4.1 rebounds a game in limited time off the bench a season ago.

6. Sebian Dillard - Henry Clay - Dillard is a transfer from St. Xavier in Louisville where he averaged 16.8 points per game a season ago. Look for him to pick up the scoring load left behind from graduation for the Blue Devils this season.

7. Amari Taylor - Tates Creek - Taylor has battled injuries for the majority of his career but enters his senior campaign finally healthy. Taylor helped lead Tates Creek to its first regular season winning record since the 2011-12 season last year averaging 13.1 points per game.

8. Myles Morones - Bryan Station - Morones has started for the Defenders since his freshmen season and enters this season as the leader of the Defenders. He averaged 13.4 point per game a season ago.

9. Joe Meador - Franklin County - Meador was a relative unknown until this summer when he burst on the scene in the AAU circuit playing for MATTS Mustangs. Meador who is 6'8" with a wingspan of near 7 foot can shoot the ball from the perimeter and can challenge teams defensively.

10. Tim Hall - Paul Laurence Dunbar - As a freshmen Hall cracked the Bulldogs starting lineup half way through the season and never left it. Maybe the best overall athlete in the region Hall will look to replace Jared Gadd's scoring output at the guard position this season for PLD.

TEAM RANKINGS

1. Henry Clay - The Blue Devils fell one game short of Rupp Arena last season and look to finally break through this year led by All State candidate Marques Warrick. The addition of Sebian Dillard from St. Xavier will also help to replace the scoring that graduated with Harris Hawkins and Keaston Brown. This could finally be the year Coach Daniel Brown gets his beloved Blue Devils back to Rupp Arena.

2. Lexington Catholic - The Knights have missed the regional tournament the last 2 years, which is something most of us thought we would never hear. Ben Johnson returns after leading the team in scoring a year ago at 18.1 points per game. Look for Luke Wedding and Peyton Pelphrey to help bolster the attack for the Knights and Coach Salsman this season.

3. Paul Laurence Dunbar - By far and away the biggest team in the region, the Bulldogs return all of their front court who is lead by 4 players standing at 6'6" and above. Look for guards Tim Hall, Max Van Dyke, and Dylan Spalding to pick up the scoring slack left behind with the graduation of Jared Gadd. The Bulldogs on paper look to be the deepest team in the region.

4. Lafayette - The Generals return big man Ray Surratt who averaged 17.1 points per game and 8.5 rebounds per game a season ago. Look for Kobe Blake to make big strides this season as well. If Coach Mendenhall can get one other player to step up the Generals could be scary good.

5. Scott County - Billy Hicks is gone along with the starting 5 from the last two seasons! But all is not lost in Georgetown, new coach Tim Glenn has been an assistant in the program for nearly 20 years and returns a system thats proven to win and players Terrin Hamilton and Elias Richardson. I expect the Cardinals to be in the thick of things come February.

6. Great Crossing - The newest school in the 11th Region comes into the season with a nice group of players. New coach Steve Page is no stranger to the 11th Region as he has previously served as an assistant for Frankfort High and the last few years hes run the middle school program at Scott County. Look for Michael McKenzie, KJ Tucker, and big man Jaylen Barber to help carry the load for the Warhawks who play arguably the toughest schedule in the state.... seriously go look at it!

7. Tates Creek - The Commodores finished 14-14 last year which was their best record since 2011-12. Senior guards Amari Taylor and Cion Townsend look to lead the Commodores back to the regional tournament this season for the first time since the 2010-11 season. The only problem is they are in the 43rd District which is no fun to venture through.

8. Frederick Douglass - Year 3 begins for the Broncos and they look to take the next step and qualify for the regional tournament. DaShawn Jackson is back after leading the team in scoring at 16.0 points per game a year ago. For the Broncos to be successful they are going to need contributions from Nathan Mack and big man Bilal Chhadh.

9. Franklin County - The Flyers finished the season last year at 15-14 but fell to Frankfort in the district semi finals. Coach Wise and the Flyers look to break back into the regional tournament this year led by big man Joe Meador, who can play both inside and out, and football standout Zyshon Atkinson. The Flyers have sneaky depth at the big spots as well, they will challenge teams every night.

10. Bryan Station - The Defenders struggled mightly last season only winning 6 games under first year head coach Nimbo Hammons. However, Bryan Station returns a ton of experience from a season ago with Myles Morones, James Lindsay, and Trent Grundy. Look for Station to challenge Frederick Douglass and Scott County for that second regional spot out of the 42nd District.

11. Madison Central - Other then Scott County perhaps no team was hit harder by graduation then the Indians. Isaiah Cozart is now blocking shots at WKU and Isaiah Minter is suiting up for EKU. An Allen Feldhaus coached team is never one to count out though. Look for Kole Brown and Braeden Ray to contribute heavily this season for Madison Central.

12. Madison Southern - The Eagles return virtually everyone for Coach Austin Newton. Led by senior forward Trent Moberly who averaged 16.4 points per game and 6.1 rebounds per game a year ago. Look for Chad Fugate and Sam Lee to help bolster the scoring load as the Eagles challenge Madison Central for the 44th District championship.

13. Lexington Christian Academy - The Eagles graduated all 5 starters from a year ago, including do it all guard/forward Kyle Rode who seems to have played for the Eagles for 10 years. New coach Ted Hall is no stranger to the sidelines having been head coach at Sayre and LCA's top assistant the last 5 years. Zeke Grier Chase Widmer are going to have to step huge for the Eagles if they want to be competitive in the 43rd District.

14. Frankfort - The Panthers had quite possibly the best season in school history last year going 28-6 and pushing Scott County to the brink in the region semi final. Unfortunately for Coach O'Bryan, all 5 starters from a year ago are gone. However, big man Jackson Twombly is back along with senior guards Chaz Austin and Will O'Bryan. Look for Frankfort to be right there with Great Crossing and Franklin County competing to win the 41st District.

15. Sayre - The Spartans won only 9 games a season ago but expect improvements from them this season. Led by guard Will Hairston and transfer Trey Dennis from West Jessamine, look for Coach Goodman's team to compete for the 11th Region All A title.

16. Western Hills - The Wolverines graduated all 5 starters from a year ago and dont return much experience other then junior guard Eric Gabbard. Western Hills will get no breaks in their district and will have to grow up fast!

17. Model - New head coach John Morgerson inherits a team with little experience. The Patriots will look to Cruse Pingelton and Josh Barrick to shoulder the scoring load this season.

18. Berea - The Pirates lost their top 3 scorers from a season ago but do return junior Jaylen Dorsey. Coach Eric Swords will depend on his depth to be competitive this season.

19. Frankfort Christian Academy - The Royals are in their first year of KHSAA full eligibility. Dont expect much from this group but look for them to build a solid program from the bottom up.

DECEMBER GAMES TO WATCH

December 4th - Covington Catholic at Lexington Catholic

December 14th - Henry Clay at Bourbon County

December 19th - Great Crossing at Scott County

December 21st - Paul Laurence Dunbar vs. John Hardin at Woodford County

Great work like always @mooremiller31

Seen Surratt play a couple games at KBC. Kid has nice touch and size.

Welcome to BGP @RimRacker.

All things considered including Hicks retiring, and all 5 starters from last season gone, it's still so very unusual not to see Scott County at the top of this list. I need to be reminded the last time they weren't pre-season #1 or #2???

9. Franklin County - The Flyers finished the season last year at 15-14 but fell to Frankfort in the district semi finals. Coach Wise and the Flyers look to break back into the regional tournament this year led by big man Joe Meador, who can play both inside and out, and football standout Zyshon Atkinson. The Flyers have sneaky depth at the big spots as well, they will challenge teams every night.

Atkinson is not a member of the football team and has not been since his freshman year at FCHS.

My apologies. Then it should just read and Zyshon Atkinson.

Bump.

Bump.