Mr. Basketball isn't decided on talent if it was Slaughter would win it hands down. It is more of a popularity contest in which coaches vote for the player they like the best or have seen play. As far as overall skill Slaughter is better than any of the other candidates. Allen will win because he is the sentimental favorite and all the schools in the upper regions will vote for him while the other schools will waiver between Dunaway and Slaughter. Talent level alone should decide this award but it doesn't and never has. I agree coaches do recruit based on need but if Allen was truly that skilled of a player, meaning more than Slaughter, coaches would be all over him. On that same note Slaughter and Dunaway, in high school, play the same position making that argument almost void since Slaughter was obviously recruited over him. All that being said we have already seen that the Mr. Basketball Award doesn't really mean much at the next level.

....some players attend camps, invites and are noticed by some schools were others may not be.

 

If a player can play, the school will recruit you and perhaps some choose a school for academic, proximity and financial reasons, rather than everyone wanting to be a D1 player. At the same time, schools may take others for size, grades, attitude and potential.

 

Talent is subjective and evaluation/needs may differ from coaches standing side-by-side, when watching the same player.

Allen is very undersized for his position, a 6"4 post player at the d-1 level. He got a taste of what to look forward to at the d-1 level when Brandon Wright blocked about 7 of his shots at the marshall county hoopfest. The crazy thing is that is the high school level. I will bet that slaughter will have a better college career than anybody coming out of this class. South Laurel struggles against very athletic teams, there three loses are to Desales, Madison Central, and Brentwood, three very athletic teams. Allen is a heck of a high school player, but he needs to develop into a wing, which will be extremely difficult because he is a very slow player, ut he does have a decent shot.

Allen is very undersized for his position, a 6"4 post player at the d-1 level. He got a taste of what to look forward to at the d-1 level when Brandon Wright blocked about 7 of his shots at the marshall county hoopfest. The crazy thing is that is the high school level. I will bet that slaughter will have a better college career than anybody coming out of this class. South Laurel struggles against very athletic teams, there three loses are to Desales, Madison Central, and Brentwood, three very athletic teams. Allen is a heck of a high school player, but he needs to develop into a wing, which will be extremely difficult because he is a very slow player, ut he does have a decent shot.

...you have a very good point here, about developing and playing in college.

 

Here's a question I have always wondered, about awards.....Are they "Best" awards (Mr. Basketball, MVP's, Heisman) are they given to the following:

 

1) Best player in that sport, over everyone else

2) Player who's team could not excel without him and has talent

3) Player who will be the best at next level

Slaughter is the most talented player in the state of kentucky, hands down. He can do it all. He is athletic, can score from inside/outside, handles it very well, and it good on the defensive end. Horn didnt sign him for no reason. Think about it, Walt Allen is going where? and Slaughter is going to WKU. I think that says enough about whos the better talent. Dunaway, i am not sure who is looking at him at this point but he will play somewhere.

 

You may be completely correct....... but I dont think college decision has any rendering on how good of a HS talent you are. I have seen lots of kids who are absolutely amazing in HS but because of certain limitations didnt even get a chance at the college level. Poor college potential does not mean you arent a great HS player or deserving of an award.

I think that is goes to the best player who is the most valuable to his team. The player who a team cant win without. I feel like Shelby county cannot win the 8th region without Slaughter, but South Laurel can win without Allen, but Allen has better players surrounding him and the 13th region is very weak. I dont think the next level has anything to do with it when it comes to Mr. Basketball and it shouldnt because it is a high school award. Allen has the edge because he got to rupp, but if they fall this year and shelby makes a run and slaughter puts up good numbers, then it could be close. South will walk through the 13th region though.

Mr. Basketball isn't decided on talent if it was Slaughter would win it hands down. It is more of a popularity contest in which coaches vote for the player they like the best or have seen play. As far as overall skill Slaughter is better than any of the other candidates. Allen will win because he is the sentimental favorite and all the schools in the upper regions will vote for him while the other schools will waiver between Dunaway and Slaughter. Talent level alone should decide this award but it doesn't and never has. I agree coaches do recruit based on need but if Allen was truly that skilled of a player, meaning more than Slaughter, coaches would be all over him. On that same note Slaughter and Dunaway, in high school, play the same position making that argument almost void since Slaughter was obviously recruited over him. All that being said we have already seen that the Mr. Basketball Award doesn't really mean much at the next level.

This is ridicolus . AJ might have been recruited for the pg position which he would do fine at. Dunaway is a 2g who can score better then any of the others. College coaches according to you are never wrong. Like Adam Williams over Chris Lofton. Just because a school recruits one player and not another who play the same position in HS thats does not make him better. As far as the Mr. Basketball candidates Dunaway has better numbers against better competition which means alot to me. All 3 players are excellent players at the high school level and who knows which one will be the most successful at the next level. Good luck to all the kids.

This is ridicolus . AJ might have been recruited for the pg position which he would do fine at. Dunaway is a 2g who can score better then any of the others. College coaches according to you are never wrong. Like Adam Williams over Chris Lofton. Just because a school recruits one player and not another who play the same position in HS thats does not make him better. As far as the Mr. Basketball candidates Dunaway has better numbers against better competition which means alot to me. All 3 players are excellent players at the high school level and who knows which one will be the most successful at the next level. Good luck to all the kids.

 

A reasonable, well educated post backed up with solid evidence..... something I fail to find alot these days! LOL. Nice post.

Just was wanting some thoughts on who should win this prestigious award this year. I honestly think the most talented player in the state is AJ Slaughter, but he hasnt been to the state tournament and if he goes this year then he will have a chance. Walt Allen is the leader at this point because of what he did last year at Rupp.

 

 

 

You might want to change that line of thinking. I believe the votes have to be in prior to Sweet Sixteen.

Mr. Basketball candidates will always be discussed, argued about and the discussion is usually quite valid. This year is quite difficult because there are several legitimate candidates. I have seen most of the so-called frontrunners play and it is a close call. I really don't take any consideration into who is being recruited by who because this is a high school award. Walt Allen has had a good career and was MVP at the state tourney last year. A.J. Slaughter is as advertised and can play the game. Josh Mack is an excellent point guard who has been on center stage at both the All "A" Classic and the state tourney. Robert Buckner is the real deal and has finally got some well deserved publicity. Lets not forget Aaron Dunaway as he has rolled up over 2000 career points. Dunaway played two years at Frankfort and the last two years at Henry Clay. Dunaway has always shared the ball because like Allen he has always played with other capable scorers. Dunaway has averaged in the 18-19 ppg range his entire career. He is over 19 ppg per game this year after a slow start after five games. He rarely gets a night off playing in the very tough 11th region.

 

It all comes down to the voting, I believe Walt Allen will carry the Eastern Ky. vote where the rest of the state will be split among several candidates. Will this be enough to ensure a win? Who knows at this stage as there is a lot of basketball to be played. There are aso other candidates who will pick up support. One thing for sure and I honestly believe this, this group has a bunch of fine young men as well as good basketball players. Good luck to all of them.

Antonio Owens from Boyd Co should make some noise in the voting and take some Easster KY votes away from Allen.

Antonio Owens from Boyd Co should make some noise in the voting and take some Easster KY votes away from Allen.

 

I agree,this kid is leading the state in scoring at 31.8 points

per game.Set the single game scoring record at Boyd County

his game high was 53 points.

Owens would not get the same numbers that Dunaway gets if Owens played for a top team with other talented players around him taking shots too and against the comp level that Dunaway plays against. In the 16th region average players and freshman can get big numbers. The freshman that play and start in the 16th would play frosh and JV ball in the 11th. That's a fact!

You might want to change that line of thinking. I believe the votes have to be in prior to Sweet Sixteen.

 

Votes must be in by March 15th. Voted on by head coaches.

Owens would not get the same numbers that Dunaway gets if Owens played for a top team with other talented players around him taking shots too and against the comp level that Dunaway plays against. In the 16th region average players and freshman can get big numbers. The freshman that play and start in the 16th would play frosh and JV ball in the 11th. That's a fact!

...Not a fair blanket statement to make and given the fact the population numbers to choose athletes from in the 11th Region, is probably much large the than 16th Region.

 

Teams with one outstanding player and several role players, often structure their game plan to enhance the number of times he can affect the game, rather than teams with one outstanding player and several very good others can afford to spread things around more.

 

I think the discussion of names, speaks more to several very good players and no clear-cut favorite, which will make for some very exciting tournament games...with possibly a few upsets along the way.

Antonio Owens from Boyd Co should make some noise in the voting and take some Easster KY votes away from Allen.

yes